March 17, 2005: Headlines: COS - India: Return to our Country of Service - India: Personal Web Site: Dream Come True Revisiting, India

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Library: Peace Corps: Return to our Country of Service : Peace Corps Volunteers Return to our Country of Service: March 17, 2005: Headlines: COS - India: Return to our Country of Service - India: Personal Web Site: Dream Come True Revisiting, India

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-123-27.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.123.27) on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 11:23 am: Edit Post

Dream Come True Revisiting, India

Dream Come True Revisiting, India

Dream Come True Revisiting, India

Dream Come True Revisiting, India

Thirty-four years is along time to dream about going back to India. So much life has gone by since the 1960’s. I served soon after college in India. My service in India opened my eyes to the “real world.” My life since returning has been an adventure with its ups and downs. After the Peace Corps I spent two years in Vietnam during the war. Later I taught school in the States developed my skills as an artist and was a school counselor. I am currently retired and married with children. However my memories of India in the 1960’s never left me and often surfaced in my dreams. I dreamt of my old village in Orissa, it’s people, my friends and the ever day difficulty of living. I recently revisited my old village in the Indian state of Orissa thirty- four years later (India has and has not changed). This return trip has given back to me the feelings and adventures of many years ago

My Peace Corps training in Hawaii was magical but it didn’t prepare me for the rural isolated living I was to experience for two years. My assigned project located (in a very poor area) was to improve nutrition by teaching better-quality poultry methods. Through much effort and sweat my poultry project was completed. However, it did not last long due to theft and abandonment of those responsible for maintaining it. This was a hard lesson for me especially since my PC partner was sent back to the USA after three months in country. Being alone with no other PCV near was very hard and lonely.




My House

My poultry houses were beautiful being well built and having all the latest equipment to raise superior poultry. In fact, they were the first ones completed among the India 27 group in Orissa. Within four months disappointment and disillusion entered my emotions with the loss of my PC partner, the short life of my poultry project and the isolation that took over.




 My House

One of my dreams was to find the house I lived in many years ago. I journeyed to the seaside town of Gopalpur On Sea near my village.

One of my dreams was to find the house I lived in many years ago. I journeyed to the seaside town of Gopalpur On Sea near my village. All the people I knew had moved or died. I employed a local fellow to help me find the house. After much searching we finally found it. Build of cement and yellow stucco with a tin roof it popped out! When I lived there it had no running water or electricity. Nothing had changed. The toilet was a hole in the floor, the separation of rooms was done by cloth dividers and a persistent mildew covered the walls. I gazed at the house as if in a dream feeling the old memories flood over me. The daily drawing water from the outdoor well, the weeks “marooned” inside during the monsoon rains and the endless array of bugs.

Soon a thin old man came out and asked in Indian fashion ‘Most happy to help you,’ I explained why I was there and asked to go inside and look around. He was most happy to oblige. I soon found out that the old man was the head teacher at this rural agricultural training school. He explained that there were no students for two years and that the government hadn’t provided funding for teachers for the same amount of time.

The afternoon was spent being shown around the old familiar grounds of the school. Ironically as much as I wanted to stay at the school and relive the memories, the heat and humidity prodded me to return to my nearby hotel. Now I wish I had stayed longer. Perhaps when I was 25 years old I had more staying power.




Gopalpur On Sea



 Gopalpur On Sea

Gopalpur is located on the Bay of Bengal about 500 miles south of Calcutta. I used to bicycle the 10 miles to the sea (where there was no cars or motor vehicles of any kind.) and find some human company, swim in the sea and have a cold Coke at the stately Palm Beach Hotel.

