Oct. International Day of Older Persons
RPCV Diane Klewitz shares her story.
My interest in the Peace Corps began when I was in college in Indiana, where I was born and raised. Upon graduating from college in 1969, I was seriously looking into joining the Peace Corps. For a variety of reasons, instead, I moved from Indiana to L.A., CA. and began my teaching career, where I met my husband, got married, had two daughters, and eventually retired from teaching. I was the principal of a high school when I retired. Upon retirement, it was then that I seriously re-considered by desire to join the Peace Corps, which I had often thought about over the years. And over the years, I also thought that this was something my husband and I could do together. However, this was not on my husband’s retirement plans (he was due to retire from teaching 1 year after I retired).
And so, I joined the Peace Corps and served in the Philippines from 2012 – 2014, at the age of 65 y/o. My husband chose to not go with me (at that time we were married 40 yrs.) which shocked many people, I know. But it worked for us. As he told me, “That’s your dream, not mine, but I will not stop you from going.” I will add, he did come to visit me twice while I was there and each of my daughters also came for a visit. And yes, my husband and I are still married (54 yrs. now)!
While in Legazpi, Philippines, I taught English at Bicol University, besides teaching student teachers, and offering seminars in the graduate school. I truly loved working with my students there and am still in contact with many of them. Many became teachers, many moved out of Legazpi to Manila and some to foreign countries for their jobs. What I saw in the students I taught was hope, resiliency, joy. What my students taught me was to slow down (I was definitely a Type A) and enjoy the simple things. And I did not need “things” to make me happy. My students changed my life, as much as I would hope I changed their lives. And, I made life-long friends there, with wonderful supportive people.
Upon returning from the Philippines, I met the wonderful Peace Corps recruiter at UCLA (Jeffrey Janis) and was able to volunteer at ULCA several times per year, for the past 10 years, during job-fairs and recruitment activities. I then got to pay it forward, and for that I am grateful.