Lutterloh said he will live with a Guinean family for the first three months to learn the culture. "There will probably be no electricity or plumbing," he said. "I know I will miss a hot shower every morning." Lutterloh has been vaccinated for many diseases and has already started taking malaria tablets. The Peace Corps has a large medical staff in Guinea, he said. "My daughter is an infectious disease specialist who has been to Africa," he said. "She has helped me prepare for this." A former French teacher at the old Linden High School, Lutterloh said his language skills will help him in the French-speaking Republic of Guinea. "It is a Peace Corps requirement that you speak the native language," he said. Lutterloh said he will take a laptop computer and is trying to buy a satellite phone. He will stay in touch with friends and relatives, including his son Stephen, who is a student at Harrison High School.
Jim Lutterloh will begin the adventure of a lifetime as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Republic of Guinea
Never too late to give Peace (Corps) a chance
By BOB SCOTT
bscott@journalandcourier.com
Caption: Jim Lutterloh, 64, of Romney, packs his bags Tuesday for an upcoming two-year trip with the Peace Corps to Guinea. Photo: Jim Lutterloh, 64, of Romney, packs his bags Tuesday for an upcoming two-year trip with the Peace Corps to Guinea.
On Saturday, Jim Lutterloh will begin the adventure of a lifetime.
The Romney resident, 64, will leave Indiana to start training for the Peace Corps, a two-year commitment.
After stops in Philadelphia and Brussels, Belgium, he will arrive next Tuesday in the Republic of Guinea. He will be among 37 Peace Corps volunteers traveling to the west African nation.
"I've never done anything like this before," he said this week. "I have a combination of nervousness and excitement."
Lutterloh is part of an emerging trend. During the past year, the Peace Corps has focused on attracting older volunteers, said Christine Torres of the regional Peace Corps office in Chicago.
"There has been a concentrated effort to recruit baby boomers and older volunteers," she said. "We realized there are a lot of the Kennedy generation reaching retirement.
"They are looking for something different and have knowledge and experience and want to pass that on to help others."
The Peace Corps was started in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to promote world peace and friendship. Today, a total of 8,079 Americans serve in the Peace Corps. Of that number, about 5 percent are aged 50 or older.
There is no upper age limit on volunteers, but they must be healthy and a U.S. citizen. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment that includes training.
Lutterloh, the former owner of a local nursery and hardware store, said he will use his economic expertise to help Guineans develop small businesses.
"They probably think they're getting a 24-year-old," he said with a laugh. "I've been told they respect their elders. I'll probably become a village elder."
Lutterloh said he will live with a Guinean family for the first three months to learn the culture.
"There will probably be no electricity or plumbing," he said. "I know I will miss a hot shower every morning."
Lutterloh has been vaccinated for many diseases and has already started taking malaria tablets. The Peace Corps has a large medical staff in Guinea, he said.
"My daughter is an infectious disease specialist who has been to Africa," he said. "She has helped me prepare for this."
A former French teacher at the old Linden High School, Lutterloh said his language skills will help him in the French-speaking Republic of Guinea.
"It is a Peace Corps requirement that you speak the native language," he said.
Lutterloh said he will take a laptop computer and is trying to buy a satellite phone. He will stay in touch with friends and relatives, including his son Stephen, who is a student at Harrison High School.
"He's not upset about me going," he said. "He's happy to get my Purdue basketball tickets while I'm gone."
He said he will earn two vacation days each month and can accumulate them.
"I will probably come home once," he said. "I can't wait to get going."
