My uncle John Dean left the unrest in the U.S. to go into the Peace Corps in 1969, and was assigned to a small island in the South Pacific called Western Samoa.
"We wanted to make the world a better place for mankind"
One person's experience in the Peace Corps
Introduction by Michelle Dean, followed by her interview with John Dean
In the late 1960's there was student and civil unrest - demonstrations on college campuses across the United States primarily protesting the Vietnam War, the killing of college students by the National Guard at Kent State University, the assassination of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, riots by African- Americans in most major U.S. cities. This was a time of great turmoil and unrest in the United States.
My uncle John Dean left the unrest in the U.S. to go into the Peace Corps in 1969, and was assigned to a small island in the South Pacific called Western Samoa. Here he explains why he went and what it was like.
Michelle Dean
I joined the Peace Corps for many reasons which resulted in my being sent to Western Samoa. I wanted to make the world a better place for mankind. The 1960's were a period in the United States of great social awareness and consciousness. Many young people, to include many college students, were troubled by the many social issues at that time and wanted to make a difference. We truly believed if we worked hard we could make a difference.
* I joined the Peace Corps because I suffered from wander lust.
* I joined the Peace Corps because I was idealistic.
* I joined the Peace Corps because I didn't know what to do.
When I was there I lived with a Somoan family. The father's name was Pala Lima. The mother's name was Talitau (Tau). They had many children, five when I was arrived, two while I was there, and another two to three after I left. Their oldest son had been given away at birth to Tau's brother and sister-in-law, who was unable to have children. This was a common custom in Samoa. The family consisted of many other related members (cousins, uncles, aunts) all of whom would come and stay for different lengths of time, then leave, and then, often return. We lived mostly in thatched huts. Our thatched huts were about 20 yards from the ocean. One of the huts was where meals were prepared and cooked. We all slept on the ground under mosquito nets. The only running water was a pipe that was outside where we showered (with everyone watching) and got water for cooking. On the property was an out- house. There was no television, no car. We walked up the road (which ran along the ocean) to catch a bus to go to town (Apia) to work or to go to the Peace Corps office, or to go to the movies.
There was a large reef about 1/4-1/2 mile from shore, so inside the reef the water was very calm and relatively shallow. Inside the reef is where the young men fished. The family also had land where they grew bananas, coconuts, taro, bread fruit, mangos, papayas, and other foods for us to eat. Around where we lived, we had chickens that ran wild. The young boys would throw stones at the chickens to kill them when the family wanted something to eat.
I worked as a financial analyst in the Treasury Department located in Apia, initially packing coins in the Numismatic Sections. Fortunately, I was given lots of opportunities and got to work for the United Nations, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the ADB (Asian Development Bank). This is where I met your aunt Sue, in Apia.
I went to Samoa to give and to teach but received and learned much more. The Samoans are a giving people who take big bits out of life, who are quick to share those rich experiences with others and I will always treasure that forever.
John Dean
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