2011.02.10: February 10, 2011: Peace Corps brought Pamela and Paul Young together in Belize
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2011.02.10: February 10, 2011: Peace Corps brought Pamela and Paul Young together in Belize
Peace Corps brought Pamela and Paul Young together in Belize
We were volunteer swimming instructors in the summer," she said of how they met. "There were a group of local volunteers and a group of Peace Corps volunteers." Pamela said Paul had worked in a village for a year and when that assignment ended, he came to Belize City, where she lived. She said she met Paul right before she started junior college in Belize. "We were teaching underprivileged kids how to swim and we started dating," she said. "We dated for about a year [in Belize] and on and off for six more years." Pamela said when Paul's corps assignment ended, he returned to the U.S. and she remained in Belieze - yet they remained in touch and dated, on and off, for many years. "I met him when I was 18 and got married when I was 25," she said. Pamela said she moved to the U.S. in 1983 to live in Louisiana. Paul was in Connecticut in medical school. "He just kind of showed up and aske me to get married," she said. "Even though we weren't really dating."
Peace Corps brought Pamela and Paul Young together in Belize
A Peace Corps Love Story
On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Peace Corps, three Ponte Vedra couples celebrate Valentine's Day remembering how they first met.
By Sara Kaufman | Feb. 10, 2011 | 1 comment
[Excerpt]
Paul and Pamela Young
Pamela Young grew up in Belize and met Paul there while he was a Peace Corps volunteer, from 1979 to 1981.
"We were volunteer swimming instructors in the summer," she said of how they met. "There were a group of local volunteers and a group of Peace Corps volunteers."
Pamela said Paul had worked in a village for a year and when that assignment ended, he came to Belize City, where she lived. She said she met Paul right before she started junior college in Belize.
"We were teaching underprivileged kids how to swim and we started dating," she said. "We dated for about a year [in Belize] and on and off for six more years."
Pamela said when Paul's corps assignment ended, he returned to the U.S. and she remained in Belieze - yet they remained in touch and dated, on and off, for many years.
"I met him when I was 18 and got married when I was 25," she said.
Pamela said she moved to the U.S. in 1983 to live in Louisiana. Paul was in Connecticut in medical school.
"He just kind of showed up and aske me to get married," she said. "Even though we weren't really dating."
Pamela said she got to know a lot of corps volunteers while they were in her country and said they do a lot of good. She said one of her sons has expressed interest in entering the Peace Corps after college.
"It was a positive experience for him [Paul]," she said. "We have two kids in college and one of them has mentioned Peace Corps and my husband is all for it. It was great for him."
As for her love story, Pamela said it was perfect.
"I never thought I would end up living here," she said. "But it worked out."
50th Anniversary
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: February, 2011; Peace Corps Belize; Directory of Belize RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Belize RPCVs; Marriage
When this story was posted in June 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| 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 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." |
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Story Source: Ponte Verde Recorder
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Belize; Marriage
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