Jim Ludden taught chemistry and mathematics at a secondary school in Arochuku, Nigeria, from 1963 to 1965



Jim Ludden taught chemistry and mathematics at a secondary school in Arochuku, Nigeria, from 1963 to 1965

Jim Ludden ’61
Jim Ludden taught chemistry and mathematics at a secondary school in Arochuku, Nigeria, from 1963 to 1965. During several vacations, he helped build a pipe organ in the town of Calabar.

The Peace Corps gave me an opportunity to experience another culture closely, and learning new corporate cultures in the United States is not quite sufficient any longer. I can more readily accept some of the cultural and philosophical differences that we encounter when dealing with people of different backgrounds, economic levels, and heritage. I also better accept people where they are, after seeing what the really poor have to put up with.

At one point I seriously wondered if, by teaching Western science and math to West Africans, I was really doing the world any good. I never really could answer the question, but realized that if I didn't believe that I was helping my only alternative was despair. A couple of my fellow volunteers met that fate and had to be sent home early.

Working in an underdeveloped country like Nigeria gave me a sense of technical omnipotence that has persisted, for better or worse. So I've flitted from one thing to another as the opportunity arose: pipe organ building, roofing engineering, Ph.D. in forest economics, research science, management consulting and, finally, computing, figuring that would pay for a while.

The experience in Nigeria meant enough to me that I'd willingly do it again. My wife, Carol, and I have actually applied for an overseas mission where I would be useful as a technician. We also travel to a retreat center in Cuernavaca, Mexico, run by a group of 250 Benedictine nuns who work mostly with poor, indigenous people in different areas, including a very poor region of northern Nicaragua. The Peace Corps experience gave me a good preparation for visits there.

When I visit Latin America I'm constantly puttering around, fixing the car, the water pump, oiling rusty hinges, etc. But I try to learn from the poor, too—something that I did not do very well in the Peace Corps, where I mostly read books and visited other volunteers in my spare time.

I would recommend the Peace Corps to anyone willing to learn more about themselves and another culture, and to possibly be a great help to someone.

When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

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December 10, 2004: This Week's Top Stories Dodd says Rumsfeld's answer was unacceptable 9 Dec RPCV Blake Willeford runs classic movie theatre 9 Dec RPCV says education is key to curbing AIDS 9 Dec RPCV Dannielle Tegeder opens exhibition 9 Dec Shalala 1st Woman In Touchdown Club 9 Dec "Today we have a new country" says Toledo 9 Dec DDN wins Investigative Reporting Award 8 Dec Celeste on Panel to study Colorado finances 8 Dec RPCV leads Rotary Club medical team to Togo 6 Dec Vasquez to speak at Hawaii, Wisconsin commencements 6 Dec Tom Murphy warns Pittsburgh on budget abyss 2 Dec Venezuela RPCV Martha Egan runs Pachamama imports 30 Nov more top stories...

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RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

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