"There's a groundswell of enthusiasm among people in my generation to serve people either in their community or communities around the world," Shpeen said. "I'm a firm believer in national service, and I wanted to do something to serve the country," the 23-year-old added. "I felt the Peace Corps was the best option for me." He took the law school entrance exams in the fall of 2006. He will begin Columbia Law School next month. Shpeen, the son of Rabbi Scott Shpeen and Susan Shpeen of Albany's Congregation Beth Emeth, became fluent in Setswana, the language of the villagers. He also is fluent in Afrikaans, a language similar to Dutch, and spoken in much of South Africa. Armed with a command of the language, he set about helping teachers in the schools and working in community programs "to increase awareness of HIV and AIDS," he said. He educated teachers in the use of computers and taught students English. He wrote a grant and received $5,000 in American aid to plant a garden at an HIV/AIDS center. The food grown will "feed those at the center and children orphaned by AIDS," he said. "About a quarter of the population in all of South Africa is positive for either HIV or AIDS," he said. The transmission is "through blood-to-blood contact and usually in the form of unsafe sex." As a way to befriend the villagers, Shpeen attended Sunday church services, especially at the Zionist Christian Church, the largest denomination. "It allowed me a greater exposure to the community and more face time with people living in the village," he said. Churches were gathering places where he could learn the culture and perfect the language. "Even as a Jew, I felt comfortable going there."
Adam Shpeen recently returned home to Albany after two years in South Africa helping the villagers of Tlhakgameng, a community of 5,000
Columbia Law by way of the Peace Corps
By CAROL DeMARE, Staff writer
First published in print: Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Adam Shpeen knew he wanted a future in law, but first there was something he needed to do.
After graduating in 2007 from Dartmouth College, where he majored in political science, Shpeen joined the Peace Corps. He recently returned home to Albany after two years in South Africa helping the villagers of Tlhakgameng, a community of 5,000.
"There's a groundswell of enthusiasm among people in my generation to serve people either in their community or communities around the world," Shpeen said.
"I'm a firm believer in national service, and I wanted to do something to serve the country," the 23-year-old added. "I felt the Peace Corps was the best option for me."
He took the law school entrance exams in the fall of 2006. He will begin Columbia Law School next month.
Shpeen, the son of Rabbi Scott Shpeen and Susan Shpeen of Albany's Congregation Beth Emeth, became fluent in Setswana, the language of the villagers. He also is fluent in Afrikaans, a language similar to Dutch, and spoken in much of South Africa.
Armed with a command of the language, he set about helping teachers in the schools and working in community programs "to increase awareness of HIV and AIDS," he said.
He educated teachers in the use of computers and taught students English. He wrote a grant and received $5,000 in American aid to plant a garden at an HIV/AIDS center. The food grown will "feed those at the center and children orphaned by AIDS," he said.
"About a quarter of the population in all of South Africa is positive for either HIV or AIDS," he said. The transmission is "through blood-to-blood contact and usually in the form of unsafe sex."
As a way to befriend the villagers, Shpeen attended Sunday church services, especially at the Zionist Christian Church, the largest denomination.
"It allowed me a greater exposure to the community and more face time with people living in the village," he said. Churches were gathering places where he could learn the culture and perfect the language. "Even as a Jew, I felt comfortable going there."
The volunteer shared his on-the-job experiences last week with the congregation at Beth Emeth. He fascinated the crowd with tales of how he lived on rice and beans and lost weight, and impressed his audience with the story of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania during a few days off.
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and considered the highest walkable mountain in the world. Shpeen said he didn't need special training or equipment, like ropes to get up ice. It was a six-day hike. He and two other Peace Corps volunteers were aided by 12 hired workers.
To combat the cold and wind -- the summit is 19,000 feet -- Shpeen layered his clothes. The hikers encountered glaciers but bypassed them on a gravel path.
"I was lightheaded and fatigued," but it was worth it for the "stunning view," he said. The achievement was a "personal milestone. I wanted to do it to test myself."
The Peace Corps provided for him "a tremendous period of personal growth," he said. "I've matured so much in the past two years because of the responsibility that comes with living in a rural village that's beset with a number of problems, including life and death problems."
That "humanizing influence on my life," he said, "will make me a more socially conscious lawyer, a more empathetic person and a more passionate advocate as I look toward law school and beyond."
Carol DeMare can be reached at 454-5431 or by e-mail at cdemare@timesunion.com.
