July -- August 2004 -- Volume 17, Number 4

Victor Villaseñor Honored for
Snow Goose Global Thanksgiving

Our annual meeting was wonderfully memorable. Those in attendance will tell you of the fun music, the nominees and new RPCVs, the abundant international food, the large number of items donated to the International Rescue Committee on behalf of a Bantu family, the varied books and crafts in the silent auction, and the presentation ceremony for our first ever award for Global Awareness. Somehow, midst all of this, we managed to conduct the needed business of electing a new board of directors. This event was a model of a great, well-rounded Peace Corps gathering. If you missed it, promise yourself to try harder for May 2005.

The one part that will remain unique, which deserves the most coverage, was the Global Awareness Award presentation. Victor Villaseñor has been frequently honored for his books, including being part of a current Smithsonian exhibit on tour. Yet at his heart is the non-profit “Snow Goose Global Thanksgiving” that he founded. This was the first time that he was honored for this festival and the multicultural, peace-building efforts it generates. The SDPCA presented Victor with a freestanding trophy. That such an award would come from RPCVs, whom Victor regards very highly as “angels of the world” brought Victor to tears–but didn’t leave him speechless.

photo from Victor Villaseñor

Victor held all of us spellbound as he shared parts of his life, and the background of the book that inspired his annual festival. Amidst his story telling, he managed to exhort us each to remember the lessons of life in another culture, to remember the lessons of communicating in another language, and to live in “now.” Only western cultures share linguistic concept of “the” which separates rather than unites, and which sets up people to think in terms of “the truth,” “ the way,” or “the religion.” Victor inspired us to remain open to life, to see the wonder in each other’s eyes, to live in peace and be models for people around us.

Although not yet discussed at our meeting, count on a Snow Goose Global Thanksgiving festival to attend on the Sunday before Thanksgiving–at Victor’s home in Oceanside. In the meantime, the SDPCA has autographed copies of some of his books available for sale by email through fundraising@sdpca.org

–Rudy Sovinee, SDPCA Global Awards, Ghana (1970-73)

May Community Action Project

SDPCA Helps Settle Refugee Family

On Tuesday, May 25, 2004, a five member Somali Bantu refugee family arrived to start their lives over in the United States after spending ten very hard years living in refugee camps in Kenya. Imagine this brave father, Sharif, who recently lost his wife. Alone, he brought his four young children to the United States hoping that this will provide them with a better life. They were at the mercy of those in charge of his care that night when they arrived at the airport.

Thanks to the San Diego Peace Corps Association (SDPCA), Sharif and his children arrived to a home–not just a place to have shelter but a place to truly have a new beginning.

“I was very touched by the response of the SDPCA,” says Sharon Kennedy. “You all helped to fill the apartment with many things: kitchen table/chairs, a sofa, TV, linens, all types of kitchen supplies, clothing, tooth paste, tooth brushes and other toiletries, cleaning supplies and school back packs filled for each of the children. There was even a stuffed animal on each child’s bed!”

To tell you a little about this family, the father is a guitar player and singer–he told me he loves the arts and he volunteered in a grassroots theater company in the refugee camp to help pass the time and entertain others. His children are two sons (Mustafa, age 4 and Rubia, age 10), and two daughters (Amina, age 8 and Hawa, age 6).

Photo by Sharon Kennedy

The photo was taken the day after they arrived. The two girls (in the long blue shirt and the brown shirt) are in desperate need of girls clothes so if anyone knows someone with 6-8 year old daughters willing to part with hand-me-downs, let me know. Otherwise, this family has everything that they need.

“On behalf of the refugee family and the International Rescue Committee, thank you to the San Diego Peace Corps Association! You have welcomed a needy family in grand fashion. Once the family gets settled down, I would like to bring them to a SDPCA event for you to meet.”

–Sharon Kennedy Darrough, International Rescue Committee 619 641-7510 ext.249

June Community Action Project

Rock’n’Roll in SD for Leukemia

A sea of fit bodies. 17,000 runners spread like a wave along the grassy edge of Balboa Park. Individuals and small clusters of friends, strewn about like blown foam, stretching, twisting, bending, and jogging to loosen limbs before the start of the 26.2 mile odyssey. Only 6:00 a.m. in the morning, already there is a rock concert energy, palpable excitement. The enthusiasm of a vast group with a common goal, the anticipation of months of training finally put to the test, the inner tension with questions of the quest–will I suffer, will I finish, might I even surprise myself?

