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Apa KabarApa KabarApa KabarApa Kabar

Friends of MalaysiaFriends of MalaysiaFriends of MalaysiaFriends of Malaysia

Spring 2016

Newsletter

Thaine H. Allison, Jr., editor, RPCV North Borneo & Sarawak 1, 1962-64 thaineallison@gmail.com

SQUEAKS FROM THE CHAIR

by

Barry Morris

President, Friends of Malaysia

Greetings! In this issue of our newsletter, a number of good articles have been contributed. Mike Anderson, who serves on the board of directors has put together an article entitled “The Peace Corps - `Back then’ and now today”. As Michael noted, there is often a bit of confusion with the general public as to whether the organization still functions and the most surprising things we can say in recent times are that last year’s 23,000 applications represent a 40 year high and that the Peace Corps was able to secure the largest budget increase in its history!

These are quite impressive statistics no doubt, but why are they happening? I would like to make a few personal observations on this point. I think there are a lot of young people who desire that the world be a safer place where people live together in harmony. Idealism is still very much present with young college graduates - probably more so with today’s graduates than the previous generation. I have been very impressed with the young people I have been teaching the past few years at our local college. Tethered to the Internet as they are, you would think this would be a big problem in some parts of the world, but it doesn’t seem to be.

As computers of all types (including smartphones) are becoming more sophisticated and powerful, volunteers are finding ways to keep in touch with their friends in ways that we had no knowledge of when we served. I should note that somehow we kept in touch even if the mail service was slow.

Finally, in September, the 4th annual conference for returned volunteers will be held in Washington, D.C. from September 23 to September 25th. Since the returned PCV national organization is no longer charging annual dues, this makes this get together an excellent time to see some of your old friends!

I served in the early part of the 1970s and after I arrived back home in Virginia, someone from my training group sent me the following note. Somehow the note survived the years between then and now.

“You know you have been in Asia too long when:

• You leave footprints on the john.

• You know what ‘gastric’ is.

• You crave durian.

• You don’t think twice about asking how

much something cost.

• You eat with your fingers when there’s a

white tablecloth and silverware on the

table.

• You worry about heating and cooling

foods.

• You carry an umbrella on a sunny day so

that your skin will remain ‘fair’.

• You say ‘mana pergi’ when you pass a

local person.

• If you are traveling in Europe, you

identify more with Asians than with

Americans due to displays of wealth and

conspicuous consumption.”

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SARAWAK 2ND DIVISION RPCV

SPEAKS UP by

Nancy Gallant

I was playing a CD of toddler songs for my 18-month old granddaughter when the children sang "Do Your Ears Hang Low?" Ah, the memories! Once, I was sitting on a longboat going upriver in 4th Division. I didn't know anyone on the boat and I started daydreaming and found myself singing (softly, I hope) "Do your ears hang low?" Caught myself and looked around. I was the only one with short ears.

I worked in 2nd Division and there weren't so many long ears. But I do remember some older ladies who threw their ears over their shoulders or tied them in a knot to keep them from getting in the way. Very practical.

Peace Corps is long gone from Malaysia, but Fulbright English Teaching Assistants(ETAs) are filling some of the gaps in English education in rural schools. A recent article was published in New Sunday Times

MALAYSIAN LITERATURE

At Malaysia XII's 50th reunion in the fall of 2015, an informative and stimulating session focused on the following books which were recommended well in advance of that gathering:

Colonial LiteratureThe Casaurina Tree, by W. Somerset MaughamThe Long Day Wanes – A Malayan Trilogy, by Anthony BurgessThe EmergencyAnd the Rain My Drink, by Han SuyinModern MalaysiaGrowing Up With Ghosts, by Bernice ChaulyThe Garden of the Evening Mists, by Tan Twan EngThe Gift of Rain, by Tan Twan EngThe Map of the Invisible World, by Tash AwThe Consumption of Kuala Lumpur, by Ziauddin Sardar

For more information on Malaysian authors, you may refer to the websitehttp://www.ranker.com/list/famous-authors-from-malaysia/reference

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ACTIVITY REPORT FOR

THE FRIENDS OF

MALAYSIA 2015by

Barry Morris,

President, Friends of Malaysia

Friends of Malaysia had a good year in 2015. We

were able to expand our board membership and to

attend the reunions of a few of the training groups

which are still in contact with their members.

Personally, I attended the 50th reunion of Group XII

which was held near Charlottesville, Virginia. Four

of our board members attended this reunion and

took part with activities such as panel discussions

in what was a very well organized, week-long

program. We attended the summer Peace Corps

conference and shared programs from this

conference. We also attended a reunion of Group

7 which was held in California. We are making

plans now to attend the September Peace Corps

conference in Washington.

