2008.05.23: May 23, 2008: Headlines: COS - Thailand: Older Volunteers: MetroWest Daily News: It was not until Don Crosby neared his 70th birthday that he and his wife, Diane, fulfilled their dream of going overseas to lend a helping hand as Peace Corps Volunteers in Thailand
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2008.05.23: May 23, 2008: Headlines: COS - Thailand: Older Volunteers: MetroWest Daily News: It was not until Don Crosby neared his 70th birthday that he and his wife, Diane, fulfilled their dream of going overseas to lend a helping hand as Peace Corps Volunteers in Thailand
It was not until Don Crosby neared his 70th birthday that he and his wife, Diane, fulfilled their dream of going overseas to lend a helping hand as Peace Corps Volunteers in Thailand
After training for about three months, the Crosbys were sent to a village of about 1,500 people called Thung Yang in the province of Uttaidit, about eight hours by train from Bangkok. They did not have much choice about where the Peace Corps would send them, but the Crosbys welcomed being sent to Southeast Asia. "Africa would have been fine, the Pacific would have been fine," Don said. "But we felt blessed that we ended up in Thailand. The people, culture, and location are incredible." Don worked in a local school and Diane, who worked as a nurse at Leonard Morse Hospital, used her background to help the locals. "I was doing a lot of different things at the hospital," Diane said. "I started an information group looking to help with alcoholism, which is a major problem." During their time there, the country had some trying times. In the first year, floods hit the area and filled people's homes with mud. "Don had a group of kids at the school he worked in," Diane said. "He would come together with his co-teacher, and they would go to homes and sweep out mud with straw brooms. It was 2-feet, 3-feet, even 4-feet high."
It was not until Don Crosby neared his 70th birthday that he and his wife, Diane, fulfilled their dream of going overseas to lend a helping hand as Peace Corps Volunteers in Thailand
Better late than never for Natick couple and Peace Corps
By Charlie Breitrose/Daily News staff
MetroWest Daily News
Posted May 23, 2008 @ 01:49 AM
Caption: Don Crosby and his wife, Dianne, pose with two Thai children during their Peace Corps work in the village of Thung Yang.
NATICK — Ever since President Kennedy announced the creation of the Peace Corps, Don Crosby had an urge to join. But it was not until he neared his 70th birthday that he and his wife, Diane, fulfilled their dream of going overseas to lend a helping hand.
The former Natick residents returned to their home in Falmouth this month after a two-year stint in a small village in Thailand.
Back in 1961, when John F. Kennedy launched the effort, the timing was not right, said Don, who taught for many years at Dover-Sherborn Middle School.
"It was something I got pumped about. But there was also something else going on - Diane was pregnant and had our first child," Don said.
After the couple retired, they moved to Cape Cod in 1995 to run a bed and breakfast for about nine years. Then they decided they wanted to give the Peace Corps a try.
"Over the years the urge would come in and go. In the 21st century, we made a decision to pursue it," Don said.
After training for about three months, the Crosbys were sent to a village of about 1,500 people called Thung Yang in the province of Uttaidit, about eight hours by train from Bangkok.
They did not have much choice about where the Peace Corps would send them, but the Crosbys welcomed being sent to Southeast Asia.
"Africa would have been fine, the Pacific would have been fine," Don said. "But we felt blessed that we ended up in Thailand. The people, culture, and location are incredible."
Don worked in a local school and Diane, who worked as a nurse at Leonard Morse Hospital, used her background to help the locals.
"I was doing a lot of different things at the hospital," Diane said. "I started an information group looking to help with alcoholism, which is a major problem."
During their time there, the country had some trying times. In the first year, floods hit the area and filled people's homes with mud.
"Don had a group of kids at the school he worked in," Diane said. "He would come together with his co-teacher, and they would go to homes and sweep out mud with straw brooms. It was 2-feet, 3-feet, even 4-feet high."
The country even had a military coup during the Crosbys' stay.
"When we were on a train or bus ... we went by different places where soldiers were out with guns," Diane said. "And all the (TV) channels were blocked. It was a little disconcerting."
All in all, Don said, it was a peaceful takeover, which occurred with the blessing of the king.
"He's a revered figure," Don said. "He doesn't make the law, but they certainly turn to him before they make too many decisions."
The couple also found that the Thais had a great respect for older people.
"When I mean older, it could be a 40-year-old," Diane said. "They would carry the your bundles when you shop. I would be so uncomfortable. I would try not let them do it, but you have to accept that that is their culture. It is such a different way of living."
Their life experience became an asset in working with other Peace Corps volunteers, the Crosbys found.
"The maturity level, (Peace Corps officials) feel, is a strong need," Don said. "Applicants who are 50-plus (years old) bring that to the people in the community they are serving and to younger volunteers."
"We became surrogate parents to the young volunteers," Diane said. "A lot of them were right out of college, or right out of grad school."
The living conditions were not what they were used to in the United States. For the first few months they lived in a room provided by a local family, then they moved to a small home just outside the village. Their only transportation was by foot or bike.
When they returned to Massachusetts earlier this month, Diane said she had expected some culture shock but she was astounded at the difference.
"When I walked in the door, I felt overwhelmed by my own home. It felt so big," Diane said. "It's just an average home, but it felt so huge compared with what we were living in - it would have fit in our bedroom."
The supermarket also was a big change for Diane.
"I lost my breath," she said. "There is so much here. I know it sounds trite but you don't realize what you have. They had so little, but were happy."
Although they are still readjusting to the American way of life, Diane said she still has a yearning for her time in the Peace Corps.
"I'd do it again. I miss the simplicity of life," Diane said.
(Charlie Breitrose can be reached at 508-626-3964 or cbreitro@cnc.com.)
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: May, 2008; Peace Corps Thailand; Directory of Thailand RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Thailand RPCVs; Older Volunteers
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Story Source: MetroWest Daily News
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