20 Years
20 years. Really? It said so in the email that arrived Wednesday January 14. 20 years ago Peace Corps Papua New Guinea’s group XIV was sworn in for service. 20 years? The email was from Big John; and Big John doesn’t lie. Had it really been twenty years?
Group XIV had met in Hawaii a month and a half earlier. Seven weeks of training. Departures to sites began the day after the swearing in. Group XIV would only come together three more times for brief meetings over the next two years: three-month, mid-service and close of service. Even then, this would be the last time the whole group would be together. Judy would bug out just weeks after reaching her site. Bill, Wild Bill, who had done the Peace Corps thing once before in Cameroon, would return to the States after only one year. Of course, Bill had been the best language student in the bunch and had requested to be sent to THE most remote site. PNG is NOT the place where you want to ask for THE most remote site.
Group XIV was made up of the most incredible 18 people I have ever met at one time. Joining the Peace Corps remains one of the most intelligent decisions I have ever made and I have no idea how the twenty-two year old version of myself made such a wise decision. And chemistry! I have never seen a group bond like that. Three days in Hawaii and we already had a collective history, our own set of stories and inside jokes. Nineteen teachers from all over the country, aged 22 to 72 (yes you read that correctly! And yes Carmen is still kicking it!) agreeing to stuff a few things in a backpack and head off to a country that I personally only knew of from the Risk board game. Yes, we were idealistic. Yes, the majority of us were fresh out of college. Yes, many of us were fulfilling that long held dream of running away; far away. 18 people with a passion for teaching and willingness to help.
I used to think running off and joining the Peace Corps was something anyone could do. I have come to realize that isn’t the case. I don’t know what the Peace Corps bureaucratic machine saw on our applications, but whoever had the final say in putting this group together deserved a bonus and handshake from Loret Ruppe.
I still marvel that I continue to feel so close to a group of people I only spent nine weeks with. But then again, they are a uniquely wonderful group of people that I remain proud to have worked with and known.
John included this picture in his email. This was taken on New Year’s day at the Kefamo Retreat outside of Goroka in the Eastern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea. There are a few folks missing from the photo but there is the added bit of nostalgia seeing some of our teachers and trainers.
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