Charlotte Phillips served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Brazil in the 1960's



"Bill Gray, a fellow volunteer, was one of those people everyone likes. He introduced me to his fiancee, Miriam, who had arrived in Rio from California with a wedding dress and champagne. She and Bill were to marry and honeymoon in Brazil. Miriam, with her blazing red hair, quick wit, outspokenness and sense of humor, became my instant friend."

Charlotte Phillips served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Brazil in the 1960's

Friendship transcends time and space

THE YEAR WAS 1966. The place was Rio de Janeiro. The occasion was the reunion of a group of Peace Corps volunteers who had trained together at the University of Wisconsin two years earlier and had been working all over Brazil.

Bill Gray, a fellow volunteer, was one of those people everyone likes. He introduced me to his fiancee, Miriam, who had arrived in Rio from California with a wedding dress and champagne. She and Bill were to marry and honeymoon in Brazil. Miriam, with her blazing red hair, quick wit, outspokenness and sense of humor, became my instant friend.

After a medical exam, Bill was to be sent back to Washington for further tests. He asked me to look after Miriam. I had booked third-class passage on a Dutch ship from Rio to Cape Town, South Africa, but it wasn't leaving for three weeks, so I was going by bus to Uruguay and Argentina. Would she like to go? Sure.

After Bill left, we took off on a memorable journey on rickety buses over treacherous terrain. Her feet were swollen, and she was less than thrilled at the rustic accommodations, including outhouses. She threatened to kill me.

We returned to Rio two weeks later, drank her wedding champagne and did the silly things young people do when they have their whole lives ahead of them.

On the eve of my departure, we partied with friends in Copacabana. Rio never sleeps so we had no idea that daylight had arrived, and had to hustle to catch my ship. It was preparing to pull away as we ran frantically down the pier, yelling for it to stop.

I hung over the side to shout goodbyes. Miriam kept saying, "Jump, jump."

At every embassy in every country I visited throughout Africa, and later in Egypt, where I managed to get a job, I got letters from Miriam. We stayed in touch for years. She and Bill got married, and I visited them after my return to the United States. But life has a way of piling up on you, and years have a way of speeding past, and with various moves, we lost contact.

FAST-FORWARD to 2006. While preparing to move to Hilo last year after selling my Kaneohe home, I came across some letters from Miriam. Knowing she had spent part of her childhood in Davis, Calif., I put an ad in the Davis paper to try to find her. The response was instant. Soon we were sending long e-mails every day. Plus cards, letters, newspaper clippings and gifts.

Bill had died, and Miriam was married to Ed Duffy. They said they were coming to visit, and they did. It was as if the years had melted away. There we were, talking at the same time, expounding on our adamant political views, which fortunately are identical. And discussing the animal shelters, wildlife groups and environmental organizations we support. Again, identical. And watching the NBA playoffs and cheering for our favorite players and teams. Yes. Identical.

So much happened to both of us over the years, but our soul connection was never lost.

Charlotte Phillips is a former Star-Bulletin copy editor.

When this story was posted in June 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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Chris Dodd considers run for the White House Senator Chris Dodd plans to spend the next six to eight months raising money and reaching out to Democrats around the country to gauge his viability as a candidate. Just how far Dodd can go depends largely on his ability to reach Democrats looking for an alternative to Hillary Clinton. PCOL Comment: Dodd served as a Volunteer in the Dominican Republic and has been one of the strongest supporters of the Peace Corps in Congress.

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The RPCV who wrote about Ben Hogan Probably no RPCV has done more to further the Third Goal of the Peace Corps than John Coyne with the Peace Corps Writers web site and newsletter that he and Marian Haley Beil have produced since 1989. Now John returns to writing about his first love - golf in "The Caddie who knew Ben Hogan." Read an excerpt from his novel, an interview with the author and a schedule of his book readings in Maryland and DC this week.

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The Peace Corps Library The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory. New: Sign up to receive PCOL Magazine, our free Monthly Magazine by email. Like to keep up with Peace Corps news as it happens? Sign up to recieve a daily summary of Peace Corps stories from around the world.

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Vasquez testifies before Senate Committee Director Vasquez testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on his nomination as the new Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture replacing Tony Hall. He has been the third longest serving Peace Corps Director after Loret Ruppe Miller and Sargent Shriver. PCOL Comment: Read our thanks to Director Vasquez for his service to the Peace Corps.

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PC evacuates East Timor, hopes to return Volunteers serving in East Timor have safely left the country as a result of the recent civil unrest and government instability. Latest: The Peace Corps has informed us that they are monitoring the security situation on a daily basis and that it is the intention of the Peace Corps to return to East Timor if the security situation improves.

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First Amendment Watch Maine Web Report hit with Federal Lawsuit Website wins trademark suit against Jerry Falwell

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Interview with a Hit Man RPCV John Perkins says that for many years he was an "economic hit man" in the world of international finance whose primary job was to convince less developed countries to accept multibillion dollar loans for infrastructure projects that left the recipient countries wallowing in debt and highly vulnerable to outside political and commercial interests. In this exclusive interview for "Peace Corps Online," Colombia RPCV Joanne Roll, author of Remember with Honor, talks to Perkins about his Peace Corps service, his relation with the NSA, "colonization" in Ecuador, the consequences of his work, why he decided to speak out, and what his hopes are for change.

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PC Program in Chad temporarily suspended Director Vasquez announced the temporary suspension of the Peace Corps program in Chad on April 14 and that all 29 Peace Corps volunteers have left the country. With a program dating back forty years (See Page 4 of the April 1966 "Peace Corps Volunteer"), RPCVs hope that volunteers can return to Chad as soon as the situation has stabilized. Congratulations to the Peace Corps for handling the suspension quickly and professionally.

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Peace Corps stonewalls on FOIA request The Ashland Daily Tidings reports that Peace Corps has blocked their request for information on the Volkart case. "After the Tidings requested information pertaining to why Volkart was denied the position — on March 2 — the newspaper received a letter from the Peace Corps FOIA officer stating the requested information was protected under an exemption of the act." The Dayton Daily News had similar problems with FOIA requests for their award winning series on Volunteer Safety and Security.

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PCOL readership increases 100% Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

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History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

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PC announces new program in Cambodia Director Vasquez and Cambodia's Deputy Chief of Mission Meng Eang Nay announced a historic new partnership between the Peace Corps and the Kingdom of Cambodia that will bring volunteers to this Southeast Asian country for the first time. Under King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen, Cambodia has welcomed new partnerships with the U.S. government and other U.S. organizations.

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Invitee re-assigned after inflammatory remarks The Peace Corps has pulled the invitation to Derek Volkart to join the Morocco Training Program and offered him a position in the Pacific instead after officials read an article in which he stated that his decision to join the Peace Corps was in "response to our current fascist government." RPCV Lew Nash says that "If Derek Volkart spoke his mind as freely in Morocco about the Moroccan monarchy it could cause major problems for himself and other Peace Corps volunteers." Latest: Volkart reverses stance, takes new assignment in Paraguay.

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RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps Timothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case.

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Military Option sparks concerns The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. Read our poll results. Latest: Congress passed a bill on December 22 including language to remove Peace Corps from the National Call to Service (NCS) military recruitment program

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Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject.

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