Gopalpur was a refuge from my life at the agricultural training school in Orissa. Gopalpur is located on the Bay of Bengal about 500 miles south of Calcutta. I used to bicycle the 10 miles to the sea (where there was no cars or motor vehicles of any kind.) and find some human company, swim in the sea and have a cold Coke at the stately Palm Beach Hotel. With my Peace Corps allowance that’s all I could afford. There are now more people filling up the fields and open spaces with their buildings and simple stalls. Cars and motorcycles constantly blast the countryside with their horns. The quiet I once knew is shattered by these horns. Now that I could afford the Palm Beach Hotel it had closed down and so I stayed at the next “best” seafront hotel called the Sea Pearl. Gopalpur’s beachfront is full of rundown buildings and old crumbling hotels. Looking out of my hotel room window glimmered the great vastness of the blue Bay of Bengal and an endless white sandy beach. The changes with the Internet can be found with its connection to the outside world inviting the materialism which brings about the inevitability of change. I could not help but wish for those days when bicycles and bullock carts creaked by and drinking a cold Coke was pure luxury.

The fishermen who live near the beach at Gopalpur were all there as if frozen in time as in a snapshot. Their traditions and culture have changed little, and they continue to be connected to the essence of nature. From the youngest to oldest, or highest and lowest cast; everyone has a purpose in life. They have an acceptance of life seldom found in the Western world. Each day I’d leave the Sea Pearl Hotel and venture among the fishing families, photographing their timeless activities, their faces and interactions .

After a day of photography and a simple meal (due to a restless stomach), I set out to stroll along the lanes of Gopalpur looking for a particular house called the “Nook,”a refuge for me in the old days. Was it still there among the ruble of old buildings the “Nook,” Ms Hannay’s house? As I turned a corner I noticed a vaguely familiar structure altogether obscured with overgrown vegetation and brickwork crumbling back to earth. There it was---the “Nook.” The memories of a place of retreat and kindness brought back feelings of nostalgia and tears for my youth and it’s simplicity. I could almost hear a small voice calling me to come and share a cup of tea.




Ms. Francis Hanny

On a hot afternoon many years ago I was riding my bicycle along a beachfront lane when I heard some one calling out in a British accent ’hello there.’ There on the front porch stood a tiny old lady. I approached closer. She soon invited me into her dark cool house for a cup of tea. She introduced herself as Ms. Francis Hanny. This meeting began a deep friendship with a wonderful eighty years old expatriate from Scotland. Ms. Hanny had been living in British Burma and India since the 1920’s. Our friendship developed rapidly over the months. I looked forward to sitting down with her in her humble old house and having tea a biscuit and sharing our experiences. To be able to converse in English again was a joy. Ms. Hannay taught me many things such as humility, kindness and how to enjoy a good cup of tea. How wonderful those times were for a isolated American. I think now that I was not the only one lonely I learned about 25 years ago that Ms. Hannay had passed away.




 Bhubaneswar

The second best thing is not so bad for on my walk back to my hotel I heard a lady’s voice calling out ‘hello.’ Near the “Nook” stood the house of Mrs. Dutt. She began a friendly conversation with me and soon whisked me in to her veranda to have tea with her and her son.

The second best thing is not so bad for on my walk back to my hotel I heard a lady’s voice calling out ‘hello.’ Near the “Nook” stood the house of Mrs. Dutt. She began a friendly conversation with me and soon whisked me in to her veranda to have tea with her and her son. What a surprise. Oh how India still provides many unexpected adventures. Mrs. Dutt had known Ms Hannay. So I had the delicious opportunity to relive some of the shared memories about Ms Hannay from many years ago.




The Fairlawn Hotel

Upon my return north to Calcutta and the USA. I stopped off for a visit in the capital city of Orissa called Bhubaneswar. Bubaneswar is described as the city of temples filled with many unique Hindu temples from centuries past. Once a small provincial city, Bhubaneswar has grown like all of India. There were more cars, buildings and people. I now stayed in a Hotel I could never have afforded as a PCV. I remembered my first visit in 1966. I stayed in the house of some PCV’s . I was jealous since they had both electricity and running water and I did not. However, I still had to sleep on their floor in my sleeping bag . It was still great fun being with other PCV’s.

