Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Pindie Stephen can be contacted at pindiestephenagmaildcom
Country of Service: Thailand
Training Group: 73
Cities you served in: Nong Rua (near Khon Kaen) and Chiang Mai
Arrival Year: 1982
Departure Year: 1985
Work Description:
My first year I taught "Maw" 1 and "Maw" 2 students. During my second year I worked at two sites; at Mae Rim Wittayakhom and Chiang Mai Teacher's College. During my third year I taught at the teacher's college and worked at the Supervisory Unit for the area, assisting in ESL related activites. I also taught at several summer camps held in Phuket, Surin, and elsewhere.
Bring us up to date on your life after the peace corps:
After I married David Derthick, who served in Group 71 (he was there a year before me) we left Thailand in '85 and lived in DC for a year, and then moved to Chapel Hill, NC where David got an MPH. After David and I got our Masters, we moved back overseas again. We lived and worked for 7 years in the Philippines. Now we both work in Kenya, where we've been living for ten years. We have two daughters, Kara (17) and Katia (15). I am the Regional Cultural Orientation Coordinator, and help deliver pre-departure orientation to refugees who will be resettled in the US, Canada and Australia. David is Head of Operations, and we both work for IOM -- the International Organization for Migration.
Any thoughts you have now looking back on peace corps days?:
I remember my years in Thailand as some of the best years of my life. My closest buddies from Group 73 are Kevin Acers, Laura Holder, and Shawn Aldridge. I also keep in touch with Nancy Morgan.
Anyone you are looking for or would like to hear from?:
I would love to hear from anyone who knew me or David as a volunteer (friends from Groups 71 or 73?)
Originally posted: July 18, 2011
Related Links:
Peace Corps Annual Report: 1982; Peace Corps Thailand; Directory of Thailand RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Thailand RPCVs
