It was a blast catching up with Laraine and hearing about her post-Peace Corps experiences. We were in the same training group in Togo, and although we didn't do any projects together, we did see each other quite a bit at social events and volunteer get gatherings. Laraine is such a free spirit, and you can see that in the experiences she's had since finishing her service. From recruiting new Peace Corps volunteers in Chicago, to attending graduate school in Denver, to working with Doctors without Borders in Sudan, and now working with youth in the outdoors in Steamboat Springs, CO, it is evident that Laraine is the type of person who continually seeks out new adventures. In a way, all of us have a little bit of this adventurousness in our personalities. It's important that we remember not to let it slip away too much.

George and I spoke in the spring in his home in Seattle, WA. One of the things I liked about our conversation was being able to compare how his service was like as a volunteer in the '80's to how my volunteer service was like twenty years later. Some things are quite different: volunteers now have so much access to information about Peace Corps service, and even within their service, it's much easier to stay in touch with home. At the same time, many things remain the same: African kids continue to sing the "Yovo" song, and volunteers still continue to deal with the challenges and successes of adjusting to and understanding a culture different from their own. Another thing I liked about our conversation was just hearing the different experiences he's had in the Peace Corps. From serving as a volunteer in Benin, to serving as a training coordinator in Kenya, to eventually becoming Country Director in Togo. It was interesting to hear the progression his career went through to get him to where he is today. It certainly serves as inspiration to RPCVs who may just be starting out in their careers.

Lydia Caudill grew up in eastern Washington state, and earned her BA in Community and Environmental Planning from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. A wanderer at heart, she has traveled throughout Europe, Africa, South America, and Western Asia. Lydia is a current Agriculture volunteer in Paraguay, starting her service in September 2011. Her service is set to end in December 2013, upon which she plans to embark on a multi-country bike trip from Paraguay to the US. ​

Kate and I had a great time talking about motherhood and her experiences as an early elementary education volunteer in Paraguay. I really enjoyed hearing her story about meeting her husband, her process of figuring out their relationship, coming back to Paraguay, deciding that she was going to marry him, and then bringing him back to the US. I guess I'm just a romantic at heart! It was also interesting to hear how the dynamics of their relationship slightly changed once they were both back in the states, with him having to adjust to a completely different world. I think this is a common experience for many RPCVs who marry someone from the country where they served. It definitely adds another element to the whole readjustment process. At the same time, it's refreshing to hear about someone who has been able to maintain a lasting connection with the country where they served.

Ryan and I had a lot of fun talking about his Peace Corps experience in the Ukraine. Unlike the typical volunteer, he actually knew a lot about the country that he served prior to joining the Peace Corps, having studied the Ukraine extensively during his undergraduate studies. So it was good to hear about his reaction to being able to experience first-hand what he had studied. Also, considering we served in completely different regions of the world, it was interesting to hear how some parts of his experience differed from mine, while other parts of our experiences were quite similar. I suppose there are plenty of aspects of the volunteer experience that are universal.

I had a great time catching up with Steven on our time spent together in Peace Corps Togo. It was interesting to hear that since leaving the states for Peace Corps, he has yet to return permanently. Some of us are just meant to be nomads! Ste

I spoke with Anne in mid-March about her experiences during and after the Peace Corps. Our conversation focused a lot on some of the challenges she faced when she came back, particularly with trying to explain what she went through to her friends and family, and finding people who really cared about hearing about her experiences. Listening to her story really resonated with me, since I certainly had similar feelings during my readjustment period. At the same time, it was interesting to hear how her experiences in the Peace Corps led her to pursue a career in library studies, which may not be what you would expect from a health volunteer. It just serves to show how life can take you in unexpected directions. Anne Larrivee served as a community health and AIDS prevention volunteer in Togo from 2005 to 2007, where she worked to connect members of her community with health resources and information. She received her Master’s in Library and Information Studies from the University of South Florida, and also holds a Bachelor’s in Family and Community Services from the University of Delaware. She is currently a librarian at Binghamton University Libraries in Binghamton, NY.

I had a great time talking with John Wilson about his Peace Corps service, and hearing about what it was like for him coming back. One of the main sentiments I took away from the interview was how our Peace Corps experiences really help us appreciate the importance of making human connections, and to remember to be present in the moment. In our world of text messages, instant messaging and Facebook, it’s so easy to lose sight of that. Thanks, John, for reminding us! John Wilson served in Ghana from 2004 to 2006. He is currently a Senior Associate Program Manager for Population Services International in Washington, DC. He lives in Baltimore, MD with his wife (also a Ghana RPCV) and their son.

For the inaugural episode, I wanted to introduce myself, the podcast, and talk a little about my experience in the Peace Corps.