We are still working to establish a relationship with

the Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs)

who are now working in Malaysia. This group has

often been referred to as a sort of new Peace

Corps Volunteer like organization and we hope to

have interactions with the group. Financially, we

supported a program in a theatrical format put on

by one of the English Teaching Assistants and

published a report in our newsletter about this

program and we may have at least one member

from the ETA group join our group.

We contributed to worthy causes in Malaysia

including the Malaysian Cancer Society, and the

Malaysian Red Crescent Society which has been

assisting in the relief efforts related to the heavy

flooding of the east coast of West Malaysia. A

number of board members made personal

donations to this effort.

A large effort this past year was made to

upgrade our website, which is one of the main

ways we communicate with returned volunteers since we are not an urban or regional group.

The two most popular additions to our website

have been adding a section of old and new

pictures of Malaysia and returned Peace Corps

Volunteers who served there, and an “in

memoriam” similar to the one used iat the web

site connectedpeacecorps.org.

RUTH AND ROD ZWIRNER AND BOB AND RITA CRICENTI HOST A GATHERING OF

MALAYSIAN STUDENTS

Clockwise from front left: Hisham, Bob, Ruth, Khairul, Tharme linggem, Lhobna, Brena, Rabitah, Rod, Nazreen, Syafik. Great diverse group gathering in Blackburg, VA.

Malaysian travel then,

1962.

Travel now! Change is a

reoccurring theme in our

newsletter this time.

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HOW SAVING BABY ELEPHANTS IN SABAH

RELATES TO UN DEVELOPMENT GOALS

by

Rod Zwirner

A recent FoM discussion about saving orphaned baby elephants (Oregon Zoo news) brought up several issues, not the least of which is how to discuss multifaceted problems and how to contribute to their amelioration. Firstly, the impulse to provide milk to Sabah's orphaned elephants is basically sound, for the creatures need nutrition and to bond with those feeding them. Secondly, the habitat loss due to deforestation for palm oil plantations must be dealt with in a comprehensive way. Fred Putnam (Group 24), who is spending a serious part of his retirement on palm oil certification, chimed in with ways to support this process. Thirdly, palm oil production itself was challenged.

Some of us found out how important palm oil production is to Indonesian and Malaysian economies and human nutrition. It is not going away and must be done sustainability with responsibility for the planet and everyone involved. Oil palms provide over a third of the world's cooking oil, is not genetically engineered, produces the highest yields on less land, and has 3 versatile oil products which process and blend well. For a while there was a nutritional scare based on research that might have been funded by GMO producers, like the corn, soy and canola seed industries. There are plenty of places to do further research and donate like the Borneo Project, RainForestNetwork, Union of Concerned Scientists, but one can start with Fred's Facebook page, "Sustainable Palm Oil News." My experience in looking at market-based solutions is that you must become aware of who is watching the certifiers and what banks are lending to the devastating, corrupt producers. One perspective of certification has 8 goals with 39 objectives, so the possibilities of fudging and cheating are always present. ventures played out in the Kapit area. I do Now, to add another dimension, let me start by offering some personal reflections. In 1965 or

1966 (during Peace Corps) I took my Husbandry class to the Tarat Agricultural Station and as part of the tour we were introduced to the potential benefits of palm oil for the small landholder, especially within the Settlement Schemes being proposed. There was virtually no processing experience in Sarawak at that point, but there probably was on the Peninsula. Rubber was still king but someone must have been looking at oil palm plantation production as a partial substitute. The main thrust was to stop shifting cultivation in Sabah and Sarawak. I am sure there must be a literature on this phenomenon, and it would be interesting to hear from RPCV's who were directly involved. Connecting to world markets is very tricky. I think even UNESCO was involved in Sabah, probably because there was a lot of thinking about how to help market-based, settled economies.

Anyway, in 1970, the Asia Foundation gave me a grant to do a school leaver survey for both males and females to see how they looked at Settlement Schemes as related to longhouse/kampong life. This got shot down by Malaysia, maybe because there was a “radical tinge” to some of the questions. I did slip some copies to teachers in Group 30 after we were finished training, so I still have a few completed copies. I certainly viewed Settlement Schemes as a possible component of the new Malaysian, democratic society. There was some expectation that with the slowing down of the communist insurrection that this could be part of Chinese and tribal integration. I was quite aware of the leadership drain that Peace Corps was enabling by educating students in a system geared to help them leave their villages, get a salary and become "modern" away from extended family. Having gone through our training some PCV's got into trouble for encouraging suitable kids to go home, get further practical training, then help provide the next generation of leadership.

Another important experience for me was taking students to an Australian logging project just below the Pelagus Rapids and watching how such how such ventures played out in the Kapit area. I do not (CONTINUED P.5)

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(CONTINUED from P. 4) not know how sustainable they were, but there were elements of timber stand improvement. This was not clear cutting and nurse trees were left for future forest growth. Apparently, some of the Iban choppers were so skilled that they obtained overseas work. Thirty plus years later clear cut logging was so bad in the Balleh watershed that there was a huge land slump that sent a devastating wave down the Rejang River.

So what went wrong? There is much written about the corruption, illegal land deals, etc. and the rush towards rather mindless industrial logging and agriculture, especially for oil palm. What I want to focus on is the United Nations protocols that were negotiated for human, indigenous and land rights in order to frame development with justice. Largely ignored, they could have provided a fair basis for emerging economies, but failed to do so despite some success with the Millennial Development Goals (MDGs). While negotiating the new Sustainable Development Goals (2015-30) many NGOs and civil society organizations (CSOs) around the world were practically screaming this is not sustainable or real consent. Some of their views were heard but there seemed to be a dearth of understanding or imagination as to how native peoples can help us think through human survival in a just, non-industrial manner. The power of resilient communities seems under appreciated to say the least. Community development remains an abstraction to many.

The above are just some thoughts based on my own personal narrative. However, even if I am partially right, what might these ideas mean to Malaysia and other RPCVs? For one, we could be a little less nostalgic and critique our experiences about what was really accomplished and the context in which they were carried out. Secondly, we might consider what seeds we might have sown that led to the present political disarray in both countries. I Have been to several reunions, and I am aware of the wonderful efforts of many RPCVs. In this context we might even better appreciate the opportunities we were given and how we might presently participate in the healing that needs to take place. Thirdly, since developing countries have put a lot of effort into the Sarawak Development Goals (SDGs), out of respect, they should be carefully considered. They are comprehensive, inclusive, meant for everyone and should be considered for all human activity, especially aid.

Often when I meet people and it comes up that I served in the Peace Corps in Malaysia, they respond, “Oh, is the Peace Corps still going?” My answer is always, “Yes. It is alive -- and well, thank you.” As current Peace Corps officials like to emphasize, “Since 1961, the Peace Corps has remained true to its service mission.”

The Peace Corps continues to promote world peace and friendship through its three core goals, but it certainly has evolved over the decades – as has the world, for better or worse. I recently stopped by the still-independent federal agency’s headquarters in downtown Washington, DC to pick up some information materials about today’s Peace Corps.

This article summarizes what I learned. I hope it helps readers better explain how the Corps remains true to its original goals and yet has done a good job of keeping up with the dramatically changing times and new challenges. The Cold War, for example, is long over, and people and societies at home and abroad have undeniably changed and resource limitations never go away. But the value of -- and need for -- the Peace Corps’ grassroots ambassadors remain, and the experience continues to be a life-defining one for many. As the slick recruitment brochures still say, ”Serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer is an experience like no other. Peace Corps Volunteers want to make a dIfference, and they do.”

Since 1983 Volunteers have not been assigned to Malaysia (CONTINUED P. 6)

THE PEACE CORPS – “BACK THEN” AND NOW

by Michael H. Anderson

schemes and Peace Corps projects. My perspective is that we keep searching for new growth as if we had several planets to develop and we ignore the SDG parameters at the peril of all the progress that has be achieved.

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(CONTINUED from P.5) because of that country’s amazing economic progress. But did you know that the Peace Corps still is in more han 60 countries? In Asia, for example, volunteers develop friendships and share their skills in countries that years ago would not have even thought of hosting Peace Corps – China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Timor Leste, for example. The percentages of PCVs in the “Peace Corps regions” have changed over the years, and whole new areas – such as “Eastern European/ Central Asia” – now eagerly welcome Volunteers. The Corps, too, continues in many places where it has long and proudly served – Thailand and the Philippines and some island-nations in the Pacific, for example.

Volunteers still typically live for two years in the communities they serve, but the jobs they do have changed over the years. Education and health remain important programs, and include about 61% of current PCVs. “Rural and community action” and “public works” programs have gone and new areas -- like “youth in development”, “environment”, and “community economy development” -- have emerged. Increasingly, Volunteers are developing technology-based solutions to their daily challenges.

More Volunteers now serve in large cities than they did when the “typical” PCV during my time lived and worked in towns or rural villages. (I remember one of the PCVs in my Group XX was assigned to an unusually small, isolated place – an east coast island out in the South China Sea which required a 2 hour boat trip to reach it and which was virtually inaccessible during the height of the monsoon season). But the idea of “community” and the need to build local trust and respect your host culture are emphasized as much as ever. Relatively new, however, is the emphasis on partnerships. PC no longer “goes it alone” and guards its bureaucratic independence. It increasingly interacts with others and welcomes partners, including even other federal government programs, as well as the private sector and non-governmental organizations. These new PC “partners” include everything from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR) and “Let Girls Learn” initiatives to Rotary International and Special Olympics. The idea is that PC goals and limited budgets can often be best met through active cooperation with others sharing similar values and objectives.

Today’s Volunteers remain enthusiastically dedicated to making a difference, but their profile has changed a bit. In general, today’s Volunteers are older and more diverse than in the past (when I was a Volunteer most of us were single men fresh out of a first college degree), and they seem to have joined for slightly different reasons.

There is no upper age limit (8% of current Volunteers are 50 or older; the average age is now 28). Today’s PC strives to better reflect the great diversity of America, with minorities making up 28% of Volunteers, and “same-sex couples” being welcomed.

PCVs generally continue to be overwhelmingly single – only 6% of today’s Volunteers are married – but they are a bit older and better educated and more technically skilled than earlier Volunteers, who tended to be males in their early 20’s and fell under the category of “BA generalists.” Today, 63% of PCVs are females, and 94% of PCVs have at least an undergraduate degree. Many bring higher degrees and impressive work experience and language skills, and have traveled abroad extensively. As always, PC is a great way to gain leadership and international development experience, learn a language, and see the wider world.

Back when Malaysia had a PC program, most Volunteers identified “adventure or travel” as the main reason for joining – and some early male PVCs signed up in an effort to avoid the draft since the Vietnam War was raging and some could get a deferment from their local draft board. Today’s seemingly more altruistic Volunteers are likely to cite “opportunity to help others” and then “personal growth” as their key motivating factors. “Pragmatism” – gaining international experience, learning a foreign language, challenging US job market, etc. – is the third factor for both past and current Volunteers.

A major difference between current and early Volunteers has to do with living conditions and communication while abroad. When I was a Volunteer in Malaysia, (CONTINUED P. 7)

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(CONTINUED from P. 6) which was never really a “hardship” assignment, I had simple, but adequate accommodations in my kampong. I had no TV, air conditioning, telephone or indoor toilet, and Internet, CNN and mobile phones, of course, didn’t exist. A Peace Corps-issued bicycle got me to school each day. For news, I had to rely on local newspapers like “The Straits Times” and weekly magazines, like “Time” and the wonderful “Far Eastern Economic Review” magazine, and on very slow mail service. Radio was my one luxury, and it enabled me to listen not only to local Radio Malaysia (in four different languages), but also to pick up BBC, Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Australia and – at night from across the South China Sea in Vietnam -- US Armed Forces broadcasts. Today’s Volunteers – almost wherever they are posted – have comparatively easy access to both traditional and new social media. Some 64% of PCVs can access the Internet without traveling. More than 91% have a cellphone, and “calling back to the States” isn’t a big deal or something done only in the case of a serious emergency. I recall being in Malaysia for the terrible May 13, 1969 riots and declaration of a “state of emergency,” and I don’t think I even thought about trying to call home to say I was OK. Calls were expensive and connections difficult. Access to even very limited technology has made it far easier for Volunteers to maintain contact not only with people back home but also with Volunteers and staff in-country.

Most PCVs still live comparatively simple and on a level close to their counterparts, but my impression is that the Peace Corps of late has been giving far more attention to assigning Volunteers only to sites that have undergone careful review for safety factors. Health and security risks, including natural disasters, civil unrest and even terrorism, are inherent in some countries, and the PC seems to be trying harder -- sometimes under pressure from Volunteers, The National Peace Corps Association and the media -- to provide the training, medical and other support and information PCVs must have to remain safe, healthy and productive. Gender issues and concerns, including violence against women, are getting more attention both in terms of supporting Volunteers and being more sensitive to host-country community needs and aspirations.

Finally, the PC is different today because of some significant policy reforms which makes applying for the

PC easier and more transparent. For example, applicants now can choose their sector and where they would like to serve, and the application form has been greatly shortened (it supposedly can be completed in one hour) and the whole selection process speeded up. Also, an exciting, new “Peace Corps Response” initiative is providing short-term assignments for returned Volunteers or experienced professionals to provide high-impact, targeted assistance in places where they are most needed.

In short, the Peace Corps is doing many things right and deserves continued support from Congress and the American people. Nearly 220,000 Americans have served, and nearly 7,000 are currently serving. And let me cite at least two recent examples of encouraging news: the Peace Corps has just secured the largest budgetary increase in its history (its FY 2015 budget was $379.5 million), and last year nearly 23,000 people applied to become Volunteers – a 40-year high.

Mike Anderson, Malaysia Group XX teacher in Sungai Petani, Kedah, and Kuala Lumpur from 1968-71.

FRIENDS OF MALAYSIAFINANCIAL STATEMENT

1/1 TO 12/31/15by

Paul Murphy Treasurer FoMOpening Checking Balance $6,957.43

REVENUE:Dues 1,200.00Donations 510.00TOTAL REVENUE $1,710.00

EXPENSES:NPCA Affiliation Fee 50.00Tel Conference Calls 395.17Donations to Charities 1,090.00Bank Exp. 130.68Newsletter Exp. 120.18Other 25.00TOTAL EXPENSES - $1,811.03Accounts Payable Paid -35.00Closing Checking Balance $6,821.40

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THE TUNKU FONDLY REMEMBERS

PEACE CORPSby

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Malaysia’s first prime minister, was the official who made the original request for Peace Corps Volunteers to serve in his young country. The following January 10, 1983 message from the Tunku appeared in a special booklet, “The United States Peace Corps in Malaysia 1962-1983,” which documented the history and accomplishments of Malaysian volunteers:

The American Ambassador, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Gary Bannerman, the Country Director of the Peace Corps, Malaysia, saw me on 20th December, 1982 and informed me that the Peace Corps in Malaysia, which had given yeoman service to this country will soon wind up, and the members will return to their country. A few of them, however, will remain here as they are married to Malaysians and intend to make this country their home. I was sorry to hear that our association of so many years has suddenly come to an end.

My meeting with Mr. Sargent Shriver, the brother-in-law of the late President Kennedy and the first Peace Corps Director, remained indelibly in my mind. When he mentioned to me about this organization my first thought was that a group of volunteers formed in America were coming to help maintain peace in Malaya and in the free world

We had just declared this country “white” after 12 years of communist insurrection. Mr. Shriver explained to me that the Peace Corps which President Kennedy had established was for the purpose of helping emerging nations in their pursuit of peaceful development. I readily accepted the offer but would like to know more about the type of work and help that would be made available to us.

Then on 4th September, 1961, an agreement for the Peace Corps programme in Malaysia

was agreed to in an exchange of letters between the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Encik M. Ghazlie Shafie and the American Ambassador, Mr. Charles F. Baldwin.

The first batch of 36 volunteers came in 1961, made up of nurses, medical laboratory technicians, architects, road and soil surveyors, secondary science teachers and industrial arts instructors. Their number increased from year to year, with school teachers predominating by at least two-fold, because that was the urgent requirement of the country, to help secondary schools.

By 1967 the Peace Corps programme in this country was the largest in the world with the number of volunteers reaching 558. They had to work under very trying conditions and lived the life of the indigenous people, which was so different to that which they were used to. But they studied the Malay language and were able to communicate with the kampong people with ease, both in Eastern and Western Malaysia. To them nothing mattered so long as they were able to help with our development projects.

It was mentioned in the write-up that a girl volunteer, named Colleen Gillmouthe, who was the district health nurse at a government dispensary at Tongud on the upper Kinabatangan River, 300 miles from the nearest government hospital and doctor in Sandakan, could only make trips by means of small outboard motor-boats, which took three to six days to reach the outpost.

Some of the Peace Corps Volunteers have returned to this country to travel memory lane and to renew friendship and acquaintance with people they met in those early days.

I remember an occasion, when I visited Washington, I was going up the steps of the Government office to meet a high government officials, whose office or name I cannot remember, for it was so long ago. A group of young men and women, who came especially to see me, greeted me on the steps leading to the office. They told me that they had served in Malaya under the Peace Corps programme and had enjoyed themselves. (CONTINUED P.9)

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(CONTINUED from P.8) That’s the feeling generated among them and so I am not surprised that the nearly 3,500 volunteers who have served in Malaysia over the past 20 years have declared they were satisfied and happy with the work they have done in this country and the manner in which they have been treated by Malaysians.

Therefore, on our part, we can say that we have been most grateful to them for the help they have given us and we feel proud to have met and known them. May this feeling continue for all time. It is therefore with great regret that we now understand that they will be leaving us soon but the service they have rendered us will remain in our country.

Editor’s Note: As a keeper of the history of Peace Corps in Malaysia, I note that Malaysia was not officially a country until 1963 nearly a year and a half after the first volunteers arrived in Malaya and North Borneo and Sarawak. They were separate programs throughout most of the early 70’s. The first nurse to serve at Tongud on the Kinbatangan River was Kay Kennard from Seattle, Washington. The over all number of volunteers that served was 4,000 in the 23 years that Peace Corps was affiliated with Malaysia.

LATEST FRIENDS OF MALAYSIA DONATION

by

Paul Murphy

RPCV Johor Bahru

There have been several documentary films about individual Peace Corps volunteers or projects but there has never been one that covers the whole 55 year history of the Peace Corps. Alana De Joseph, RPCV Mali, decided to fix that by becoming the director/video producer of a documentary film called “A Towering Task”. I was lucky enough to hear Alana speak about the project two years ago. She had already been a successful producer of several documentaries, including one on the history of the U.S. Forest Service, which was shown on PBS. She began her work on the documentary about the Peace Corps in 2013. She interviewed many of the surviving founders, and staff and volunteers around the world.

As of March, 2016, 90% of the filming and 80% of the research and writing are complete. The target release date of the film is November, 2016 with most showings scheduled for 2017. Alina has successfully raised funds to get this far with the project but she needed more to complete it. She partnered with the National Peace Corps Association and INDIEGOGO to crowd fund the rest of the money. The crowd-funding goal was to raise within one month: $100,000 from at least 435 people. Fourhundred thirty five is the number of Congress people that Sargent Shriver went door to door visiting with in order to get the Peace Corps legislation passed.

Friends of Malaysia has donated $200 to this project, and many of the FoM board members also gave individually. We felt that a documentary like this would help bring the mission of the Peace Corps and its successes to the attention of the American public again. In the 1960’s, most people knew about the Peace Corps, but today some people don’t know that it still exists. I’m happy to report that as of April 24 the goals have been exceeded, $107,520 has been donated by 699 people and organizations.

Several RPCVs from the D.C. area who served in Malaysia attended the Malaysia-American Society's annual general meeting and dinner, held Feb. 26, 2016 at the Malaysian Embassy in Washington, DC. Photo shows (left to right) Paul Murphy, former farmers association business advisor in Johore Bharu; Malaysian Embassy official Raven Subramaniam; Lynn Juhl, former teacher in Kroh, Perak; Mike Anderson, former teacher in Sungei Patani, Kedah, and journalism trainer in Kuala Lumpur; Jerry Becker, former business advisor in Kota Bharu and Kuala Lumpur; and Marjorie Harrison, TESL advisor in KL.

SEVERAL RPCVs ATTEND BIG EMBASSY EVENT

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WE GOT MAIL!

In the fall newsletter your editor asked members to share their first Thanksgiving in Malaysia. My first PC Thanksgiving the powers that be decided that we should each come to Jesselton and pick up a frozen turkey. It turns out it was from the same turkey farm in Lancaster, CA where I had dressed turkeys for 4 years while in jr and sr high school. Of course, we didn't have an oven to cook it so we turned it down. I think chicken was just fine.

I received the following email from Nancy Galgard:

Thanksgiving,1970 was one to remember. Dick Dehmel, Bill Britt and I joined Liz Lacey at her school in Betong for a "kind of traditional" Thanksgiving dinner.

Dick, Bill and I took the bus from our schools in Saratok and Debak. Remember those bumpy, noisy, dusty bus rides? And we had a special Thanksgiving gift for the event, a live duck that the guys carried, a comical, noisy entree-to-be. The other people on the bus didn't seem to think it odd for us to be toting that duck - but I knew that image would stay with me forever. What a mess!

When we got to Betong, the guys killed the duck and de-feathered it. We cleaned it and roasted it and made a really good Thanksgiving feast. I remember a lot of good food, a lot of shared holiday memories and a lot of fun. But most of all, I remember that duck on the bus. I've bought dozens of Thanksgiving turkeys since then - but no Thanksgiving bird will ever make the impression that duck made. I live in Maryland, just outside DC - so it is pretty cold here - though not freezing. I had two sons. One lives near us here in Maryland. The other lives in Culver City.

You got me remembering my first Thanksgiving in Sarawak. We were in training still and I was on my first visit to Debak, where I was to teach. Bill Britt and I worked there together, and it was just about perfect. We replaced Sheldon Shaeffer and Mike Kistler, who had been very well liked there. On T-Day, my first full day in Debak, they took us to dinner at one of their friends' houses. I remember eating chicken curry, which worked fine for Thanksgiving and drinking my first tuak. I had tuak several times over those two years, but none was ever as good as

the tuak (palm wine) that night. She really knew how to make it well - sweet, but not too sweet, rich, wonderful. The other thing I remembered was walking over to their house, which was not far from town. But the ground was wet and we had to walk along planks of wood and I am not good at all about keeping my balance - even before the tuak. That walk was a challenge.

Who would think that walking was a challenge? But one of my fear memories was crossing a gulch by walking over a round log. The others all just walked along. But I looked down and - No Way. So, I sat down and shinnied across. I remember Ujai, who was having trouble with math, saying, "Miss can do maths, but she can't do walking." They laughed. And I laughed. And what the heck?I loved walking through the jungle, even though I wasn't very good. I especially liked it after I had been there awhile and knew my way. Walking all alone was glorious. You could hear all the sounds - or sing as loud as you wanted. And there were a few spectacular places where you would walk out of the trees into a clearing at the top of a hill where you could see all the way to the sea. Incredible! And then there was the good feeling of arriving at a longhouse, hot and sweaty and everyone being glad to see you - and then mandi in the river. Wonderful!

The best walking stories probably belonged to Dick Dehmel. He had polio as a child and walked with crutches. I remember some of the people in training complaining about the muddy walks. But Dick never said a word. The Ibans loved this man and respected him incredibly. He was smart and hilariously funny and what a gift! I often wondered how he made it up those notched logs to the longhouses - especially the ones with no rails on the side. I, of course, would just crawl up. But his legs would not do that. I found out years later that he would wait until the others had gone up and then the Iban’s would just carry him up because his body wouldn't do it. We were fortunate to have Sarawak.

Happy Thanksgiving.

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April 20, 2016

Dr. Michael Hugh Anderson

Arlington, VA 22201-3558

Dear Dr. Anderson:

Thank you for contacting me about the Peace Corps. I appreciate hearing from you.

Since 1961, the Peace Corps has challenged nearly 220,000 Americans to serve in over 140 countries and to help people in need. In the process, Peace Corps volunteers have helped develop hundreds of communities around the world while promoting a better understanding of the American people. Currently, about 6,800 volunteers, including over 200 Virginians, serve in 64 countries, mostly in Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. I strongly believe that this service helps advance the national interests of the United States.

I understand the value of serving abroad to help people in need. When I was in law school, I decided to take a year off from my studies to work with Jesuit missionaries in El Progreso, Honduras, where I taught young students carpentry and welding skills. This experience taught me the importance of skills-based training-both abroad and at home-and inspired me to pursue the issue of expanding career and technical education in the U.S. Senate. In February 2015, I had the pleasure of returning to El Progreso and seeing the success and expansion of the campus where I taught.

In March 2015, I wrote a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee, urging full support for the President's 2016 budget request of $410 million for the Peace Corps. I am glad that this budget request was included in a bipartisan agreement by the House and Senate to fund operations of government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2016. In March 2016, I joined 29 of my colleagues in a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee, reiterating the need to continue strong investments in the Peace Corps for Fiscal Year 2017. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I will continue to support a strong diplomatic corps, including the Peace Corps.

Thank you again for contacting me.

Sincerely,

Signature

Tim Kaine

WE GET MAIL!

12

SELAMAT DATANG, MALAYSIA VIII AND

FRIENDS HOLDS 50TH REUNION

byRuth Zwiner

From Jan. 29-Feb. 1 twenty four folks gathered in San Diego at a hotel-resort, over half were part of Malaysia Group 8, otherwise known as Sabah/ Sarawak 5. Donna and Brian McCarthy organized the gathering. About half the group, including Rod Zwirner (a FoM board member) were part of Group 8, others were friends, spouses and some from other groups.

On the first night Malaysian food, wine and beer accompanied the conversations of those returned volunteers who reflected on their training in Hawaii fifty years earlier. One, (Carl) having traveled from Australia, brought a thumb drive with pictures. Also coming from afar was George Wormald, a British VSO posted to Semporna at the same time as Donna. He and his wife, Maggie, traveled from the UK to join us. What stories were told! Thaine Allison (a FoM board member) shared about the work of FoM and some of his experiences from Sabah I. Again the second evening, after a meal out more pictures and stories were shared.

Much of the weekend was unplanned to allow for conversations and visiting. Some enjoyed walking in the sand along San Diego Bay and a few even made it up to La Jolla by foot and bus. Others explored a little of San Diego. Sunday afternoon rain (a major storm with downed trees, resulting snow in other parts of the country) did not dampen spirits but made for changes in travel plans as folks needed to get back to their homes around the country . There was a strong resolution to try and get together in two to three years. A bond was clearly present, to share, reminisce and explore where people’s lives had been and are now.

Donna McCarthy, organizer of Malaysia VIII reunion

Susan McFadd Cele Wood, Ellen Sovik, Ann Francis, Bobbi RighiIn a circle starting with upper left side...Brian

MCarthy, Cele Wood, Dick Sisti,Carl Trocki, Mike and Bobbi Righi, Maggie Hartford and George

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MALAYSIA VIII REUNION SAN DIEGO

by

Donna McCarthy, Malaysia VIII

The reunion was a smashing success according to the reaction and all the feedback. But couldn’t have come off without the help of many of the attendees! On the last day talk had already begun for the next one (2017? Australia, Minneapolis, Seattle?) So, Ann says “eat your vegetables and exercise” so you’ll be in good shape by then!

