Lisa and I served in Botswana from 1979 to 1981. Norman and Elsa Rush were the co-directors. We lived in Muchudi. Lisa worked at the Deborah Retief Memorial Hospital as a tropical disease lab specialist, and mid-wife. I was one of the water technicians in charge of the Kgatleng District Water Maintenance Depatment. Those years were truly special. When Lisa and I married 25 years ago, we jumped on a plane and went to Botswana to serve. When this year, our 25th wedding anniversary came up, it was also our 25th anniversary serving in the United States Peace Corps. We tried for about two months to reach fellow RPCV's with whom we served and had a very difficult time due to privacy laws. We did reach Elsa Rush. Lisa and I returned to Botswana for nearly 3 weeks in October 2004 and we are now making a multi-media DVD disc with hundreds of photos and about two hours of video along with some commentary. When this disc is finished, in about April of 2005, it will be available for free to anyone who wants one. Please let me know.

By Peter R. Holden (199.145.77.202) on Friday, April 29, 2005 - 10:12 am: Edit Post

I was a Peace Corps volunteer in 1970. I accepted a job as an Agricultural Economist in Botswana only to find out that I was not qualified to do the job I was offered. I tried to get another job in agriculture, however, I was young and stupid at the time. I managed to get sent home and I regretted to this date. This past winter, I returned to Botswana with Habitat for Humanity International. We built houses in the small village of Matlhako, out in the Tuli Block. It is about an hour east of Mahalapye. The experience was fantastic and I want to go again in the future.
If there is anyone out there that served in Botswana, I would love to here from you. I did my pre-staging in Philadelphia in late September of 1970, then went home to tie up loose ends before joining my group in Botswana. That was a big mistake on my part. I should have left with my group and trained in country with my group. I came later and as a single volunteer with an attitude problem, I was dispensible. Hindsight has always been so good.
My wife and I are considering some Peace Corp work in our retirement years. I would love to go back to Africa. In the meantime, I will be heading up some Habitat builds.
If anyone wishing to e-mail me, my e-mail address is pete.holden@va.nacdnet.net