2011.01.18: January 18, 2011: Jennifer Arnold recently returned from three years with the Peace Corps in Macedonia

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Macedonia: Peace Corps Macedonia: Peace Corps Macedonia: Newest Stories: 2011.01.18: January 18, 2011: Jennifer Arnold recently returned from three years with the Peace Corps in Macedonia

By Admin1 (admin) (98.188.147.225) on Saturday, May 28, 2011 - 6:45 pm: Edit Post

Jennifer Arnold recently returned from three years with the Peace Corps in Macedonia

Jennifer Arnold recently returned from three years with the Peace Corps in Macedonia

I am changed as a person," she said, "I feel humbled and have respect for people living here who are not natives of the United States," she said of learning firsthand the difficulties of living in a strange country where she did not speak the language or know the customs. It gave her compassion for people of other cultures living here who cannot speak English and she now understands the importance of having signs posted here in several languages, she said. Arnold made many friends in Macedonia and was saddened when the time of her service was coming to an end. "It was hard to say goodbye," she said. She hopes to make a return visit someday.

Jennifer Arnold recently returned from three years with the Peace Corps in Macedonia

Clyde woman returns from Macedonia

January 18, 2011

By Jeanette Liebold-Ricker

Jennifer Arnold, a 1991 Clyde High School graduate, recently returned from three years with the Peace Corps in Macedonia.

Macedonia is located in southeast Europe, north of Greece and south of Yugoslavia and Kosovo. There she worked with the residents on environmental issues. She worked for two different organizations, E.D. Vila Sora, which was a local organization, and 4x4x4 Balkan Bridges, a regional organization.

Arnold said she returned home humbled from her service with the Peace Corps.

"I am changed as a person," she said, "I feel humbled and have respect for people living here who are not natives of the United States," she said of learning firsthand the difficulties of living in a strange country where she did not speak the language or know the customs. It gave her compassion for people of other cultures living here who cannot speak English and she now understands the importance of having signs posted here in several languages, she said.

Arnold made many friends in Macedonia and was saddened when the time of her service was coming to an end.

"It was hard to say goodbye," she said. She hopes to make a return visit someday.

Peace Corps volunteers first lived with host families to learn the culture and the language. Arnold taught them American card games and they taught her the Macedonian version of Monopoly.

In her free time, she enjoyed hiking around the country and taking photos which she used in the many PowerPoint presentations she has done since her return.

The religions in Macedonia are Jewish, Muslim and Greek Orthodox. During one of her hikes, she came upon a shrine honoring St. Anna, the mother of Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. One monastery is filled with famous wood carvings that attract visitors from around the world. Arnold also visited a church where special sections were reserved for men only.

She said a high percentage of Macedonian residents are Jewish, and that 97 percent of the Jewish population was killed during Hitler's reign of terror in World War II, greater than in any other country.

Sunday afternoon she spoke to members of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Members saw photos of her environmental work, learned about the religions in the country, wedding and baptismal events and how the different religious holidays are celebrated.

Afterward, she fielded questions from the congregation, who asked about the economy and learned that gasoline sells for $7 a gallon, but public transportation is available.

Arnold said her salary with the Peace Corps was the equivalent of a teacher's salary. To earn higher wages, some Macedonians work on cruise ships and others have worked for the mafia.

Arnold, who has a master's degree in public administration from Bowling Green State University and a political science degree from Heidelberg College, said she was influenced to enter the Peace Corps by a college professor. She hopes that her experiences will lead to a job with the federal government. She is living temporarily with her parents, Deb and Mike Arnold, but will soon relocate to Portland, Ore., to be near friends.




