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70s, by Dianne Carlin
Okay. I’ a Peace Corps volunteer and I happen to be in my 70’ . How would that be different
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than being a Peace Corps volunteer in my 20’ , 30’ , or 50’ ? Thinking back to the ‘ lden days’ of
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those earlier years I recall most of my life when other commitments and responsibilities wouldn’
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have allowed the freedom or leisure to join Peace Corps. In fact, when I was twenty Peace Corps
didn’ yet exist!
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Peace Corps presented itself as a new option, a new chance to grow and an opportunity to
remain an active member in the human family. Every decade in my life has been marked by some
new direction but the idealism of my youth has always been a consistent, driving force. I have
vivid memories of being a small child in California during WWII. Our whole country was
involved supporting our troops and defending our land, our wonderful America. Patriotism ran
through our veins. At age seven I cried all the way home from school on learning President
Roosevelt had died. We pledged our allegiance to the flag and sang The Star Spangled Banner or
God Bless America before classes every morning. We learned how very fortunate we were to be
Americans and that many people had sacrificed so much to make that possible. We knew in our
hearts that one day our time would come to return the favor so that future generations could have
the same freedom and American way of life. We learned to respect our life and our land, to not
take them for granted and that we were expected to be generous in passing them on to others. So,
that ingrained, motivating aspect of being a Peace Corps volunteer would have been there at any
age I think.
I’ve faced a heap of new challenges during my time here in Macedonia. Learning a new
language and being able communicate with people in my community has been both challenging
and rewarding. Living so close to people in our small, farming village has given me a sense of
‘belonging’ not easily found in our fast paced American life style. Maintaining the same level of
physical health I had in the States has been difficult because of the limitations of village life
combined with the inevitable changes that accompany the aging process. Integrating into the
school system here has been a roller coaster of highs and lows. Overall, I’ honored to have been
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accepted and happy to be doing a little part to bring people of our two countries to a better
understanding of each other.
Peace Corps has given me the chance to explore new ideas and new possibilities. It has
allowed me a way to be vitally connected to people and contribute in some small way to bringing
a better understanding among the people I know and serve. I regret to say that since beginning
this article I was notified that my service will terminate six months early for medical reasons.
(Sorry- if it had been for some scandalous behavior, just imagine all the juicy gossip that would
have stirred up!) The Peace Corps in Macedonia will go on; the world will keep turning. The new
garden being planted by my neighbors, Elena and Jovica, will sprout, grow and be harvested just
as it did last year and many years before I came. I will leave with many fond memories of this
place and many friends here. I have no regrets and I’ certain I can find something to do in
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exas. Goodbyes are the hardest part but they were inevitable sooner or later anyway. I’ll be
thinking of my fellow volunteers who remain and know how strong they must be to carry on our
mission here. I hope they will all get passed the hurdles to enjoy the rewarding, unforeseeable
times ahead.
Being a Peace Corps Volunteer in the seventies is a lot like being a PCV at any age –
with a few minor adjustments!
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