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Peace Corps in Panama: Fifty Years, Many Voices
Peace Corps in Panama: Fifty Years, Many Voices brings together the collective humor, heartbreak, and wisdom of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers across five decades of service. This inspirational book commemorates the 50th anniversary of Peace Corps in Panama. More than 30 authors and poets reflect on their overseas experience and how it changed their lives. Their voices will speak to Peace Corps Volunteers of any generation, their families, and friends. A must-read for all who have dreamed of international service.
196 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 30, 2013
I was thrilled to receive this as a Goodreads giveaway.In the intro, Cornett calls this anthology a “collective memoir,” in which the collection becomes greater than the sum of its parts. This is a brilliant description of a book that not only records the history of the Peace Corps, but also Panama. For those of us who remained stateside and engaged in social activism during the 60s and 70s, these stories open our eyes to the human side of a country we had decried for its politics.
The collection was conceived during a reunion of Panama RPCVs celebrating the 50th anniversary. Cornett, the editor, is also a Panama RPCV. The book is organized in chronological order, with a glaring 20-year break when the Peace Corps was thrown out of Panama. After Noriega’s arrest, Peace Corps volunteers were invited back. The pieces are short, each one a snapshot of the lasting impression of the country and its people. Reading these vignettes brought me an instant recollection of yearning to join the Peace Corps.
The pieces in this book are also a living testament to the power of totally immersing oneself in a culture. Many of the volunteers returned decades later, and the people they had interacted with not only remembered them, but welcomed them. This collection is a terrific way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps in Panama.
The collection was conceived during a reunion of Panama RPCVs celebrating the 50th anniversary. Cornett, the editor, is also a Panama RPCV. The book is organized in chronological order, with a glaring 20-year break when the Peace Corps was thrown out of Panama. After Noriega’s arrest, Peace Corps volunteers were invited back. The pieces are short, each one a snapshot of the lasting impression of the country and its people. Reading these vignettes brought me an instant recollection of yearning to join the Peace Corps.
The pieces in this book are also a living testament to the power of totally immersing oneself in a culture. Many of the volunteers returned decades later, and the people they had interacted with not only remembered them, but welcomed them. This collection is a terrific way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps in Panama.
February 16, 2014
I was so excited to get this incredible book of the Peace Corps in Panama:Fifty Years, Many Voices By Meridith W. Cronett. I had thought as a young child about joining the Peace Corps but never did. Reading this book, for me, was a true inspiration. I love the stories and poems told of the volunteers during their Peace Corps journey. You are all an inspiration to me and the world. You don't realize as you go throught your busy, most of the time comfortable lives, that there are still countries not to far away that are struggling, even today, without things that we take for granted. Life is much simplier, but I not sure that being simplier isn't a bad thing. Mederith and Goodreads thank you for this book. I would recommend it to anyone as an eye-opening, inspirational read.
May 25, 2013
Totally self-serving, this rating of five stars, but I loved editing this book! Cannot wait to meet some of the authors and poets in Panama City in a few weeks.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews