Beggars always make me feel uneasy. Especially young beggars. My mind is filled with conflicting thoughts when they approach me. Are they really needy or are they scamming? Should I give them something or shouldn’t I? Passing them by without giving is worse – I feel guilty.
I remember when President John F. Kennedy announced the formation of the Peace Corps in 1961. I thought it was a wonderful idea that arrived too late for me. I was married and had a young family and responsibilities at home. Thirty years later on October 24, 1991 I found out I was wrong. I …
Lawrence Siddall, a retired psychotherapist, volunteered to be a Peace Corps Volunteer in 1997 at the age of sixty-seven. He served as a teacher of English in Poland. His excellent book, “Two Years in Poland and Other Stories”, vividly describes the training he received, his adjustment to his assignment in Poland, and his interaction with fellow volunteers and the Polish people. Incorporated into the book are delightful and interesting flashbacks, among which is his account of a fascinating trip that he and an army buddy took in 1956, driving in a VW Beetle from Europe through the Middle East to India.
Lawrence Siddall’s book may be purchased at his website: www.lawrencesiddall.com or BarnesandNoble.com and Amazon.com
I interviewed Lawrence in September 2008.
I first met Muriel Horacek a number of years ago at a travel show in Orange County, California. She was working in a booth for the Earthwatch Institute at the time. We talked briefly and Muriel convinced me to sign-up for the Earthwatch newsletter. I next met Muriel at the 2008 Los Angeles Travel Show. She was enthusiastically greeting visitors in the Earthwatch booth. I reminded her of our earlier meeting and I also told her of my website that is a resource for those over 50 who are interested in international volunteering. Muriel told me that she was over 80 years of age and was planning a bird-watching trip to India at the time. This interview, which took place in April 2009, is a result of our talk at the travel show. By the way, Muriel in now 84 years old!
African Conservation Experience-www.africanconservation.net My name is Silvia and I am 66 years old. My concerns that I wouldn’t be up to the task of volunteering soon vanished. The bush camp in Tuli delivered one highlight after another with so many events in one go! I couldn’t really take it all in at once. At 7:45 …
African Conservation Experience-www.africanconservation.net Stuart Spindler The Game Ranger course was brilliant! There were six of us, five guys and one girl of ages ranging from 18 to 50+. Our course leader was an absolute legend, an African, who had worked for 30 years in the bush. He had a wealth of stories to tell, about …
