Richard and Betsy Bedient who have been married for 38 years served together with the Peace Corps in 1970 in the Philippines



Richard Bedient and his wife, Betsy, were newlyweds when they joined the Peace Corps in 1970. Stationed in the Philippines, they lived in a grass house with no electricity. "It was sort of a make-or-break situation," Richard said with a laugh. "There are some marriages that didn't survive the Peace Corps." The Bedients volunteered for the organization for two years following their college graduations. It was something they wanted to do before Richard, now a math professor at Hamilton College, went on to pursue his graduate degree. "I think at that time in 1970 there was a lot of, as there is today in fact, a lot of concern about America's image abroad," Richard said. Joining the Peace Corps, they felt, was a way to help. Serving as teachers in an elementary teacher education program, he and his wife provided in-service training for Philippine educators, with Richard working in math and Betsy working in English as a second language.

Richard and Betsy Bedient who have been married for 38 years served together with the Peace Corps in 1970 in the Philippines

Lending a hand overseas

Area residents share passion for teaching, motivating

August 17, 2007

Richard Bedient and his wife, Betsy, were newlyweds when they joined the Peace Corps in 1970. Stationed in the Philippines, they lived in a grass house with no electricity.

"It was sort of a make-or-break situation," Richard said with a laugh. "There are some marriages that didn't survive the Peace Corps."

The Bedients volunteered for the organization for two years following their college graduations. It was something they wanted to do before Richard, now a math professor at Hamilton College, went on to pursue his graduate degree.

Today, 46 years after its creation, the Corps reports 7,749 volunteers and trainees helping in 73 different countries. Although the locations and volunteers may have changed since the Bedients volunteered, the mission of the organization remains steady: to help the people of interested countries meet their need for trained men and women, and to promote a better understanding of and among Americans and the peoples served.

"I think at that time in 1970 there was a lot of, as there is today in fact, a lot of concern about America's image abroad," Richard said. Joining the Peace Corps, they felt, was a way to help. Serving as teachers in an elementary teacher education program, he and his wife provided in-service training for Philippine educators, with Richard working in math and Betsy working in English as a second language.

[Excerpt]


"What you really get out of it is, you begin to understand your own culture more," Richard Bedient said. "What you think is human nature, a lot of that is in fact learned cultural values." For example, he said, people in the Philippines had a different notion of personal property; "borrowing" a radio or another item without asking was an acceptable practice there.

It's a cultural lesson that sticks with him even today.

"I think it makes it harder for me to say that someone from another culture who's doing something is 'bad,'" he said. "I think it helps me . . . to be a little more understanding."

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: August, 2007; Peace Corps Philippines; Directory of Philippines RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Philippines RPCVs; Marriage

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