Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Kathy I. (Marie) Hutson can be contacted at kihutsonayahoodcom
Country of Service: Honduras
Training Group: 76
Cities you served in: Texiguat, El Paraiso
Arrival Year: 1985
Departure Year: 1987
Work Description:
Health Sector: Worked in a small rural Health Center teaching women's groups to use CARE products, assisted with vaccintions in the aldeas, other health care education to the people in the area. Organized and worked with Health Care Guardians to teach them to teach preventive health in their aldeas. Organized, with the town mayor, a water amplification project to the outlying aldeas around Texiguat. Taught in the colegio and organized a group to secure playground equipment. Expert in building Estuva Lorenas - visited other PCV sites to teach how to build the Estuva Lorena. Assisted with training of Aspirantes on an occasional basis. Helped plan and implement a country-wide Health Sector workshop. Performed a Health Needs Assessment of Texiguat and surrounding aldeas to determine health education needs in which to focus my work.
Other Countries you served in, Training Group Name Arrival Year, Departure Year, Work Description:
none
Bring us up to date on your life after the peace corps:
Married the man who waited back home for me (Tim). Returned to Ball State for a third degree - Nursing. Worked as an RN in large hospital ER and currently in Outpatient Surgery. Have taught ~ 500 bilingual people in central Indiana to be Professional Medical Interpreters through the Bridging the Gap Medical Interpreter Training Program. Currently represent LingoLynx (R), where I teach lay people functional Spanish in order to make personal connections through language and to better serve the growing Hispanic population. Am an instructor and mentor for other instructors. Serve on Ball State University's Nursing Alumni Society Board of Directors, current Past President. Have volunteered for a variety of organizations over the years, ranging from Red Cross, American Heart Association, Second Harvest Food Bank, Hope for the Holidays (to bring Christmas to those who may not have a very merry Christmas). Have gone on several medical missions to Honduras and to Guatemala. Currently am part of "Operation Walk," an annual medical mission to Guatemala and Nicaragua on alternating years. Am looking forward to retirement in November 2011, so that I can pursue a long list of retirement wanna-do's!! Love to travel in our fifth-wheel and enjoy local wines around the campfire! No kids, just dogs :-) (I have been back to Texiguat, following a medical mission trip to Honduras. They have electricity and running water!!!!! They don't always like to use it, but they have it! Was able to meet with some very influencial people there: one school teacher who was my language "profe" and the little girl, all grown up now, who taught me soooo much by just being herself!)
Any thoughts you have now looking back on peace corps days?:
I cannot thank God enough for sending me to Honduras instead of the "little island in the Pacific," which was the other possibility. I feel that I learned and gained sooooo much more than I EVER gave. My current life revolves a LOT around my experiences there. The language skills I learned are invaluable to the work that I do (I serve as my own interpreter when one is not available in my nursing work) and I am a very strong advocate for cultural diversity in the workplace and the community. I would not change one thing about my Peace Corps experience - I am so very blessed to have been a part of such a wonderful program!
Anyone you are looking for or would like to hear from?:
Would love to hear from anyone that I served with (am in contact with a few of them) or anyone who is contemplating the Peace Corps experience.
Any message for returned volunteers?:
Your experience will shape the rest of your life. And although there are few people who truly will understand the depth of what you have lived as a volunteer, there ARE those of us who DO understand and we are just a computer away. You are not alone in the journey after Peace Corps. Use what you learned and share it with those around you through a variety of means.
Originally posted: 12/30/2010
Related Links:
Peace Corps Annual Report: 1985; Peace Corps Honduras; Directory of Honduras RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Honduras RPCVs
