Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Michael Smith can be contacted at dpiaziplinkdnet
Country of Service: Venezuela
Training Group: unknown
Cities you served in: Valencia
Arrival Year: 1964
Departure Year: 1968
Work Description:
Helped establish first computer Center at Universidad de Carabobo (engineering school). Taught class to improve professors' English pronunciation. NB: Left PC voluntarily in 1963 but remained in Venezuela with IBM World Trade until 1965 & then until 1968 as Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at University of Carabobo.
Bring us up to date on your life after the peace corps:
Returned to obtain PhD in Computer Science. Worked for United Nations in Bratislavia, Czechoslovakia in 1971. Consulted to University of Oslo, Norway. Joined Digital Equipment Corp. in Stockholm, Sweden in 1975. Transferred by company to HQ in Massachusetts in 1978. Private consulting in MA since 1992.
Any thoughts you have now looking back on peace corps days?:
Was extremely valuable in perfecting my Spanish & preparing me for work, life, & language acquisition in other countries. Although I left the PC prematurely due to policy disagreements with PC in-country mgmt, I believe that the ensuing years were of benefit to the US in terms of PR.
Anyone you are looking for or would like to hear from?:
Any other volunteers who were in Venezuela at that time & who remember me or my then-wife Sandra Pinkerton.
Any message for returned volunteers?:
Always think of the broader lessons learned from your experience. For example, having mastered the art (& skill) of enjoying cultural differences, I found it very easy to enjoy the experience of living behind the Iron Curtain in the 70s. This in turn gave me added appreciation for life (as imperfect as it is) in the US.
Originally posted: January 15, 2005
