When the author announced her plans to join the Peace Corps at age 62, a male friend was skeptical, predicting that she would return home "by Christmas at the latest." However, what she found in her encounters in two towns, El Triunfo (The Triumph) and La Esperanza (The Hope), was adventure, new challenges and the motivation to extend her service beyond the usual term. Most important, she was able to finally make peace with her son's untimely death and, in her words, "forge a new direction."
Triumph & Hope: Golden Years with the Peace Corps in Honduras by Barbara E. Joe is a documentary of one woman's experience in joining the Peace Corps in her sixties
New Book Sheds Positive Light on Joining Peace Corps at Any Age
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Triumph & Hope: Golden Years with the Peace Corps in Honduras by Barbara E. Joe is a documentary of one woman's experience in joining the Peace Corps in her sixties
WASHINGTON DC (MMD Newswire) March 25, 2009 -- Triumph & Hope: Golden Years with the Peace Corps in Honduras, a new book by veteran human rights advocate Barbara E. Joe, takes readers on her autobiographical journey of self-discovery, healing, and a chance for a new beginning upon joining the Peace Corps.
When the author announced her plans to join the Peace Corps at age 62, a male friend was skeptical, predicting that she would return home "by Christmas at the latest." However, what she found in her encounters in two towns, El Triunfo (The Triumph) and La Esperanza (The Hope), was adventure, new challenges and the motivation to extend her service beyond the usual term. Most important, she was able to finally make peace with her son's untimely death and, in her words, "forge a new direction."
"Just as President Carter's mother, Miss Lillian, set an example for me to join the Peace Corps in my sixties, I hope to do the same for others now," she says. The author strives to offer an intimate look into Peace Corps service-both its highs and lows, its common elements and amazing surprises. During her service, she posted regular updates on a website she created and, after receiving numerous responses and encouragement from readers, felt compelled to share her experiences with others and inspire them to join the Peace Corps and other overseas services. The book also provides photos throughout of her time spent in Honduras.
The author wrote Triumph & Hope: Golden Years with the Peace Corps in Honduras as a fresh approach to observing the various benefits and challenges of Peace Corps service. Not just for baby boomers considering their next step or those interested in Latin America, this book is intended for anyone who recognizes the importance of living life to the fullest. The author hopes to provide an enlightening read, displaying the value of recruiting older, experienced volunteers. "If President Obama plans to double the size of the Peace Corps as promised," she says, "then he needs to reach out to recruits of all ages. My book endeavors to do that and show older, as well as younger, volunteers how much they have to offer and to gain from Peace Corps service."
For more information or to request a free review copy, members of the press can contact the author at barbaraj100@yahoo.com or at her website at http://honduraspeacecorps.blogspot.com. Triumph & Hope: Golden Years with the Peace Corps in Honduras is available for sale online at Amazon.com, BookSurge.com and through additional wholesale and retail channels worldwide. Both trade paperback and Kindle versions of the book are available.
About the Author
Barbara E. Joe, a native of Boston, holds a B.A. degree in sociology and an M.A. degree in political theory and public administration from the University of California, Berkeley. She has lived or traveled in more than 45 countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. She is currently a freelance writer and Spanish interpreter and translator living in Washington, D.C.
