Mike Cavey, 25, shared a bit about the lifestyle in Turkmenistan as part of a lesson on cultural differences in Mrs. Cavey's social studies unit. Students had questions about the food, the climate and what kinds of animals live in Turkmenistan. The country is located between Iran and Kazakhstan, and the people speak both Turkmen and Russian. Cavey spoke a bit of each language during his phone call to the kids.
Darlene Cavey and her third-grade students talk via speakerphone Tuesday with her son, Mike, who is a volunteer in the Peace Corps stationed in Turkmenistan in central Asia
Son in Peace Corps chats with mom's 3rd-grade class
By Carrie Hutton
Wausau Daily Herald
chutton@wdhprint.com
Caption: Darlene Cavey and her third-grade students talk via speakerphone Tuesday with her son, Mike, who is a volunteer in the Peace Corps stationed in Turkmenistan in central Asia. Corey Schjoth/Wausau Daily Herald
G.D. Jones Elementary School teacher Darlene Cavey hadn't talked to her son, Mike, who's serving in the Peace Corps, for more than a year.
Tuesday, he reconnected with her and spoke to a class of third-graders via speaker phone about his work in Turkmenistan, a country of about 5 million in central Asia. Cavey teaches English at a Turkmen school where he still has 11 months left of his volunteer service. See video here
"It caught us off guard when he told us he was going to do this," said Mike's dad, Justin Cavey. Cavey said the family had never been involved with Peace Corps and, in fact, Mike had never even boarded a plane before he left in 2006 to live overseas.
Mike Cavey, 25, shared a bit about the lifestyle in Turkmenistan as part of a lesson on cultural differences in Mrs. Cavey's social studies unit. Students had questions about the food, the climate and what kinds of animals live in Turkmenistan. The country is located between Iran and Kazakhstan, and the people speak both Turkmen and Russian. Cavey spoke a bit of each language during his phone call to the kids.
"It sounded like he was right next door," said third-grader Katlyn Gauger. "It was excellent to talk to someone far away across the Atlantic Ocean."
It's the first time that the Peace Corps has let its volunteers communicate directly by phone with some of the classes across the country currently writing them letters, Cavey said.
Hearing Mike's voice meant a great deal to a mother who won't see her son until his 27-month service is over, but Darlene Cavey said she is happy for what her son is accomplishing.
"It was his wish and his dream, and he's fulfilling what he wants to do in his life," she said.