Calcutta a great city of culture and poverty. Calcutta has changed very little over the last 34 years. I experienced the same humanity existing on the crowed streets, the jammed sidewalks streaming with people rushing and going nowhere. The vestiges of former colonial grandeur line the streets in their decrepit splendor. Calcutta for me was like entering another time with its rickshaws pulled by emaciated men, beggars and crumbling aged buildings..

As a Peace Corps Volunteer I would dream of going up to Calcutta by train from my isolated rural life in Orissa. I would dive into the many exotic adventures offered it’s the food, cinemas, companionship and air-condition. How wonderful!




 Fairlawn Hotel

Many times I’d stay at the Fairlawn Hotel. The place was a heaven for me because I could meet other foreigners and occasionally Peace Corps Volunteers. To my surprise and excitement I found that the Fairlawn still existed.

Many times I’d stay at the Fairlawn Hotel. The place was a heaven for me because I could meet other foreigners and occasionally Peace Corps Volunteers. To my surprise and excitement I found that the Fairlawn still existed. I was determined to stay there during my current visit. When I was left off by taxi in front of the Fairlawn Hotel I couldn’t believe my eyes. The hotel hadn’t changed. Originally built in 1802 as a residence for a British official, the Fairlawn has been a guest hotel for over 70 years. As I climbed up the ancient staircase to my room I became enveloped with the atmosphere of times past. I could gaze down on the unchanged small dining room with it’s antiquated furnishings and dusty rugs .. My room looked the same as when I first slept there, frozen in time as if from the 1930’s with no modern improvements.

I think that my favorite part of the Fairlawn is still it’s small lobby. As I had in the 1960’s I met interesting guests from all over the world. How delightful to sit on creaky furniture under a ceiling fan, share a cold beer and have interesting conversations with travelers just met. Eventually I had to return home. My flight was leaving at 2:00 a.m. from Calcutta’s Dum Dum Airport. As I entered my airplane to depart the old question arose in me. “When can I return?” Back home in Tucson, Arizona I recently had a photography show of The fisherman of Gopalpur. My purpose was to share with my community a little of myself and those vibrant people. My web page showing a few of these photographs can be seen at: Gopalpur On Sea






When this story was posted in March 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

The Peace Corps Library Date: February 7 2005 No: 438 The Peace Corps Library
Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in over 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related reference material in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can use the Main Index to find hundreds of stories about RPCVs who have your same interests, who served in your Country of Service, or who serve in your state.

Top Stories and Breaking News PCOL Magazine Peace Corps Library RPCV Directory Sign Up

RPCVs in Congress ask colleagues to support PC Date: March 5 2005 No: 482 RPCVs in Congress ask colleagues to support PC
RPCVs Sam Farr, Chris Shays, Thomas Petri, James Walsh, and Mike Honda have asked their colleagues in Congress to add their names to a letter they have written to the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, asking for full funding of $345 M for the Peace Corps in 2006. As a follow-on to Peace Corps week, please read the letter and call your Representative in Congress and ask him or her to add their name to the letter.

Add your info now to the RPCV Directory Date: March 13 2005 No: 489 Add your info now to the RPCV Directory
Call Harris Publishing at 800-414-4608 right away to add your name or make changes to your listing in the newest edition of the NPCA's Directory of Peace Corps Volunteers and Former Staff. Then read our story on how you can get access to the book after it is published. The deadline for inclusion is May 16 so call now.

