2006.12.14: December 14, 2006: Headlines: COS - Moldova: Evansville Courier & Press: Mindy McDurman learned a lot during her tour in Peace Corps in Moldova
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2006.12.14: December 14, 2006: Headlines: COS - Moldova: Evansville Courier & Press: Mindy McDurman learned a lot during her tour in Peace Corps in Moldova
Mindy McDurman learned a lot during her tour in Peace Corps in Moldova
Mindy served in the Peace Corps from 1994 to 1996. She was stationed in Moldava, a former Soviet republic on the Black Sea between Ukraine and Romania. At one time or another, she taught all 12 grades in the small village of Nisporeni. "The school had no electricity and no running water. There were rows of tin outhouses. And no toilet paper. You used the pages from old Russian books." She was the first American the villagers had ever seen. "They thought I must be from the FBI or the CIA. It was like why else would I want to be in such a poor country?" "The highlight of my experience was that I felt I contributed to the common good and I let them see what it was like to be an American."
Mindy McDurman learned a lot during her tour in Peace Corps in Moldova
Teacher learned a lot during her tour in Peace Corps
By Garret Mathews, Courier & Press Columnist
Thursday, December 14, 2006
One of my favorite people is Mindy McDurman, a fifth-grade teacher at Cedar Hall Elementary School.
It's one of the poorer areas in Evansville. Most of the kids qualify for free meal programs. Many of the boys and girls don't live with their biological parents. Some family members have problems with drugs and alcohol. A few are in jail.
Mindy stays wonderfully upbeat and accomplishes wonders with her class. Inspired by her passion, I volunteer to take her charges on outings to ball games and to the museum.
I knew she was in the Peace Corps, but we never talked extensively about it until the other day. I'd like to share her story with the hope that some young folks will be motivated to consider service to their country in the Peace Corps or, closer to home, AmeriCorps.
Mindy served in the Peace Corps from 1994 to 1996. She was stationed in Moldava, a former Soviet republic on the Black Sea between Ukraine and Romania. At one time or another, she taught all 12 grades in the small village of Nisporeni.
"The school had no electricity and no running water. There were rows of tin outhouses. And no toilet paper. You used the pages from old Russian books."
She was the first American the villagers had ever seen.
"They thought I must be from the FBI or the CIA. It was like why else would I want to be in such a poor country?"
The government, she says, was corrupt and there wasn't much of a legal system.
"A man was murdered right in the middle of the village. I expected to at least see some yellow crime scene tape, but there was nothing. It was like that kind of thing was no big deal.
"And it was OK for a Moldavan man to beat his wipe. Rape wasn't considered a crime. I definitely had a problem with the way they treated women."
Ten members of her Peace Corps group of 28 quit the program during her tour of duty.
"I definitely got homesick. My niece and nephew were born while I was over there. The power was hit and miss. I spent a lot of evenings by myself, reading by candlelight."
Mindy didn't take a shower the entire time she was in Moldava.
"I had a bucket of water and a cup. That was it."
Her students were well-behaved and motivated learners, especially when studying English.
"They knew that getting good at our language was their key to maybe being able to get out of their country. It was heart-breaking. They kept asking if I could take them to America."
Classes were held six days a week. After dismissal, she bought supper at one of the open-air markets.
"The highlight of my experience was that I felt I contributed to the common good and I let them see what it was like to be an American."
And the lowlights?
"I constantly saw adults and children going through my garbage. I was by far the wealthiest person in the village and they wanted to see what I left behind.
"We don't realize how lucky we are here. We have more choices in our stores of dog food than they have of anything."
- Garret Mathews' column appears Tuesday through Thursday plus Sunday. You can leave comments for him by calling 464-7527 or by e-mail at gmathews@evansville.net
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: December, 2006; Peace Corps Moldova; Directory of Moldova RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Moldova RPCVs; Indiana
When this story was posted in March 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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Story Source: Evansville Courier & Press
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