2006.04.20: April 20, 2006: Headlines: COS - Malaysia: The Third Goal: Oxford Press: Malaysia RPCV Prue Dana gives fourth graders an eye-opening experience
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2006.04.20: April 20, 2006: Headlines: COS - Malaysia: The Third Goal: Oxford Press: Malaysia RPCV Prue Dana gives fourth graders an eye-opening experience
Malaysia RPCV Prue Dana gives fourth graders an eye-opening experience
Children were amazed by the souvenirs obtained during her trip. Fourth-graders oohed over a map and Malaysian artifacts she presented. They even laughed when she wrapped a few of the students in traditional Malaysian garb. But amongst the clicking of chop sticks and admiring of carved figures, a student asked Dana why she decided to travel to Malaysia. “I was always curious about other people and wanted to travel around the world,” she said. “I was curious — and that’s why I’m here now because I want to make you curious.”
Malaysia RPCV Prue Dana gives fourth graders an eye-opening experience
Peace Corps an eye-opening experience
Oxford residents tell story of giving their all for peace
Thursday, April 20, 2006
[Excerpt]
“Did you ever encounter a tiger?” a fourth-grade student asked Oxford Vice Mayor Prue Dana.
“Only in the zoo,” Dana responded.
As Kramer Elementary fourth graders gathered around Dana in the school library two weeks ago, they peppered her with questions about her past visit to Malaysia with the Peace Corps.
Besides the animals, the children were amazed by the souvenirs obtained during her trip. Fourth-graders oohed over a map and Malaysian artifacts she presented. They even laughed when she wrapped a few of the students in traditional Malaysian garb. But amongst the clicking of chop sticks and admiring of carved figures, a student asked Dana why she decided to travel to Malaysia.
“I was always curious about other people and wanted to travel around the world,” she said. “I was curious — and that’s why I’m here now because I want to make you curious.”
During the presentation she also explained how she worked in a Malaysian hospital for two years speaking with people about tuberculosis.
While the children seemed more interested with the souvenirs than hospital and TB stories, Dana was attempting to ignite something in the students that has long been burning in her as well as other Oxford residents. As part of the Peace Corps’ 45th anniversary, Dana was planting seeds, which she hoped would one day sprout interest in foreign lands. Both Dana and Oxford resident Cynthia Kelley were early participants in Peace Corps.
Malaysia
Prue Dana’s Peace Corps mission was launched at a time of unrest. As Dana was educating Malaysians about tuberculosis in 1968 — across the South China Sea, Americans were fighting in Vietnam.
“We sometimes saw service men from Vietnam,” Dana said. “Some of the volunteers from our group got drafted, and they were sent over to the Army in Vietnam.”
In Malaysia Dana worked with a hospital to inform people about TB. If someone’s cough persisted for more than two weeks, she encouraged them to be tested for TB. Dana also created a booklet, which informed people about “Mr. TB.”
The booklet was translated into three languages for the groups living in Malaysia. To her amazement a few years after her Peace Corps mission, she discovered it was used in an Eastern European country.
“Sometimes you think what you do in the Peace Corps won’t amount to much, but in this case there was a little book that was passed around,” she said.
Although Dana spent only two years in Malaysia, the experience profoundly impacted her life. During her stint, she became more aware of her surroundings which made her more observant of American culture.
“It just opened my eyes to other cultures around the world,” she said. “ you grow very long ‘antennas’ that look for cultural signs. When you come back (to America) you still have the ‘antennas,’ but you look out for your own culture.”
Those “antennas” allowed Dana to critically observe her country at a volatile time. It was her Peace Corps experiences which made this feasible.
“(The Peace Corps) takes us out of the American culture,” she explained. “If you live in another country, you learn a lot about other cultures.”
Future Peace Corps missions
Both Prue Dana and Cynthia Kelley believe the Peace Corps is an exciting opportunity for post-college graduates.
“The ideal time do it is when you graduate because you don’t have the house, family, car and dog,” Dana said.
Kelley explained it is important to possess certain skills if interested in joining the Peace Corps. Paying attention to what countries need is also essential. Obtaining experience outside of college helps as well, she said. The Teacher Corps program is one method.
Being open is another key element for those interested, Dana said. She noted translating personal experiences into Peace Corps projects can provide some direction.
“If you grew up on a farm, you can easily go into a group that is an agriculture group,” Dana said. “If you have an environmental education, you can do environmental projects.”
Kelley believes the Peace Corps has thrived for 45 years because of the people and the training involved.
“I think the success comes from the quality of people sent over there,” she said. “There’s much better training for them today.”
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Story Source: Oxford Press
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Malaysia; The Third Goal
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