The Gambia RPCV Jamie Rhein writes: Jack Keroauc's On the Road Turns 50



"When I think of travel, Jack Keroauc comes to mind. Yesterday I came across articles about this being the 50th anniversary of the year On the Road was published. Growing up with that traveler gene, I missed out on this book, but carried its title with me in my head until I read it sometime after my Peace Corps days. Still, Keroauc paved the way for those of us with a passion for travel, pondering and writing about those experiences, hopefully touching on what is the soul of those we meet along the way--and ourselves."

The Gambia RPCV Jamie Rhein writes: Jack Keroauc's On the Road Turns 50

Jack Keroauc's On the Road Turns 50

Posted Aug 15th 2007 10:15AM by Jamie Rhein
Filed under: History, Events, United States

"What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing?- it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's goodbye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies." Part 2, Chapter 8, page 156 (From Web site Book Rags: Quotes from Jack Keroauc's On the Road.)

Isn't this just a perfect sentiment about what travel feels like sometimes? When I think of travel, Jack Keroauc comes to mind. Yesterday I came across articles about this being the 50th anniversary of the year On the Road was published. Growing up with that traveler gene, I missed out on this book, but carried its title with me in my head until I read it sometime after my Peace Corps days. Still, Keroauc paved the way for those of us with a passion for travel, pondering and writing about those experiences, hopefully touching on what is the soul of those we meet along the way--and ourselves.

If you want to brush up on Keroauc, here is a link to an NPR show about him. There are some terrific photos, anecdotes and audio tapes of him reading from his work. Here's another link to the New York Times Arts Beat section where people are currently leaving comments about the book's lessons. This is what tipped me off about the anniversary. There were 154 comments last I checked.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: August, 2007; Peace Corps The Gambia; Directory of The Gambia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for The Gambia RPCVs

When this story was posted in August 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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

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Paul Theroux: Peace Corps Writer Paul Theroux began by writing about the life he knew in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer. His first first three novels are set in Africa and two of his later novels recast his Peace Corps tour as fiction. Read about how Theroux involved himself with rebel politicians, was expelled from Malawi, and how the Peace Corps tried to ruin him financially in John Coyne's analysis and appreciation of one of the greatest American writers of his generation (who also happens to be an RPCV).

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Dodd issues call for National Service Standing on the steps of the Nashua City Hall where JFK kicked off his campaign in 1960, Presidential Candidate Chris Dodd issued a call for National Service. "Like thousands of others, I heard President Kennedy's words and a short time later joined the Peace Corps." Dodd said his goal is to see 40 million people volunteering in some form or another by 2020. "We have an appetite for service. We like to be asked to roll up our sleeves and make a contribution," he said. "We haven't been asked in a long time."

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July 9, 2007: This Month's Top Stories O'Hanlon says "soft partition" occurring in Iraq 9 Jul Eric R. Green writes on coming oil crisis 8 Jul Why Dodd joined the Peace Corps 5 Jul Jim Doyle positioned for third term 5 Jul Michael Adlerstein to direct UN Master Plan 3 Jul Shalala says Veterans report will be solution driven 1 Jul Blackwill says: No process will make up for stupidity 30 Jun Allan Reed creates a Diaspora Skills Transfer Program 29 Jun State Dept apology ends hold on Green nomination 28 Jun Call for stories to celebrate PC 50th Anniversary 25 Jun Michael Shereikis is singer and guitarist for Chopteeth 25 Jun Christopher R. Hill Visits North Korea 22 Jun Tschetter at JFK Bust Unveiling Ceremony 21 Jun Kiribati too risky for PCVs 17 Jun James Rupert writes: US calls for free Pakistani elections 17 Jun Colin Cowherd says PCVs are losers 7 Jun Tony Hall Warns of Food Shortages in North Korea 7 Jun Youth Theatre performs Spencer Smith's "Voices from Chernobyl" 7 Jun Ifugao names forest park after Julia Campbell 6 Jun Anissa Paulsen assembles "The Many Colors of Islam" 5 Jun Obituary for Nepal RPCV Loret Miller Ruppe 2 Jun Forty PCVS to arrive in Ethiopia 2 Jun

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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 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.

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