Capitol times. (Middletown, Pa.) 1982-2013, October 07, 1987, Image 11

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    Oct. 7, 1987
Student Activities Coordinator
Remembers the Peace Corps
By Dina Walker
"The chance to experience a
different culture as more than simply a
tourist." That's how Janet Widoff,
Student Activities coordinator at Capital
College, describes the Peace Corps.
Widoff spent two years, from
1966-68, in the Dominican Republic as
a Peace Corps volunteer. She explained
that during the Kennedy years joining
the Corps was "the thing to do," plus it
gave the volunteers the chance to live
abroad. Her parents were not as receptive
to the idea since it was a time of
political unrest in the Dominican
Republic. The news of that time reported
U.S. military involvement in that
country and made living there seem
unsafe. But Widoff felt differently.
Having been influenced by professors
concerned with "awakening social
consciousness," she volunteered for two
years of service.
Widoff and a group of four
others were trained as instructors for the
teachers at their site. One day a week
was spent formally instructing the
teachers of proper educational techniques.
The rest of the week the group visited
the schools, actually shacks or thatched
lean-tos.
"We used whatever form of
transportation available to get there,"
Widoff said, "motorcycle, bus, even
mule, whatever it took."
She added that the volunteers
would actually live at the site the rest of
the week. This was Widoff's least
favorite aspect of the experience. There
Put your degree to work
where it can do
a world of good.
Your first job after graduation should
offer more than just a paycheck.
If you're graduating this year, look
into a unique opportunity to put
your degree to work where it can do
a world of good. Look into the Peace
Corps.
SENIOR INTERVIEWS: October 20
Contact Placement Office
were no conveniences available--no fast
food, no television, no radio, none of the
things of life she had become accus
tomed to.
It was this that actually gave
Widoff the greatest learning experience
of her service. "I learned self-reliance and
initiative. I learned to adapt to the
lifestyle," she said.
Now, Widoff said, when she
looks back, it wasn't really as hard to
adapt as she thought it was then. Of
course now having modern conveniences
she has to remind herself of the time
when she struggled for survival.
The one other problem that
arose for Widoff was of communication,
since the Dominican Republic is a
Spanish-speaking country. This prob
lem, too, was overcome through adap
tation to the area.
Widoff considered the time
spent there a growing experience and
would recommend serving in the Peace
Corps to any student. The chance to
experience another country's culture,
language, and rituals, as well as the
chance to develop skills in community
development, teaching, and overcoming
language barriers were the benefits
Widoff received from the experience, and
she thinks these experiences would be
beneficial to any student.
Widoff stressed that the greatest
attraction of joining the Peace Corps
was "the opportunity to be a part of a
different culture, to experience the thrill
of actually living it and being self
sufficient."
Capital Times
News From Father Ken...
I will be on campus each Wednesday, in the Lion's Den from 1:30 - 4:oopm.
Feel free to stop by to say hello, or to talk over something on your mind, or for
counseling or direction. Also, if the need arises, please call me residence anytime to
make an appointment or to talk.
Sunday evenings, I will be on campus in the CUB from 7-9 pm. I am available
for counseling, sharing, talking, socializing, and confession. Mass will be held at
7:3opm with Sacrament of Penance anytime by appointment or before and after Mass
on Sunday evenings.
Each semester the Catholic Campus Ministry group puts together a newslet
ter called, "Catholic Witness." It is available to all Catholic students on campus as a
means of keeping in touch with the entire Catholic campus community.
r 1
I CZilidge MIPMSS°
Lefeegdzg
Thurs., Oct. 8
I Room W-129 at Noon I
L .1
Thinking of Selling Your Home? Contact Gene Albano of Mig.
Real Estate Market Place, 21 years of experience will work for you
in bringing fast results. 737-9337 or 233-1199, or see Gene on cam-
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