1966: James B Sampson served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Iran in Bijar/Isfahan beginning in 1966



Returned Peace Corps Volunteer James B Sampson can be contacted at Jim_Sampsonaalumnidtuftsdedu

Country of Service: Iran

Training Group: Iran 11 (Health) Brattleboro, VT

Cities you served in: Bijar/Isfahan

Arrival Year: 1966

Departure Year: 1968

Work Description:

Bijar: Hospital lab technician during the day & taught gymnastics in afternoon. Isfahan: teaching assistant in experimental psychology lab at Isfahan University.

Bring us up to date on your life after the peace corps:

Returned home to Los Angeles and was immediately drafted into the Army. After basic training was assigned to an Army medical research unit as a psychology specialist. I met my wife to be at the post and we were married before I completed service. After the Army duty I attended Tufts University and obtained a doctorate in research psychology and returned to the medical lab as a researcher. I spent my whole career at the Army Natick Labs in Massachusetts and have recently retired with my wife who is also now retired as a speech and language specialist. We have two grown children who are now on thier own and married. We are enjoying our roles now as grandparents and enjoy world travel as much as we can.

Any thoughts you have now looking back on peace corps days?:

I've always cherished my peace corps experience and have a special feeling for the people I met in Iran, especially my peace corps and Iranian friends. While great programs or monuments were not achieved while I was there and much has been lost because of political events I feel the spirit of the peace corps was accomplished, viz., a meeting and exchange of cultures. The Iranian spirit has been a part of my life ever since and I hope I left some of my Iranian friends with the spirit of America. The experience has had a major impact on who I am and I have always dreamed of some day returning when world politics is more accommodating. I regret losing contact with so many of the people I knew back then.

Anyone you are looking for or would like to hear from?:

Anyone from our PC group (Iran XI) but especially my room mates in Bijar and Isfahan. Among these are Bo Razak, Jim Zdon, Mike Hulbert, Bill Parks and Kathy Moore. Unfortunately there are many names I don't remember and have no record of except a couple of first names: Joe, Poly. I do remember Fred Moskol in our training program in Brattleboro who I see has entered his name to this list. Fred, as I recall, was the 'old man' of our group (36?) and was greatly admired by everyone on the team and the PC staff. There is also a PVC who was a friend from my undergraduate days at the U. of Utah who also was assigned later to Iran, Tom Herman. It would be great to hear from them.



Originally posted: 3/2/2009

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By Bill Parks (66.189.173.214) on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - 7:40 pm: Edit Post

Jim,



I review the RPC site occasionally and saw your comments! Great to catch up on your life after the Peace Corps.



I’ve lost contact with most of our small group. For a number of years, I kept in contact with Jim Zdon and Marilyn Hake. On a number of occasions in the ‘70s, Jim traveled to California for visits and our attempts at skiing.



I really appreciate my experiences in Iran, all of which have been at the core of my personal growth.



Good to catch up!



Best of thoughts,



Bill Parks

By Mohammad Vakili (173.63.29.211) on Monday, July 15, 2013 - 7:56 pm: Edit Post

Jim,

Wonderful to have found you, albeit online!
I believe you, and if I am not mistaken Samson, rented from us in your days of service in Bijar.
I was about 5 or 6 in those days but clearly remember you guys,the snowball fights, your adopted dog, ... My brother and I often reminisce about having you guys and those days.

I would love to get in touch with you and catch you up on the past 45 or so years. Please drop me a line (mrvakili@yahoo.com) and let me know how.