March 8, 2004 - Ludington Daily News: Chris Frederick was nearing graduation from Lake Superior State University in spring 1996 when he decided to move his life in a different direction — heading to Africa for two years of service in the Peace Corps in Ghana

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Ghana: Peace Corps Ghana : The Peace Corps in Ghana: March 8, 2004 - Ludington Daily News: Chris Frederick was nearing graduation from Lake Superior State University in spring 1996 when he decided to move his life in a different direction — heading to Africa for two years of service in the Peace Corps in Ghana

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Chris Frederick was nearing graduation from Lake Superior State University in spring 1996 when he decided to move his life in a different direction — heading to Africa for two years of service in the Peace Corps in Ghana



Chris Frederick was nearing graduation from Lake Superior State University in spring 1996 when he decided to move his life in a different direction — heading to Africa for two years of service in the Peace Corps in Ghana

Peace Corps alum reflects on experience

By KEVIN BRACISZESKI

Daily News Staff Writer

Chris Frederick was nearing graduation from Lake Superior State University in spring 1996 when he decided to move his life in a different direction — heading to Africa for two years of service in the Peace Corps.

His home in Ghana, West Africa, was chosen for him, but Frederick chose the service, helping people there with his knowledge of forestry.

“I’d never heard of the country before, so I had to go to the library and find out exactly where it was,” Frederick said. “I went in (the Peace Corps) right after I graduated from school.”

Frederick graduated in spring 1996 and was working in Ghana during the fall of 1996. He stayed in Ghana through hot seasons when temperatures rose to 120 degrees in the shade during the morning, and during cool seasons when the mercury would stay in the 70s.

“When you go you have this sense that you’re going to change the world,” he said about joining the Peace Corps. “But they’ve had their culture for thousands of years and we’re there for just a snapshot of time.”

Frederick’s role in Ghana was to help the people of his village realize how important trees are to the world, including the savanna region where they live.

“It was to try to get people to understand that they should plant trees so their children could have them down the road,” he said. “But sometimes their choice was food for the family or seedlings.”

While Frederick did not get rich from his service in Africa, he did receive a living stipend of $100 a month while another $200 a month was deposited into his readjustment allowance account for the time when his service would end.

“You live at a higher level than the people,” he said about the $100 payments, “but you’re certainly not paid like a rock star.”

Frederick did not join the Peace Corps for the money, and he instead received his rewards from the work he did in Ghana.

“The most rewarding part is, by far, the relationships you establish,” he said. “Both with the people in the community and the other volunteers you serve with.”

Frederick said he trained with a group of 50 volunteers and 30 of them completed their two years of service.

“Probably the hardest part (of Peace Corps service) is missing your loved ones back home,” he said. “Everything else you can get used to in time, but not missing your loved ones and you have a lot of time to think and reflect.”

Frederick said a visit from his wife, Rebecca, helped him last through his two years of service.

“I don’t think we would have made it if she hadn’t come,” he said.

Before he could even begin service, Frederick said, he had to undergo an extensive background check and medical checkup.

“They go back to when you were born and they’re very thorough,” he said. “I had four wisdom teeth and a tooth that was hidden in the roof of my mouth removed. If something went wrong it’s a 20-hour bus ride from the village in the upper east region (of Ghana) to the capital for health care.”

Frederick said he would encourage everyone to volunteer for the Peace Corps. He also had advice for people making that decision.

“I would want them to know it’s OK to think outside the box and take the chances you have to to see how other people live in other places,” he said, “and realize those people have the same wants, needs and desires that we have.

“There are good and bad people everywhere, but they’re all just people,” Frederick added, “not just images on a screen or a news report.

“And maybe the most important thing is that you made a friend and shared how things are in your country,” he said.

kevinb@ludingtondailynews.com

845-5181, ext. 309




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Story Source: Ludington Daily News

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