This was to be my fourth marathon. The “Suzuki Rock and Roll Marathon” is so named for its sponsor and for the forty bands jamming along the route. In its seventh year, the great music, scenic course, and excellent organizing have propelled it to the fourth largest marathon in the USA–after New York, Boston and Chicago. Running has always seemed to be a “solo” sport; but the numbers multiply in a staggering way when individuals unite here. Thousands of volunteers staffing water stations, administering medical aid, arranging transport and performing any number of essential activities; 34,000 running shoes–it makes me ponder the “business” that running has become; 47,000 steps from the starting line to the finish, not that I bother to count them; 200,000 cups of refreshment restoring those fast fleeing electrolytes. Uncountable friends and family cheering as spectators, and curious passers-by lining the route with encouragement.

When the horn blasts, the mass begins to move forward, oozing at the speed of molasses towards the starting gate. Momentum builds slowly–it takes nearly two minutes to cross the official line. Under a thankfully gray morning sky, we chug through Hillcrest, and coast down Park Boulevard beyond the Zoo. The pace steadies as the race cuts its tour guide’s swath through San Diego. From downtown’s Gaslamp, we climb back through Balboa Park along the tree-lined 163, catch a quick glimpse of Fashion Valley shopping opportunities, skirt Sea World, and spin a long loop around Mission Bay. It’s easier to be running on my “home turf,” as familiar distractions help pass the time: there’s our oldest neighborhood bar – the Alibi, that’s the apartment I hope to buy, the train station architecture I admire, the beach where I picnicked.

The 13.1 mile half-way point lies along the San Diego River where it pours into the sea below Mission Bay. The fresh spring in my step is gone by now, but I have not yet begun to suffer. That’s a good sign; I’ve been training hard, but far short of the recommended distances. From here, the miles graciously begin to count down–12 more, 11 more, 9 more to go.

My first marathon was in Beijing in October 2002. Along the route, supporters shouted “Jia ‘Yo, Jia ‘Yo”. Literally this means “add gas, add gas”, but it conveyed the point–“Way to go!” –in a uniquely local phrase.

This time, I spend ten miles alongside a guy running in a bright yellow Jamba Juice costume with a pointy hat. I hear endless cheers of “Go Banana,” and its fruity variations, reminding me of the “Hello, Banana?” chant of the sidewalk fruit sellers in Asia and Latin America.

There are other characters along the route–a woman running in her wedding veil (presumably not running away), a couple dressed as Devo and carrying a stereo blasting distorted 80’s tunes, a marine grunting in long pants and boots. More serious tributes are announced on T-shirts and photos–running for mom and dad or loved ones lost, for those “Missing in Action,” all raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

At one point, the race leaders–five men from Kenya and Ethiopia–run by on a parallel track. I cheer to them with borrowed energy, and with inner admiration for their grace and stamina.

Music along the course knows no boundaries. Buddy Handy tributes and classic rock frequency shift to African drumming, Caribbean steel drums and Tejano pop. Themes of Margaritaville, Las Vegas allure and pacific island Aloha decorate refreshment stops. There is an element of traveling around the world, or at least crossing zones of some multi-dimensional landscape, in running this course.

Some say that the real race, or the battle within, begins at 20 miles. The crowds and excitement are sustaining for much of the distance. But after three hours in motion, running again becomes a solo activity. Awareness grows of your aches and pains, energy levels and fluid loss, distance passed and distance ahead. Like the Little Engine that Could, the challenge becomes largely mental, “I think I can.”

I pass the SDPCA refreshment stand under a now blazing sun at mile 21, pondering which face matches the curious name–Xandra Garanzuay–who had emailed us looking for volunteers. I smile in a watery toast to Majory Clyne, hoping that I look stronger and fresher than I am feeling. (A thanks to SDPCA volunteers for their time and their cheers and their refreshments!)

The last elongated miles of the Rock and Roll Marathon trace Morena Boulevard and Pacific Highway, then wrap back into the reality of the Point Loma Marine Corps Recruiting Depot, with its uniformed security forces guarding the gates.

Almost there now. Supporters fill the stands, the announcer beams encouraging words, and the timing clock over the finish ticks its welcoming. 3 hours, 51 minutes as I cross the line. I have arrived.
It is my best time, though in the next hours and days, the time seems less relevant. Finally the race has been about the personal challenge, about exerting strength of mind over will of the body, and about energy multiplied by the multitude and applied to the individual. The course re-inspires my appreciation for the beauty of San Diego, the land, sea, architecture, and its people.

My plans to take it easy for the future are quickly put aside. I check the calendar for the next race.

–Jon Kahn, Samoa 1984-86

Thank you, SDPCA!

Thank you to the SDPCA volunteers who gave their time to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at the June 6, 2004 Rock N’Roll Marathon.

The race was our June Community Action event. Braving the 0500 wake-up call and the winds and chill of June gloom, these fine RPCVs filled thousands of cups of water and cheered tens of thousands of runners–from the flying elite runners (who average a 4:45 minute for the 26.2 mile race per multi-marathon competitor Robert) to the determined race walkers running in support of family or friends with leukemia.

Thank you to the RPCVs who invited family and friends–we couldn’t have done it without EVERYONE pitching in and, yes, cleaning up.

Cheers to: Marjory Clyne, Gordon Gidlund, Brenda Terry-Hahn, Lynn Jarrett and her friend Betty Jo, Kevin Koskella, Katherine Melcher, Robert Opliger, Vlerie Orrison, Mindy Parks, Sira Perez, Jeffrey Schulien, and Carl and Dora Sepponen.

Check out the race results and see a profile of SDPCA at:
http://rnrmarathon.com

SDPCA Pledge

Community Action

As the new Community Action lead, I am working to find rewarding volunteer opportunities that are directed toward what makes us RPCVs unique–international involvement.

SDPCA has pledged to organize monthly Community Action Projects of three-to-four hour volunteer activities in the community. These are tentatively set for the third Saturday of each month. July 17th will be the fourth event of this year.

We’ll develop the projects and send out an Evite a week ot two before the event (some events require more lead time). For now, I’ll be working with Project Concern Int’l, Esperanza Int’l, etc. to develop some more half-day activities.

Please provide your suggestions to the website at community@sdpca.org; the last two community action event ideas came from RPCV members like yourselves.

–- Jesse Santos, Papua New Guinea (1998-’00), Community
Action Projects

The whole is more than the sum of its parts. — Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

President's Message

Working Together

The in-coming and out-going SDPCA leaders met at Marjory Clyne’s place on June 7th to assign Board and Committee responsibilities and discuss on-going projects. Many thanks to those who carried the torch through this last year and to those of you who stepped forward to assist with building the organization through the year to come. The new Board of Directors and Committee chairs are listed below in the minutes.

In addition to those listed, Cindy Ballard, Dave Fogelson and Ray Slanina were present at our meeting to assist with the transition.
Communications, Membership and Global Awards have well-developed committees because of the amount of work involved and the importance of these functions to our association’s well-being. Social and Fundraising also require on-going assistance and participation and I encourage those of you who are interested in the welfare of SDPCA, but want to limit your time commitment, to contact the chairs (via the e-mail addresses in this issue) of these committees that can use your skills.

Our next meeting is June 29th at my place (6:30-9:00pm); thereafter we’re looking at the first Tuesday of the month for our regular Board meetings. All are welcome. We look forward to another good year of work and cheer.

–Gregg Pancoast, SDPCA President, Costa Rica, 1985-86

Board Meetings May & June

Minutes

In Attendance for May: Marjory Clyne, Frank Yates, Rudy Sovinee, Cindy Ballard, Dave Folgelson, Kristen Slalina and Ted Finkel. Directors Ray Slalina, and Nikol Shaw were excused.

President’s Report: The SDPCA will buy a booth to help during Earth Day and other outdoor events.

Financial Report: Frank provided a detailed statement of income and expenses which was accepted for audit.

Membership: Frank reported that the SDPCA membership is at 111 current, 56 past due, totaling 167. NPCA membership is at 79 current, 25 past due, totaling 104. There are currently 33 free members. There was discussion of who should maintain the database. Brenda was having difficulties with passing data back and forth to Frank. Nothing was settled.

Community Outreach: Our May event is to help set up house for a Bantu family. June is water table support of the RnR Marathon.
Fundraising: The Entertainment Book sales are now closed and accounted.

Global Awards: For our first ever Global Awareness Award, Rudy and Marjory selected a design that should be available and appreciated for many future years.

Board Election at Annual Meeting, May 23rd: Ten members were acclaimed as suitable to be on the 9-person board.

In attendance for June: All those listed below, Cindy Ballard and Dave Folgelson. Nikol Shaw was excused.

The board structure was formalized as listed below.

