Peace Corps in Gabon
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Peace Corps in Gabon
Heather Nix in Gabon
Heather Nix in Gabon
The Peace Corps: Gabon, Central Africa is dedicated to Heather Nix, a Peace Corps Volunteer in Gabon. It is intended to help and inform Heather's family and friends, potential Peace Corps Volunteers, and those who have already served our world as volunteers. This is an ever-changing site which will be continually updated as long as people around the world are interested in the Peace Corps.
Presently, this site is an indepth look at the experiences of a single volunteer who is currently serving in Gabon, Central Africa. She completed her training in December of 1999, and is presently living in the village of Efoulane as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
My goal is to help encourage anyone who may be contemplating the Peace Corps. As interest in this site grows, it will grow to explore not only the experiences of a single volunteer, but everyone who would like to share their story as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Because the need to share stories, information, and experiences is important to the growth of this site, it is important that you contact me any time so that we can spread the word about the Peace Corps.
Thank you for visiting.
Scot Korth
scotkorth.com
USA
Welcome back to Heather's PC Website !
Thanks for your continued support of pcGabon.com
As many of you know, I returned only days ago from a visit to Gabon. Heather is doing very well and we were extremely happy to finally see each other.
I left for Central Africa on June 7th and returned on July 7th after an exhausting 24 hours of travel back to the USA. I went specifically to visit Heather and had a very intersting experience during my time in Gabon. I kept a journal while I was away, writing daily, and it is now approximately 70 pages long. Because of the extensive amount of traveling and writing I have done in and about Gabon, I have no idea where to start.
I arrived without problem to the baggage claim and customs area of Libreville Airport, having waited 10 months to see Heather. I could see her standing outside, peering in the large window and waving frantically with a huge smile on her face. This was the first I had seen of her. From there my trip was a whirlwind of travel, people, taxi cabs, hotels, villages, and street food. We went of Safari to the Lope Animal Reserve, traveled into the depths of the jungle to stay for ten days in Heather's village, spent time at the Case de Paysage and other local hotels, and even celebrated the 4th of July at Cap Esterias with a handful of other volunteers.
My trip was exciting, eventful, and exhausting. Gabon is unlike any place I have ever been before, and I have come to realize that I could never do what Heather does as a Peace Corps Volunteer. In just a few short weeks I have seen such a developing part of the world that I spent a great deal of time reevaluating my priorities and lifestyle, and really appreciating all that I take for granted each day.
As well, Heather has done the same, having a much longer period of time with which to think about her own life, values, and priorities. She has a large yet simple home, a very large garden surrounded by a bamboo fence, a caring landlord and neighbors, and two other volunteers nearby. She spends her time working in the general field of agriculture, using her garden and home as a model for others who want to learn more about gardening and agriculture. She works at an agricultural research center with a group of very hardworking people who are interested in raising crops and animals for profit and for research. Along with three other volunteers, Heather organized and directed a youth seminar where young children were able to explore topics such as disease, personal hygiene, relationships, and cultural differences. As an American living in an African village, Heather has the very difficult task of trying to help people learn better and more practical ways to raise their crops and animals so that they may adequately sustain themselves in the future.
As I stated before, I have written a great deal about my experience in Gabon, have taken hundreds of pictures, met with countless Africans and PCVs, and explored a decent amount of the country. After all this, it is still difficult for me to even begin to paint an accurate picture of Heather's life as a Peace Corps Volunteer. My experience was, at the very least, completely overwhelming and I cannot imagine the physical, mental, and emotional strength it takes for someone like Heather to devote herself totally, for two years, to helping those in need. Again, she is doing very well, and she sends her love and best to all of her friends and family and those who have been keeping in touch. She is, however, looking forward a great deal to her trip back to Michigan in December.
And, for those of you who may not have heard, I did ask Heather to marry me while I was in Gabon. Of course, she said yes!
Scot Korth
July 12, 2000
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Story Source: Personal Web Page
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Gabon; PCVs in the Field - Gabon
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