Returned Peace Corps Volunteer John N Smart can be contacted at johnauzbekstudentsdorg
Country of Service: Uzbekistan
Training Group: ?
Cities you served in: Bukhara, Tashkent
Arrival Year: 1995
Departure Year: 1998
Work Description: small business development & teaching economics at high
school level
Bring us up to date on your life after the peace corps:
I reapplied for PC service, and was scheduled to go to Lesotho, but
was refused clearance by the medical office at the last minute
because of a pre-existing heart murmur.
Since then I've been semi-retired, taking care of my elderly mother,
and substitute teaching in the local schools.
I've made contact with an NGO that is interested in sending me to
Uganda to work with AIDS orphans, teaching and supervising in a
large camp.
Any thoughts you have now looking back on peace corps days?:
Yes, of course. It was certainly one of the defining experiences in a
long and active life. I'd previously traveled a lot and had worked in
other countries as well, so PC service was not a shock, as it so often
is to younger people. I loved it, and would have gladly gone back to
work, if the medical office had not decided otherwise. By the way, I
am totally asymptomatic, and my health is just fine!
Anyone you are looking for or would like to hear from?:
We, RPCVs of Uzbekistan, have a pretty good network to use to
locate people.
Originally posted: August 3, 2001