The next meeting will be on June 29th at the home of Gregg Pancoast.

• Out of House and Home: Understand the mystery behind Easter Island’s population demise and how this cautionary tale may be a harbinger of things to come for the greater world.
• Material World: Find excerpt photos from acclaimed photojournalist Peter Manzel’s book Material World with updated statistical data for each country, rich and poor, represented in these moving images.
• Populations Campaigns: Explore national advertisements created in India, China and Kenya as part of mass media campaigns to spread the concept of family planning to the expanding population.
• Human Numbers through Time: Examine the startling population growth over the past two millennia, and see what’s coming in the next 50 years.
• Global Trends: Test your understanding of the population trends and environmental challenges that lie ahead for both rich and poor nations.
• Be a Demographer: Play a matching game to see how demographic data reflects and shapes the future of the U.S. and three other countries.
• Earth In Peril: View global maps that portray the staggering decline in natural resources, rising land and ocean temperatures, world population density and growth percentage between 1990-1995 and other startling statistics.
• Voices of Concern: Read interviews with five experts who discuss global environmental concerns as well as analyze nation-by-nation key population issues and possible solutions.
• Producer’s Stories: Go behind the scenes with filmmakers as they struggle to capture complex human stories while filming in Kenya, Japan, India and China.

In the struggle rewards are few.
In the fact, I know of only two,
loving friends and living dreams.
These rewards are not so few it seems. –Anonymous

Peace Corps Returns to China

In July, the Peace Corps will reenter the People’s Republic of China, with about 50 new volunteers. The program was temporarily suspended last April due to concerns surrounding the outbreak of Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The program began in 1993, when volunteers were sent to assist with a teacher-training project. Over the past ten years, nearly 300 Americans have served in China.

Peace Corps Safety Update

After recent congressional hearings on Peace Corps security, Pre. Henry Hyde (R-IL), chairman of the House International Relations Committee, introduced legislation to strengthen safety by creating new security coordinators in each country where Peace Corps serves, as well as a Peace Corps Ombudsman and independent Inspector General. The legislation would also require more detailed reporting about volunteer assignments and medical emergencies. The legislation follows several recommendations made by a U.S. General Accounting Office report on Peace Corps safety.

Morocco Welcomes New Peace Corps Volunteers
in Health and Environment

A group of new Peace Corps volunteers officially began their service on Thursday, May 20 in Morocco. The swearing-in of this second group marks the successful re-entry of the Peace Corps into Morocco.
United States Ambassador to Morocco Thomas T. Riley attended the ceremony and addressed the volunteers and their host families. Morocco’s Peace Corps Director Bruce J. Cohen presided over the ceremony and expressed his appreciation for the support of Ouarzazate’s Governor, Ahmed Merghich, who also participated in the event.

The new Peace Corps volunteers have completed eleven weeks of intensive training in the Berber language dialects of Tashelhit and Tamazight, in Arabic, and in cross-cultural communications skills. They also received technical training. These new volunteers will work for two years in the sectors of health and environment in predominantly rural Moroccan communities.

In the health sector, the volunteers’ objective will be to increase sanitation and safe water supplies in rural areas. Environmental volunteers are stationed in Morocco’s national parks and ecological reserves with the dual goal of making these areas user-friendly for eco-tourism while increasing environmental awareness among local community members. A second group of volunteers, who will work in the areas of youth development and small business development, will arrive for training in Morocco this fall.

Volunteers reentered Morocco earlier this year based on the successful 42-year history of the program as well as the Moroccan people and government’s strong support of the Peace Corps in the country. Morocco is one of five predominately Muslim countries that the Peace Corps either entered or reentered since 2003. Currently, 20 percent of Peace Corps volunteers serve in predominately Muslim countries.

Since 1962, more than 4,000 Peace Corps volunteers have worked in Morocco in education, environment, health, and small business development. Volunteers in Morocco have completed projects ranging from designing English curricula to working with artisan groups on income generating projects to helping address water quality and sanitation concerns.
– from http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=947

Twilight in the Park
Summer Concerts 2004

Looking for something free this summer? Consider checking out the Twiglight in the Park Summer Concerts at Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. Program time runs from 6:15 p.m. until 7:15 p.m., unless noted differently on the schedule. Children are welcome. Consider packing a dinner picnic and getting there early.

The concert series begins Tuesday, June 22nd and runs through Thursday, August 26th. The concerts take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings only. This cultural presentation is provided on an volunteer basis provided through the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department.