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: January, 2011; Peace Corps Macedonia; Directory of Macedonia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Macedonia RPCVs





When this story was posted in May 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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

 Site Index Search PCOL with Google Contact PCOL Recent Posts Bulletin Board Open Discussion RPCV Directory Register

May 26, 2011: The RPCV in the White House Date: May 26 2011 No: 1522 May 26, 2011: The RPCV in the White House
The RPCV in the White House 8 Apr
Peace Corps Recruiter Remembers Thomas Maresco 2 Mar
Robbie Schwartz writes: How would my life have been different? 2 Mar
Rajiv Joseph is a fresh and compelling voice in theater 5 Mar
Robert Textor Releases Peace Corps Classic 13 Mar
Chris Matthews writes: What's the Real Mission In Libya? 22 Mar
Peace Corps Faces Budget Ax in FY2012 23 Mar
Brendan Moroso writes: Revolution comes to North Africa 23 Mar
Jessica Moon Bernstein has exhibition "Ourrubberos" 26 Mar
Joshua Stern Founds Envaya to Provide Interent Access 26 Mar
Richard Sitler Photographs PCVs around the world 27 Mar
Scott Lacy is Executive Director of African Sky 29 Mar
American Sailor Accused of Raping PCV in Uganda 24 Apr
Scott Koepke Shares his Love for Dirt 26 Apr
Jane Wolkowicz tried to be Strict Vegetarian in Kazakhstan 27 Apr
George Packer Writes: Bin Laden: Better Late Than Never 2 May
Clare Major Screens Film "Feast & Sacrifice" 4 May
Steve Kruse and Salifu Mansaray met 40 years ago 4 May
SuZanne Kimbrell Rocks in Dallas 12 May
Nancy Sathre-Vogel writes:A Long Path to Nowhere 15 May
Gal Beckerman writes: What is Peace Corps for? 15 May
Katie Dyer Founded Fair Trade Folk Art Gallery 17 May
Henry Wilhelm Honored for his Photography 25 May

Congress Holds Hearings on Sexual Assault Date: May 15 2011 No: 1518 Congress Holds Hearings on Sexual Assault
Congress held hearings on the sexual assault of Peace Corps volunteers. Read the testimony of returned and current Peace Corps volunteers on how the problem is still ongoing, and not limited to any particular country or region. Director Williams says that "it has become apparent to me that the Peace Corps has not always been sufficiently responsive or sensitive to victims of crime and their families. I sincerely regret that." Read what the Peace Corps is doing to address the issue.

Peace Corps: The Next Fifty Years Date: March 8 2011 No: 1513 Peace Corps: The Next Fifty Years
As we move into the Peace Corps' second fifty years, what single improvement would most benefit the mission of the Peace Corps? Read our op-ed about the creation of a private charitable non-profit corporation, independent of the US government, whose focus would be to provide support and funding for third goal activities. Returned Volunteers need President Obama to support the enabling legislation, already written and vetted, to create the Peace Corps Foundation. RPCVs will do the rest.

How Volunteers Remember Sarge Date: January 18 2011 No: 1487 How Volunteers Remember Sarge
As the Peace Corps' Founding Director Sargent Shriver laid the foundations for the most lasting accomplishment of the Kennedy presidency. Shriver spoke to returned volunteers at the Peace Vigil at Lincoln Memorial in September, 2001 for the Peace Corps 40th. "The challenge I believe is simple - simple to express but difficult to fulfill. That challenge is expressed in these words: PCV's - stay as you are. Be servants of peace. Work at home as you have worked abroad. Humbly, persistently, intelligently. Weep with those who are sorrowful, Care for those who are sick. Serve your wives, serve your husbands, serve your families, serve your neighbors, serve your cities, serve the poor, join others who also serve," said Shriver. "Serve, Serve, Serve. That's the answer, that's the objective, that's the challenge."

PCV Murder Investigated Date: January 18 2011 No: 1477 PCV Murder Investigated
ABC News has investigated the murder of Benin PCV Kate Puzey. Read our original coverage of the crime, comments on Peace Corps actions, the email Puzey sent her country director about sexual incidents with Puzey's students and with another PCV, the backstory on how RPCVs helped the Puzey family, and Peace Corps' official statement. PCOL Editorial: One major shortcoming that the Puzey murder highlights is that Peace Corps does not have a good procedure in place for death notifications.

Join Us Mr. President! Date: June 26 2009 No: 1380 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. Returned Volunteers rally and and march to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age. Latest: Senator Dodd introduces Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 .



Read the stories and leave your comments.








Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: The News Messenger

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Macedonia

PCOL46632
62


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: