2006.08.21: August 21, 2006: Headlines: COS - Ukraine: Maryville Daily Forum: Billi Walker has been accepted into the Peace Corps, and will be leaving for Ukraine, where she will teach English as a foreign language at a secondary school

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Ukraine: Peace Corps Ukraine : The Peace Corps in the Ukraine: 2006.08.21: August 21, 2006: Headlines: COS - Ukraine: Maryville Daily Forum: Billi Walker has been accepted into the Peace Corps, and will be leaving for Ukraine, where she will teach English as a foreign language at a secondary school

By Admin1 (admin) (ppp-70-245-27-107.dsl.okcyok.swbell.net - 70.245.27.107) on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 8:52 am: Edit Post

Billi Walker has been accepted into the Peace Corps, and will be leaving for Ukraine, where she will teach English as a foreign language at a secondary school

Billi Walker has been accepted into the Peace Corps, and will be leaving for Ukraine, where she will teach English as a foreign language at a secondary school

Most people wouldn't want to be in a foreign country, an ocean away from home, surrounded by people they don't know, in a city they're unfamiliar with, all while struggling to learn the alien language and culture around them.

Billi Walker has been accepted into the Peace Corps, and will be leaving for Ukraine, where she will teach English as a foreign language at a secondary school

Walker awaiting her Peace

Published: Monday, August 21, 2006 7:44 PM CDT
E-mail this story | Print this page

Maryville woman accepted into Corps

By JOHN LUDWIG

newsroom@asde.net

Forum Reporter

Most people wouldn't want to be in a foreign country, an ocean away from home, surrounded by people they don't know, in a city they're unfamiliar with, all while struggling to learn the alien language and culture around them.

But 22-year-old Billi Walker can't wait to do just that.

Walker, who was born and raised in Maryville, has been accepted into the Peace Corps, and will be leaving, Sept. 28 for the Ukraine, where she will teach English as a foreign language at a secondary school.

A recent April graduate from Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., Walker is no stranger to traveling abroad and helping others.

"The summer after my freshman year in college, I went on a mission trip for a month and a half where we taught English in Portugal," Walker said.

Walker said she first traveled overseas with her mom when she was 16, "and I have just loved being abroad ever since."

Receiving her degree in international studies, Walker said she considered getting a job right after college, before she decided to pursue joining the Peace Corps.

"I had an emphasis in international business studies, and I had looked into doing something with a large business in New York City, but nothing really excited me like the Peace Corps did.

It would be safe to say that both Walker's experience teaching English in a foreign country and the versatility of her education contributed to the Peace Corps accepting her.

"My degree and the classes I took required a lot of studying about different cultures," she said. "I studied abroad my sophomore year, and I think that that has helped me to understand more about different cultures and have a better idea about what I'm getting into."

And Walker's acceptance into the corps wasn't as assured as it may have been back in the early '60s, when the Peace Corps was first founded by President John F. Kennedy.

"It has become more selective in the past few years," Walker said. "They've gotten to the point where they don't really accept people who haven't graduated college yet."

In fact, a look at the statistics of the Peace Corps shows that 96 percent of its members have at least an undergraduate degree.

While Walker doesn't know any Ukrainian yet, she said that's not going to be a big hindrance in her ability to teach, since she will primarily be working with 10- to 17-year-olds.

"I won't have to know the language in order to teach, but it will be very necessary for me to survive in the country," she said.

Walker will also undergo a three-month training course, while living with a local family where she can learn about the language and the country firsthand.

"Part of our training will focus on teaching us how to teach," she said. "For the first six months, we live with host families that will help us get adjusted to the culture."

To date, more than 182,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps since it was established March 1, 1961, by Kennedy's executive order.

While primarily known for their humanitarian projects, the Peace Corps' mission statement has three goals:

1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.

2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.

3. Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

These core principles are what attracted Walker, and her willingness to serve, to the corps.

"I've always wanted to do more than just a job where I simply make money," she said. "If I do anything, I want to be able to help people while I do it. This gives me the opportunity to help people, while not having to provide for myself."

Although serving for 27 months in a foreign country is a big commitment, Walker said she's been surrounded by the love and support of friends and family.

"I have a friend who applied for the Peace Corps last fall and she was accepted to go to the Republic of Georgia, and she's been a big encouragement to me," Walker said.

And Walker said her mom has been encouraging, too.

"She's just excited that I'm doing what I want to do with my life," she said.

Being accepted into the corps has been something of a dream come true for Walker, who said she didn't really have any other plans after college besides applying for the corps.

"I'm very excited to be going, and I'm excited to see where it will take me later in life," she said.

Walker is only one of 7,810 volunteers in the Peace Corps.

Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush pledged to increase the size of the corps, two-fold, by 2007, in an effort to stem the growing anti-U.S. sentiment in the Middle East.

According to Joseph Kennedy, father of the late president, "The American reputation has taken a hit in the last couple of years. The need for the Peace Corps couldn't be more urgent. The Peace Corps shows what is best in America, the generosity of spirit."





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


Contact PCOLBulletin BoardRegisterSearch PCOLWhat's New?

Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
He served with honor Date: September 12 2006 No: 983 He served with honor
One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

Top Stories and Breaking News PCOL Magazine Peace Corps Library RPCV Directory Sign Up

September 12, 2006: This Month's Top Stories Date: September 12 2006 No: 984 September 12, 2006: This Month's Top Stories
John Coyne writes: The Lion in the Garden 12 Sep
John McCain says: We passed up an opportunity after 911 12 Sep
Jody Olsen speaks at Headquarters about 911 11 Sep
Bill Moyers Returns to Investigative Reporting 8 Sep
Boating Accident kills two PCVs in Mali 7 Sep
Director Vasquez bids Farewell to Washington 7 Sep
James Rupert writes: Pact reached with pro-Taliban forces 6 Sep
Carol Bellamy to speak at Global Risk Conference 5 Sep
New trial ordered for Jerry Mark in murder case 2 Sep
Ken Hill to step down as NPCA Chairman 1 Sep
Clintons, Gearans dine at resort 1 Sep
'Chris Matthews' Turns 5 31 Aug
Taylor Hackford thinks Chuck Berry is a pain in the ass 31 Aug
John Kefalas alleges dirty tactics in house race 30 Aug
DRI receives Charity Navigator's highest ratings 29 Aug
Kris Holloway writes "Monique and the Mango Rains'' 28 Aug
Richard Celeste writes: Watch Out For Voting Day Bugs 28 Aug
Donna Shalala boosted UM's image 27 Aug
Leonard Robinson devoted his life to the underserved 24 Aug
Phil Hardberger will run for re-election in 2007 24 Aug
Snakes on the Plain - the black mamba 23 Aug
Eunice Kennedy Shriver still going strong 20 Aug

Meet Ron Tschetter - Our Next Director Date: September 6 2006 No: 978 Meet Ron Tschetter - Our Next Director
Read our story about Ron Tschetter's confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that was carried on C-Span. It was very different from the Vasquez hearings in 2001, very cut and dried with low attendance by the public. Among the highlights, Tschetter intends to make recruitment of baby boomers a priority, there are 20 countries under consideration for future programs, Senator Dodd intends to re-introduce his third goal Peace Corps legislation this session, Tschetter is a great admirer of Senator Coleman's quest for accountability, Dodd thinks management at PC may not put volunteers first, Dodd wants Tschetter to look into problems in medical selection, and Tschetter is not a blogger and knows little about the internet or guidelines for volunteer blogs. Read our recap of the hearings as well as Senator Coleman's statement and Tschetter's statement.

The Peace Corps Library Date: July 11 2006 No: 923 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 or leave a message on our Bulletin Board. New: Sign up to receive our free Monthly Magazine by email, research the History of the Peace Corps, or sign up for a daily news summary of Peace Corps stories. FAQ: Visit our FAQ for more information about PCOL.

Chris Shays Shifts to Favor an Iraq Timetable Date: September 2 2006 No: 971 Chris Shays Shifts to Favor an Iraq Timetable
In a policy shift, RPCV Congressman Chris Shays, long a staunch advocate of the Bush administration's position in Iraq, is now proposing a timetable for a withdrawal of American troops. How Mr. Shays came to this change of heart is, he says, a matter of a newfound substantive belief that Iraqis need to be prodded into taking greater control of their own destiny under the country’s newly formed government. As Chairman of the House Government Reform subcommittee on national security, he plans to draft a timetable for a phased withdrawal and then push for its adoption. A conscientious objector during the Vietnam War who said that if drafted he would not serve, Chris Shays has made 14 trips to Iraq and was the first Congressman to enter the country after the war - against the wishes of the Department of Defense.

Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance Date: August 19 2006 No: 964 Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance
The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again Date: July 31 2006 No: 947 The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again
The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

Support the US-Peruvian Trade Pact Date: July 20 2006 No: 930 Support the US-Peruvian Trade Pact
Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, the Peace Corps President, has been lobbying both Democratic and Republican legislators to support the US-Peruvian trade pact before July 28, when his term ends and a US congressional recess begins. If President Bush fails to get approval before Congress goes on recess, it will be a case study proving that the United States does not reward its friends. Please call your representatives.

Chris Dodd considers run for the White House Date: June 3 2006 No: 903 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.

First Amendment Watch Date: May 4 2006 No: 883 First Amendment Watch
Maine Web Report hit with Federal Lawsuit
Website wins trademark suit against Jerry Falwell

Peace Corps stonewalls on FOIA request Date: April 12 2006 No: 869 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.

PCOL readership increases 100% Date: April 3 2006 No: 853 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.

History of the Peace Corps Date: March 18 2006 No: 834 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.

RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps Date: February 3 2006 No: 780 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.

Military Option sparks concerns Date: January 3 2006 No: 773 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

Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger Date: October 22 2005 No: 738 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.


Read the stories and leave your comments.






Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Maryville Daily Forum

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Ukraine

PCOL34161
90


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: