If You Are Retiring, You Might Join the Peace Corps!
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Excerpt from Peace Corps Application: Motivation Statement
As my husband and I approach retirement, we are excited about the possibility of expanding our experiences by living and working in an international environment where we could increase our knowledge in our areas of interest while contributing to the development and well-being of others. This shared desire builds on several past experiences and life goals.
As a person of Euro-American ancestry, I have benefited from numerous cross-cultural experiences throughout my lifetime, and I am eager to explore communities in other places of the world. My husband and I are adoptive parents. We have five adult children and several grandchildren who are of Euro-American, African-American, Vietnamese-American, and Mexican- American ancestries.
Beyond homes in Michigan and California (USA), we’ve traveled, lived, and worked in regions of Germany, South Africa, and Mexico. I have developed conversational proficiency in German and Spanish—to a greater and lesser degree, respectively. We have valued our international experiences and have encouraged our children and grandchildren to consider similar opportunities. In essence, we want to be good role models and to exhibit for them a great joy in venturing forth in the world, taking interest in the lives of others, and contributing however we are able.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Members of the baby boomer generation are among a particularly large group of Americans who have approached the time of retirement with good health—physically, economically, and spiritually. Today’s retirees are able to enjoy active lives, and many already have been volunteering for several years in service projects within their local communities, churches, synagogues, and mosques. Increasing numbers of US retirees are living full and independent lives. Many are seeking additional ways to contribute to the well-being of others. If you are retiring, you might consider international community service by joining the Peace Corps!
About the Author
Sally Jo Nelson Botzler was raised in working-class neighborhoods in Detroit, Michigan. Her Lutheran-Christian family upbringing and elementary education were influential in her spiritual development. Sally’s children, grandchildren, and other family relationships have been vitally important to her. She is deeply committed to her husband, Rick, who is her dearest friend. Sally has enjoyed many other personal and professional friendships both here in the United States and in Germany, Japan, and Mexico.
Attending Wayne State University in Detroit, Sally earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1964. After she and her young family moved to Northern California in 1970, Sally continued her work as an educator, emphasizing multicultural children’s literature. She completed a California Reading Specialist Credential and a Master of Arts degree in Education at Humboldt State University in 1979. Her Ph.D. in International/Intercultural Education is from the University of Southern California.
Sally’s professional work at the Humboldt County Office of Education in Eureka, California, involved several years of curriculum and staff development in multicultural education and three years of teaching in the Court and Community Schools. Following her doctoral program, Sally worked in teacher preparation and in graduate education programs at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. It was especially gratifying for Sally to supervise numerous student teachers during their fieldwork placements with mentor teachers in several North Coast California schools.
Throughout Sally’s life, she has valued opportunities to work also with young children—from whom she has learned the essentials of patience, joy, and forgiveness. Interest in multicultural education has motivated Sally’s love of world languages. Although her primary language is English, Sally has become increasingly proficient in German and Spanish while also exploring Japanese, Vietnamese, and Hebrew.
Following their retirement as professors at Humboldt State University in December 2007, Sally and Rick served as Peace Corps volunteers at the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve in Jalpan, Mexico (2009 – 2011). Sally hopes this small book about their Peace Corps experiences will inspire other retirees in the United States to consider the opportunities for international community service that Peace Corps offers.