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Ethiopia RPCV Marty Merkel writes: I earned $975 for my two years of service in the Peace Corps in Gondar, Ethiopia
I taught with little more than chalk and chalkboard, a few books and a fly whisk. I had a set of Shakespeare books and George Bernard Shaw's "Major Barbara." There also was a very old set of advanced grammar books from England. I was applauded by my 10th- and 11th-graders every day. They loved Shakespeare especially. They gave me fleas and lots of love. Since then, I've traveled on five continents and in 43 countries. It was the hardest job I ever loved.
Ethiopia RPCV Marty Merkel writes: I earned $975 for my two years of service in the Peace Corps in Gondar, Ethiopia
Viewpoint: Peace Corps experience -- Ethiopia
Published: Monday, March 28, 2011, 6:50 AM Updated: Monday, March 28, 2011, 9:38 AM
The Muskegon Chronicle
To mark the Peace Corps' 50th anniversary, The Muskegon Chronicle is featuring a series of essays by former Peace Corps volunteers who have West Michigan ties. More than 430 area residents are former Peace Corps volunteers. The essays have appeared several times a week throughout the month and can be read online at mlive.com/opinion/muskegon.
Learn more about the Peace Corps at www.peacecorps.gov/
By Marty Merkel
Caption: Marty Merkel is wearing a an authentic monkey-skin and a warriors headdress. She served in Ethiopia.
I earned $975 for my two years of service in the Peace Corps in Gondar, Ethiopia. I taught with little more than chalk and chalkboard, a few books and a fly whisk. I had a set of Shakespeare books and George Bernard Shaw's "Major Barbara." There also was a very old set of advanced grammar books from England.
I was applauded by my 10th- and 11th-graders every day. They loved Shakespeare especially. They gave me fleas and lots of love. Since then, I've traveled on five continents and in 43 countries.
It was the hardest job I ever loved.
I shared my experiences in Africa with my Reeths-Puffer students and they always were interested when I told them of a fellow volunteer who was eaten by a 15-foot crocodile.
Marty Merkel served in the Peace Corps from 1964-66 after graduation from Central Michigan University. She is a retired Reeths-Puffer English teacher and lives in North Muskegon.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: March, 2011; Peace Corps Ethiopia; Directory of Ethiopia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Ethiopia RPCVs
When this story was posted in November 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Peasants Come Last
Bureaucracy in Peace Corps Washington is like the dark side of the moon - everybody knows it's there but who knew there was so much of it. Read three excerpts from former Uganda Country Director J. Larry Brown's book "Peasants Come Last" about Peace Corps' bloated bureaucracy in Washington, why three Country Directors in the Africa region were fired in the final days of the Bush administration by Acting Director Jody Olsen, and Brown's ideas on the future of the Peace Corps.
The First Volunteers?
Ghana RPCV Bob Klein has written about Ghana I - the first volunteers to arrive at their country of service. But now as the Peace Corps prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, Colombia RPCV Ronald A. Schwartz writes that, in his opinion, the agency's account of its early history is flawed and that while the Peace Corps' web site proclaims that the first volunteers were members of Ghana I, "in fact, the first Peace Corps volunteers were, and are, the members of a group known as Colombia I."
Congressional Hearings on Sexual Assault
Congress held hearings on the sexual assault of Peace Corps volunteers. Read the testimony of RPCVs 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. Latest: Background on sexual assault of PCVs.
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."
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!
"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.