Got some news to share? Email Valerie at valwhitingpcpfyahoo.com.

February 2007

• RPCV Franny White, Malena de Mariato, Veraguas, 2004-2006, Group 53 reports:

In November 2006 I began working as a reporter for the Skagit Valley Herald in Mount Vernon, Wash., where I will cover the Hispanic community, among other beats. After COS-ing in May 06, I first worked as a summer naturalist at Camp Robbinswold for the Girl Scouts of Seattle.

• RPCV Paige Carithers-Flores, Tortí, Panama Este, 1998-2000 reports:

My husband, Jose Flores, and I just welcomed our new son, Mason Abel Flores, into the world on November 5, 2006, at 8:48am. He weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz., and was 20.5 inches long. We are thrilled with our new bundle of joy and look forward to watching him grow up! We will be going back to Panama for a visit and to have Mason baptized in March of 2007. Otherwise, we are doing well and still living near Toccoa, Georgia.

I've been working with the Northeast Georgia Youth Science & Technology Center, an educational nonprofit, since 2002. Jose has been working in carpentry and manufacturing, but will soon be staying home to take care of Mason when I go back to work. We look forward to having another Panama RPCV from my group, Barbara Gulick (Bocas del Toro, 98-00), and her husband Jose, coming to our area. Barbara has accepted an ESOL job at a local school in our area and will be moving here soon. My email is carithers@alltel.net, would love to hear from other RPCVs!

• RPCV Jeff Luoma, Llano Grande de Anton, Coclé, 1992-1994 reports:

I'm living in upper New York and will probably be moving somewhat near Ithaca within the year to start a forest consulting business: www.luomaforestry.com, under construction. Write if you're coming through and we can probably put you up for a night: jwluoma@hotmail.com.

• RPCV Jason Cochran, Llano Grande de Ocú, Herrera, 1997-2000 reports:

I just left the APCD Sustainable Agriculture job in Panama and headed to Paraguay with my wife, Santeana, Dallys to begin life as the PTO for the PC Paraguay. While we deeply miss Panama, we are really enjoying Paraguay and the new challenges that go with the position.

• RPCV Jaime Moses, Guanico Abajo de Tonosí, Los Santos, 1999-2001 reports:

I served as a Small Business Volunteer (1999-2001) in the little town of Guanico Abajo de Tonosí de Los Santos deep in the heart of the Azuero Peninsula. The memories of Panama continue to fade, although I still think of my vecinos in Guanico from time to time. This never fails to bring a smile to my face.

After leaving Panama for good in 2002 (after a 3-month visit in early 2002) I went back to my old digs as a field archaeologist for a small firm in southern Arizona. I met my wife Sarah [also an archaeologist (archaeologists seem to attract one another)] shortly after and we were married in April of this year. After living and planning our lives together we ended up in a little passive solar house in Oracle, Arizona (pop. 2,500, look for it about 40 miles north of Tucson) with our dog Chaco. Our first child will arrive in April 2007 and we are incredibly excited to have a little "chi chi" running around. I look forward to the day when I bring Sarah and our child to Guanico for a nice big bowl of Arroz con Pollo (and maybe a surf).

At the moment I find myself working on an archaeological project in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I started my own archaeological consulting firm in 2005 [Antigua Archaeology, LLC (I apologize for the blatant plug)] and have been rolling with it ever since. I credit my experience as a PCV for giving me the courage to move forward with my business. I figured that after adapting to life in the campo anything else was pretty much a piece of cake. . . and so far I have been right.

I still keep in touch from time to time with a few of my fellow volunteers. Here is a shout out to Andres Godley and Jenny Moon (and their baby boy Reeves), Amy O'Hara and her new Esposo Isidro (wherever you are?), and Nina Muller still wading her way around New Orleans.

Take care and remember to push yourself just a little bit everyday...

• RPCV B.J. Ritchie, El Cacao de Capira, Panamá, 1991 - 1993 reports:

In January, I became The Nature Conservancy's Regional Human Resources Manager for the Eastern US Region relocating to Providence, RI with my wife and 1-1/2 year old daughter.

We are now expecting number 2 in May and would love to hear from others from the group that helped begin the second wave of Peace Corps volunteers to establish a program in Panama. It is amazing to see how the far the program has grown in just 15 short years. It is true what they say, but it really does seems like just yesterday our group of 14 took the long overnight bus ride from our training facility in Alajeula, Costa Rica to join the five, 3rd-year volunteers already in country to become Peace Corps Panama. What wonderful memories from a beautiful country and a great organization.

November 2006

• RPCV Nadia Barrera, Los Santos 2001-2003 reports:
  
  “I am in my second year of a Master's Program at the University of Texas. I am studying Transportation Planning in their Community and Regional Planning Program. I did my first year of study at the University of Arizona in their planning program, but got homesick and missed my boyfriend, so transferred back to Texas. (You can take the girl out of Texas...but then she just wants to go home.) I loved Tucson though, and their Peace Corps Fellows program was great if anyone is interested in checking it out.
  
  I am working for a transportation firm called KFH group based out of Bethesda, MD and will be in those parts on the 21st of December (if anyone wants to say “Hey”). For fun I teach yoga at the University's recreation center and study my bootie off. Yea! Come and visit me. Austin is great! We have TWO pull-out couches with your name on them.”
   
• RPCV Tom Langehaug, La Mesa and Santiago, Veraguas, 2000-2003 reports:
   
  “I am currently living in Seattle, working with Peace Corps, and enjoying fatherhood. I have a fifteen month old daughter Chloe.”
   
• RPCV Dost Bardouille, Bocas del Toro, 2003-2006 reports:
   
  “I have recently arrived back in the states after 3.5 years in Panama, working with the Ngabe and as a technical coordinator in the Panama City office. At the end of service I traveled through Central America for 2 months, and then worked with the Ministry of Health in Dominica, a small Caribbean Island, for a month. I am now living in Seattle, where I am working on an MPH in the International Public Health program. Looking for any good ideas on international practicum and thesis topics!!!”