Tour in the Peace Corps
article written by Linda Lipp
You’re never too old to try something new.
Classmate Steve Cambridge left his job with a Cincinnati-based health care company in 2007 a few months after he witnessed a terrible accident on the highway on his way home to Indianapolis.
Steve told a group of about 18 classmates who gathered at Pepe’s in Frankfort Sept. 6 that seeing the accident made him think about what he had been doing with his life, and what he really wanted to do with the rest of it.
One of the things he’d never had the opportunity to do was serve in the Peace Corps. Undeterred by the fact that the average Peace Corps volunteer is about 26 to 28 years old, Steve joined up and was assigned to Pacasmayo, a town with a population a little larger than Frankfort on the coast of Peru.
During his two-year tour, Steve organized an international marathon that brought hundreds of tourists to the area, worked with a local craftsman to develop a new product (a handmade marble chess set) and taught math and physical fitness, among other things. As do all Peace Corps volunteers, he stayed with a local family and lived as they did — with just a few exceptions. (If you talk to Steve, ask him about the toilet seats!). (article continued below picture)
Steve is currently preparing for the
Indianapolis marathon and hoping to qualify for the Boston marathon
while he decides on his next career move. Although he didn’t quite
persuade anyone at the Pepe’s gathering to jump up and volunteer, he
hopes others will consider Peace Corps service and made me promise to
include the Peace Corps Web site, www.peacecorps.gov.
--- Linda Lipp
Classmate Steve Cambridge left his job with a Cincinnati-based health care company in 2007 a few months after he witnessed a terrible accident on the highway on his way home to Indianapolis.
Steve told a group of about 18 classmates who gathered at Pepe’s in Frankfort Sept. 6 that seeing the accident made him think about what he had been doing with his life, and what he really wanted to do with the rest of it.
One of the things he’d never had the opportunity to do was serve in the Peace Corps. Undeterred by the fact that the average Peace Corps volunteer is about 26 to 28 years old, Steve joined up and was assigned to Pacasmayo, a town with a population a little larger than Frankfort on the coast of Peru.
During his two-year tour, Steve organized an international marathon that brought hundreds of tourists to the area, worked with a local craftsman to develop a new product (a handmade marble chess set) and taught math and physical fitness, among other things. As do all Peace Corps volunteers, he stayed with a local family and lived as they did — with just a few exceptions. (If you talk to Steve, ask him about the toilet seats!). (article continued below picture)
--- Linda Lipp