The hotel location was beautiful, Dana Inn in a park-like setting on Mission Bay. The staff couldn’t have been more supportive. Our “get together suite” (charged at the basic room rate) had two large decks with beautiful bay views of the bay. Ann, Cele and Sue helped to festoon the room with Malaysia memorabilia (including our bangun/laundry basket!).

Curry, with much appreciated help and suggestions from the “food committee”, Ann, Bobby & Mike and Sue (PC Malaya V) and Bernie McFadd. Sue and Bernie, from Boston, were in San Diego the week before visiting Bernie’s brother Ed (who was at Sabah College, coming in the group after us, and wrote an amazing Bridge Class Curric-ulum!) Sue and Bernie visited World Curry with me for the sampling and choosing of the menu. Thanks much to Ann and Sue, Ed and Bernie (and maybe others) for the clean up after that. Dick and Usun, driving from LA, stopped and bought all the beer and wine! Thanks to them for that!

Thanks to Carl and George for helping to set up the TV so we could view lots of old pictures. Lots of laughs and good memories. We did the same after dinner on Saturday night. Carl had brought a jump drive with lots of pictures, and I brought one with all the pictures that people had sent me in 2011 for the reunion in Hilo (including some from Diane Mauzy and Larry Smelzer.)

Picture 1 above from Ann was taken Sunday morning from the Dana Inn court yard.

Some people arrived Thursday (Cele, Ann and Dick Sisti), so those people, plus the ‘locals’ got together at our house for pizza. Most people arrived all day Friday. Thanks much to Cele for accompanying me on lots of airport runs, and insisting on paying the parking fees! I think Ann and Dick S. helped with that also.

The weather was warm enough to had our Friday night Malaysian dinner out on one of the decks. It was catered from World

Picture 2 from Rod and Ruth Zwinner

Picture 3 Ellen, Carl & Rod

14

(CONTINUED From p. 13) Saturday morning was coffee and croissants, thanks to Brian for the coffee run. We hung out much of the day just chatting and catching up.

Picture 4 [Brian, Donna, Dick Sisti, Mike Righi and Ann] from Rod and Ruth. Note the Waipio work shirts hanging in front of the mirror (courtesy of Carl and Donna).

Dinner for 24 at the Firefly restaurant on Saturday night. The weather held out until that night. Sunday was a huge storm (I know it’s all relative, not blizzard, right??) But some of the strongest winds I’ve seen in the 40 years we’ve lived in SD. White caps on the bay. Many trees toppled, including one that fell on a young woman drummer, on her way to a gig, tragically taking her life.

Most people stayed around through Monday, so Sun. night those remaining went to the local Stone Brewery for a good meal.

Picture 6 Donna and Orang Tua Brian McCarthy

Picture 5 from Mike Wood Brian, Ruth and Rod

We talked about trying to set up a website or something like that (Dick G., what was it you suggested?) where we could not only post our reunion pictures, but also some of the old pictures.

Editor’s Note: I was invited to join the reunion of Malaysia VIII and had a great time. Each member of the group shared stories and fond memories of Malaysia and the life long friends that they met while Volunteers. Many of these stories are lost each year as volunteers find their next assignment in another world. As the editor I would cherish the opportunity to add your story to the pages produced here.

If your group is planning a reunion please let us know so that we can send a board member to participate and share the news with the rest of Friends of Malaysia. We were over 4,000 volunteers in the years from 1961 through 1983. Let us know about your group’s activities.

In September National Association of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers will be holding its celebration of 55 years of Peace Corps. Start making plans to join Friends of Malaysia for a celebration in DC. We’ll have more information in the summer newsletter.

15

FRIENDS OF MALAYSIA

BOARD MEMBERSBarry Morris, PresidentJohor Bahru, Johor 1970-72

Thaine Allison, Jr., V.P. of ProgramsBandau/Kudat, Sabah, 1962-64

Paul Murphy, Treasurer/ Membership DirectorJohor Bahru, Johor 1971-73

Ruth (Mueller) Zwirner SecretatySarawak, 1969-71

Michael AndersonSungei Patani, Kedah/ KL 1968-71

Bob CricentiPort Swettenham/Klang, 1968-69

Marjorie HarrisonSelangor, 1974-76

Lynn JuhlKroh, Perak, 1967-69

Karen Flolid McClaySarawak, 1965-68

Michael SabaSeremban, Negri Sembilan, 1965-68

Rodman ZwirnerSarawak, 1964-67, training staff part-time, 1969-71

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Mail to: Paul Murphy, 510 Little John Hill, Sherwood Forest,MD 21405

Mt. Kinabalu still stands high after the earth quake.