March 12, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Date: March 13 2005 No: 487 March 12, 2005: This Week's Top Stories
The Coyne Column: Read Winning Essay by PCV 12 Mar
Laura Germino helps Migrant Workers Advocacy Group 12 Mar
Sam Farr impresses medical-pot advocacy group 11 Mar
Fred O'Regan writes Op-Ed on Canada seal hunt 11 Mar
Fern Holland remembered In Oklahoma 10 Mar
Mountaineer Charles Houston receives honorary degree 10 Mar
Elaine Chao led delegation for President's inauguration 10 Mar
Chris Dodd wins Hispanic Capital Award 9 Mar
Pat Waak is new Colorado Democratic Party Chair 9 Mar
Chris Matthews withdraws from Florida Event 9 Mar
Timothy J. O'Brien returns to Korea 8 Mar
Tomas Belsky's paintings inspired by service in Brazil 7 Mar
Christopher Hill to be Assistant Secretary of State 7 Mar
Allen Moore is Sen Frist's Deputy Chief of Staff 7 Mar
Jim Doyle heads trade delegation to Mexico 5 Mar
Al Kamen says Narcissus Is Now Greek AND Roman 4 Mar
Diana Gomez says to do something about Peace 4 Mar

March 12, 2005: RPCV Groups in the News Date: March 14 2005 No: 494 March 12, 2005: RPCV Groups in the News
San Diego RPCVs host reception with Gaddi Vasquez on March 6 4 Mar
Alaska RPCVs speak for dividend 4 Mar
Western North Carolina's RPCVs sponsor Africa Night on March 6 3 Mar
Maryland RPCVs lobby their Senators for Peace Corps 3 Mar
Connecticut RPCVs hold fundraiser on March 5 3 Mar
Charles Baquet speaks at Louisiana PC Breakfast on March 4 28 Feb

RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

March 1: National Day of Action Date: February 28 2005 No: 471 March 1: National Day of Action
Tuesday, March 1, is the NPCA's National Day of Action. Please call your Senators and ask them to support the President's proposed $27 Million budget increase for the Peace Corps for FY2006 and ask them to oppose the elimination of Perkins loans that benefit Peace Corps volunteers from low-income backgrounds. Follow this link for step-by-step information on how to make your calls. Then take our poll and leave feedback on how the calls went.
Make a call for the Peace Corps Date: February 19 2005 No: 453 Make a call for the Peace Corps
PCOL is a strong supporter of the NPCA's National Day of Action and encourages every RPCV to spend ten minutes on Tuesday, March 1 making a call to your Representatives and ask them to support President Bush's budget proposal of $345 Million to expand the Peace Corps. Take our Poll: Click here to take our poll. We'll send out a reminder and have more details early next week.
Peace Corps Calendar: Tempest in a Teapot? Date: February 17 2005 No: 445 Peace Corps Calendar: Tempest in a Teapot?
Bulgarian writer Ognyan Georgiev has written a story which has made the front page of the newspaper "Telegraf" criticizing the photo selection for his country in the 2005 "Peace Corps Calendar" published by RPCVs of Madison, Wisconsin. RPCV Betsy Sergeant Snow, who submitted the photograph for the calendar, has published her reply. Read the stories and leave your comments.
WWII participants became RPCVs Date: February 13 2005 No: 442 WWII participants became RPCVs
Read about two RPCVs who participated in World War II in very different ways long before there was a Peace Corps. Retired Rear Adm. Francis J. Thomas (RPCV Fiji), a decorated hero of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 at 100. Mary Smeltzer (RPCV Botswana), 89, followed her Japanese students into WWII internment camps. We honor both RPCVs for their service.
Bush's FY06 Budget for the Peace Corps Date: February 7 2005 No: 436 Bush's FY06 Budget for the Peace Corps
The White House is proposing $345 Million for the Peace Corps for FY06 - a $27.7 Million (8.7%) increase that would allow at least two new posts and maintain the existing number of volunteers at approximately 7,700. Bush's 2002 proposal to double the Peace Corps to 14,000 volunteers appears to have been forgotten. The proposed budget still needs to be approved by Congress.

Read the stories and leave your comments.






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Story Source: Personal Web Site

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - India; Return to our Country of Service - India

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By Ronald R. Brown (bngr-216-37-173-96.ppp.bngr.epix.net - 216.37.173.96) on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 9:30 pm: Edit Post

It should be noted that the total Peace Corps budget for 2006, as well as the total USA tsunami aid, amounts to less than 2 days of Iraqi war costs (assuming $6 billion/month for the latter).


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