Mateo Johnson is now serving as a Peace Corps volunteer, helping develop water sources in Panama



Stangl blogs about the surprises of living in a new culture. He wrote that his host family loved to watch "WWE Smackdown." The wrestling program was on one of the few channels that the family could get on their TV, which was powered by a car battery because they did not have electricity. Stangl also blogged about the frustrations of dealing with cultural barriers and trying to make a difference in the lives of Zambians villagers. "Little things like encouraging villagers to make a shelter for chickens, rather than keep them in their house, makes for a big day," Stangl wrote in his blog in early May.

Mateo Johnson is now serving as a Peace Corps volunteer, helping develop water sources in Panama

Turlock residents save the world

Another local joins the Peace Corps

BY ANDREA GOODWIN

Steven Becker recently left his comfortable life in California for service in the Peace Corps. Becker left for Nicaragua on May 14, making him the fourth Turlock resident currently active in the Peace Corps.

Turlockers are serving as volunteers in countries as far away as Zambia, Panama, and Niger.

[Excerpt]

Mateo Johnson, a Turlock native who is now serving as a Peace Corps volunteer, helps develop water sources in Panama. His father, David Johnson, said that Mateo's job includes assessing the water situation in the area and moving water from one area to another. Mateo graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies. Another Turlock resident, Jillian Tucker, is currently a volunteer in Niger.

Nathan Hale Sargent, Peace Corps public affairs specialist for Northern California, said that California has more Peace Corps volunteers than any other state. He said that Central Valley volunteers are uniquely valuable because many of them have agriculture experience.

"Expertise of that nature is very valuable." Sargent said.

The Peace Corps is always looking for volunteers who are certified teachers, like Stangl, or who have life-long farming experience. Most volunteer programs require a college degree, with the exception of some agricultural programs.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: May, 2009; Peace Corps Panama; Directory of Panama RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Panama RPCVs; Water

When this story was posted in June 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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Join Us Mr. President! "We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Read how RPCV's rallied and and marched to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age.

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May 30, 2009: Peace Corps' Roadmap Peace Corps' Roadmap for the Future 26 May Who are the Candidates for Peace Corps Director? 24 May Have French Atomic Tests put PCVs at Risk? 1 May Obama asks Congress for 10% increase in PC Budget 7 May Guy Consolmagno debunks "Angels & Demons" 22 May Obama praises Dodd at credit card signing 22 May John Garamendi front runner in California primary 22 May Al Kamen writes: New management structure at PC HQ? 22 May Damian Wampler's play Twin Towers opens in NYC 21 May Michael Volpe learns that DC is networking capital 21 May Dr. Mike Metke returns to Costa Rica 10 May Jesse Fleisher Lives well on less 14 May Al Kamen writes: PCVs peak at 11,000 under Obama Budget 11 May James W. Kostenblatt is making a difference in Mozambique 10 May Karen and Warren Master host Kyrgyzstan teen 9 May Alberto Ibargüen writes: The Future of Newspapers 9 May PC Monitor 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus in Mexico 1 May Paul Theroux writes: Obama and the Peace Corps 1 May Johnnie Carson to head State Department African Affairs 29 Apr Michael O'Hanlon writes: Grading Obama's First 100 Days 29 Apr Amy Potthast writes: The Peace Corps Lottery 23 Apr Read more stories from April and May 2009.

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PCOL's Candidate for Peace Corps Director Honduras RPCV Jon Carson, 33, presided over thousands of workers as national field director for the Obama campaign and said the biggest challenge -- and surprise -- was the volume of volunteer help, including more than 15,000 "super volunteers," who were a big part of what made Obama's campaign so successful. PCOL endorses Jon Carson as the man who can revitalize the Peace Corps, bring it into the internet age, and meet Obama's goal of doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011.

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Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

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