February 16, 2003 - Alligator Online: Eleanor Helm to serve in Peace Corps in China

Peace Corps Online: Directory: China: Peace Corps China : The Peace Corps in China: February 16, 2003 - Alligator Online: Eleanor Helm to serve in Peace Corps in China

By Admin1 (admin) on Sunday, February 16, 2003 - 6:45 pm: Edit Post

Eleanor Helm to serve in Peace Corps in China



Eleanor Helm to serve in Peace Corps in China

UF alumna to use Peace Corps as cultural lesson
By Ginger Fulkerson
Alligator Writer

Faced with the inevitable question of what to do after her impending graduation, Eleanor Helm took a day out of her senior year to attend a Peace Corps seminar at UF. "[The Peace Corps] has always been something I've heard about and thought was cool," said Helm, an August 1998 UF graduate.

After hearing what she described as amazing stories from volunteers recounting their overseas experiences, Helm left the Fall seminar convinced of what she wanted to do with her life.

The Peace Corps, she decided, was for her.

"Their stories told me it must be an amazing experience," said the 23-year-old Helm, who on June 24 will serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in China, using her bachelor's degree in English to teach students at a Chinese university in the Sichuan province.

Helm is just one of 7,000 volunteers.

"I'm so excited and a little nervous," said Helm, who knows many of the students she teaches during the next two years will start out speaking only a few words of English.

Helm does not speak Chinese but is working with a tutor to master the language.

Helm, a substitute middle school teacher in Pinellas County, will have undergone 10 weeks of language and cross-cultural training when she gets to the Chinese university.

Helm hopes her work will strengthen ties with China.

"I hope those seeing Americans who are friendly, open and with good will ...will alleviate the feelings of distrust and anger," Helm said, referring to NATO's recent bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia. "The distrust both countries have is based on ignorance of each other's cultures." As for celebrating the new millennium in China, Helm said it will be hard.

"Lots of my friends say I will miss out on the parties, but I'm sure there will be other Americans. It's a remarkable opportunity ... to make the world a better place, and I want to do my part."



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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - China; Recruitment

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By Mary Ruth Fox (cache-mtc-aa07.proxy.aol.com - 64.12.116.11) on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 6:20 pm: Edit Post

Eleanor, Do you have a sister Joanna, your mother Adrienne?

Have been trying to find your family for years since you moved to Florida

By Stanley Heller (host114-164.taylor.lib.oh.us - 66.213.114.164) on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 2:37 pm: Edit Post

Do you know or have anything to do lwith Ginger Fulkerson or Fulkersen in Florida?

YEARS ago, I knew a Ginger Fulkerson or Fulkersen in Omaha, Nebraska, and she was married to a Ron or Ronald. Ron had something to do with Radio Engineering Institute in Omaha, and I was Director of Sand Marketing of four separate proprietary schools, all located in Omaha, Nebraska.

Please advise


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