1966: Nancy Burns Butler served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia in Totora and Yapacani beginning in 1966



Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Nancy Burns Butler can be contacted at butlernancy2004ayahoodcom

Country of Service: Bolivia

Training Group: Rural Community Development Jr. Year Program at Notre Dame, IN 65-66

Cities you served in: Totora and Yapacani

Arrival Year: 1966

Departure Year: 1968

Work Description:

Trained in Quechua, so worked in countryside with Indigenous--to get government services--health, land improvements, animal care--sheep shearing, etc. In town helped to inspire building of new school (completed 3 years after I left), install rudimentary electric lines and water-based hydro system, taught health and English and Spanish in local school, taught typing at night, encouraged community projects and improved lines of communication with govt. agencies.

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

Best thing I ever did! I am a Spanish major and with my fluency improved in Bolivia--every job since has been based on language ability. Worked with US Army in Germany, Job Corps for Women in Jersey City, and after marriage taught in American curriculum schools overseas--Saudi Arabia, Philippines, Costa Rica, and Abu Dhabi. In US also taught in TX and CA. PC helped to make me a stronger, more self-assured person, I valued RCD training, and with my children raised overseas, I helped them become true internationalists, which has helped them in their employment and world citizenry. I finally returned to Bolivia 10 years ago. Yapacani bridge completed, town huge, and school well-organized. Totora still using same electric lines, school still functioning but older now, people still have strong community feeling. Very few other moderizations!

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

Would love to hear from fellow returned volunteers from Bolivia, especially from my time period there--66-68, but anyone with similar experiences.

Any message for returned volunteers?:

So proud that PC has survived! Meet new returned volunteers and have an immediate connection. Usually we/they leaders in schools, etc., so training continues to influence. Proud to have been a "community organizer" like Pres. Obama, and think I understand his talents and priorities based on that experience! I believe in universal service and hope that PC remains the base for that service opportunity. Culture shock is real!! Settling back into the US was hard for me and was grateful to have returned overseas in international business/ education and would recommend either track. You are not solely American anymore--rather a world citizen and have a more cosmopolitan mind-set than your peers. It may be lonlier, but is definitely so much more empathetic with our fellow-world citizens. That is a new talent and you can develop new job skills taking advantage of the "new you."



Originally posted: 5/4/2009

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