2007.09.17: September 17, 2007: Headlines: COS - Kiribati: Older Volunteers: Christian Science Monitor: Carrie Parsi served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kiribati
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2007.09.17: September 17, 2007: Headlines: COS - Kiribati: Older Volunteers: Christian Science Monitor: Carrie Parsi served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kiribati
Carrie Parsi served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kiribati
In October 1999 Ms. Parsi traveled to Kiribati in the Gilbert Islands, part of Micronesia. Based on one of the outer islands, Abaiang, she lived in a native house she describes as "wonderful," made from the spine of branches of coconut trees. "It was wide open," Parsi says with a laugh. "Everything crawled in and out." As a teacher of health education, she became acquainted with those in her village. "They adopted me," Parsi says. "When I left, somebody said, 'You've been a grandmother to the village.' They're wonderful, hardworking people." Her rewards came with sacrifices. One of the biggest was the lack of communication with her family. Mail could take anywhere from five weeks to three months. There were no phones on the outer islands. Although the main island had telephone service that was "sort of up and running," she says, "you could call and call and not get through." E-mail was possible on the main island – if the electricity worked.
Carrie Parsi served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kiribati
Peace Corps recruits older volunteers
More retirees and grandparents are finding fulfillment in serving overseas.
By Marilyn Gardner | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
from the September 19, 2007 edition
[Excerpt]
Another midlife volunteer, Carrie Parsi, had been widowed for about 10 years when she joined the Peace Corps. "This is something I would have liked to do when I was younger," she says. "Now the time was right." She sold her house and car, put her furniture in storage, and turned her financial affairs over to her daughter. "It took me a full year to get all of that off the ground," she says.
In October 1999 Ms. Parsi traveled to Kiribati in the Gilbert Islands, part of Micronesia. Based on one of the outer islands, Abaiang, she lived in a native house she describes as "wonderful," made from the spine of branches of coconut trees. "It was wide open," Parsi says with a laugh. "Everything crawled in and out."
As a teacher of health education, she became acquainted with those in her village. "They adopted me," Parsi says. "When I left, somebody said, 'You've been a grandmother to the village.' They're wonderful, hardworking people."
Her rewards came with sacrifices. One of the biggest was the lack of communication with her family. Mail could take anywhere from five weeks to three months. There were no phones on the outer islands. Although the main island had telephone service that was "sort of up and running," she says, "you could call and call and not get through." E-mail was possible on the main island – if the electricity worked.
Parsi's first grandchild was born while she was away. "He was a year old before I got to meet him. That was very hard."
Even so, Parsi, now of Gloucester, Mass., calls the Peace Corps "a real blockbuster of an experience." She adds, "Had I done it when I was younger, I know I would have valued it. But doing it as an older person I truly treasured it. I felt very honored to be there in that setting and to be so accepted by the people."
Beyond the aid 50-plus volunteers give to people in their host country, they also offer a listening ear and helping hand to young volunteers. As Parsi recalls, "Many of the younger ones would come to us when times were tough."
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Headlines: September, 2007; Peace Corps Kiribati; Directory of Kiribati RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Kiribati RPCVs; Older Volunteers
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Story Source: Christian Science Monitor
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Kiribati; Older Volunteers
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