2011.02.04: February 4, 2011: The Consentinos met as Peace Corps volunteers in 1964 posted to southeastern Nigeria
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2011.02.04: February 4, 2011: The Consentinos met as Peace Corps volunteers in 1964 posted to southeastern Nigeria
The Consentinos met as Peace Corps volunteers in 1964 posted to southeastern Nigeria
"Just after dusk there was a knock at my door, and I opened it to find a very dusty and disheveled Don Consentino," she said. His shaken state called for some strong drink so she pulled out her bottle of kai-kai-the local fire water distilled from raffia wine-and he told her that he had been robbed on the way. "They took his wallet and hurled his keys into the bush, so he pushed his bike all the way to my compound," Henrietta said. It was dinnertime, and she was sore pressed for food worthy of guests. "I opened a can of sardines and fried a large West African yam in palm oil. It was a tough old thing, and on the first bite, Don broke a tooth. The end of a perfect day."
The Consentinos met as Peace Corps volunteers in 1964 posted to southeastern Nigeria
VALENTINES' STORIES
Laura Eversz
[Excerpt]
THE CONSENTINOS have never stopped laughing.
The Consentinos met as Peace Corps volunteers in 1964. Henrietta was posted to southeastern Nigeria; Don in a different tribal area 40 miles away.
A few weeks after the two had been introduced by mutual friends, Don decided to come for a solo visit on his motorbike. Since there were no phones, Henrietta was unaware of his plan. "Late in the afternoon I heard drums in the distance. My neighbors informed me the drums told of a robbery by a band of highwaymen," she recalled. The robbers were rumored to have accosted a bekey (white man) on a bush road outside of town, and she assumed the victim was one of the many Irish priests in the vicinity.
"Just after dusk there was a knock at my door, and I opened it to find a very dusty and disheveled Don Consentino," she said. His shaken state called for some strong drink so she pulled out her bottle of kai-kai-the local fire water distilled from raffia wine-and he told her that he had been robbed on the way. "They took his wallet and hurled his keys into the bush, so he pushed his bike all the way to my compound," Henrietta said.
It was dinnertime, and she was sore pressed for food worthy of guests. "I opened a can of sardines and fried a large West African yam in palm oil. It was a tough old thing, and on the first bite, Don broke a tooth. The end of a perfect day."
However, it was just the beginning. "Don was such a good sport. He had us both roaring with laughter. So began our unusual dance with destiny," says Henrietta. "My cooking has improved, and I serve finer spirits. We've faced many contretemps. And we've never stopped laughing."
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: February, 2011; Peace Corps Nigeria; Directory of Nigeria RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Nigeria RPCVs; The 1960's; 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: Larchmont Chronicle
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Nigeria; 1960s; Marriage
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