A complete list of performances can be found at http://www.balboapark.org/twilightpark.html.

Coverdell World Wise Schools
News Brief: Attention Teachers.

New at the CWWS Website: “Access to Safe Drinking Water– A Research Based Project.” Present your students with a chance to play the role of a Peace Corps Volunteer and tackle a real-world problem. This online research module will guide students through the steps to research and present their findings about access to safe drinking water in a community in Ghana, West Africa.

This research module uses questioning, problem solving, critical thinking and technology skills and is intended for middle and high school students. Link your classrooms directly with a Peace Corps Volunteer in the following ways:

1. CyberVolunteer is an email based program that sends notice of one letter a month to a teacher’s mailbox highlighting the life and projects of a currently serving Volunteer, complete with short, adaptable, standards-based classroom activities to complement the CyberVolunteer essays.
   Sign up at http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/cybervol/cybemail.html
2. Correspondence Match Program: New Peace Corps Volunteers are looking for classrooms with which to share their experiences. through the exchange of letters, artifacts, photos, and exhilarating tales, your students will learn about other countries, cultures and what it means to serve.
   Sign up at http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/correspong/enroll.html

PC Palate:

India Taj Restaurant

5450 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.,
West corner of 163 and Clairemont Mesa, north side
858 565 1661
Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Not your loud party venue, but a quiet laid-back corner of authentic, reasonable Indian cuisine, minus the requisite flies and occasional chicken clucking through. Moderate weekend buffet (all you can eat) is $9.99 including freshly made nan roti (to die for, two flavors) and wine; it features a steam table of several entrees and more side dishes, low-heat for the sensitive Western palate, and there’s also a salad /dessert bar. The large room is divided into two sides so that a group of 40 or so could take one side (hint, Social Committee). Some regulars (in rainbow batique t-shirts, straight out of the 60s, including grey pony tails) declared it to be “the best Indian food in town.”

If this doesn’t give you the Indian Fix you crave, walk across the small parking lot to Indian Sweets and Spices (same owner), which has all the Indian items your heart could desire (minus, of course, the dust, occasional spider, or curious chicken). There I found a culinary item for which I’ve been searching for months! Khannos Na!!

–Brenda Terry-Hahn, Nepal (1964-66), Membership Coordinator

Recruiter’s Corner

I’m heading for points North and East for at the end of July. It’s been so much fun working with the group, and one day in the near future, I hope to be back! So keep in touch. My temporary personal email is mfogelson@yahoo.com.

Peace Corps Community Events in July and August
July 17th - San Diego Downtown Library 2pm-3pm
820 E St. 2nd Floor Meeting Room, San Diego 92101

August 17th - Oceanside Library 6pm-7:30pm
330 N. Coast Highway Oceanside 92054

All the best!

“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” –Plato

--David Fogelson, El Salvador Agroforestry (1998-2000), Peace Corps Los Angeles, San Diego Regional Recruiter, 619-594-2188

Welcome to New Members

We of SDPCA extend a warm welcome to our newest members. We’ve seen some of you at our events already and we want all of you to get involved in our activities. Let us hear from you!! You can reach us by the contact information listed in Contact SDPCA. Old members, use this section as your SDPCA Membership Directory update.

New members are listed by name, country and years of service, area of residence.

• Ed McFadd, Malaysia (1965-1968)-English Teacher, Encinitas, CA, emcfadd@flash.net
• Jesse Santos, Papua New Guinea (1998-2000)-Rural Community Development, San Diego, CA, j_ssantos@yahoo.com
• Susan Santos, Papua New Guinea (1998-2000)-Rural Community Development, San Diego, CA, j_ssantos@yahoo.com
• Barbara Sterk , Honduras-Agriculture, Encinitas, CA.

Newsletter Credits

Pacific Waves is published six times a year by the San Diego PeaceCorps Association which is fully responsible for its content. Except for copyrighted material, articles may be reprinted without permission with credit to the SDPCA.

Contributions are encouraged: e-mailed text file on disk- Mac preferred, or typed copy.

Please send to Editor, SDPCA, P.O. Box 26565, San Diego, CA 92196 or e-mail: newseditor@sdpca.org

Editor
Liz Brown

Layout / Production
Don Beck

Contributors this issue are:

Zandra Garanzuay, Rudy Sovinee, Marjory Clyne, David Fogelson, Cindy Ballard, Gregg Pancoast, Sharon Kennedy, Jon Kahn, Gina Malan

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