Friends of Malaysia Spring 2016 newsletter

Apa Kabar

Spring 2016 Newsletter

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

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.

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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.”

MALAYSIAN LITERATURE

SARAWAK 2ND DIVISION RPCV SPEAKS UP

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:

by

Colonial Literature The Casaurina Tree, by W. Somerset Maugham The Long Day Wanes – A Malayan Trilogy, by I was playing a CD of toddler songs for my 18month old granddaughter when the children sang Anthony Burgess The Emergency "Do Your Ears Hang Low?" Ah, the memories!

Once, I was sitting on a longboat going upriver in And the Rain My Drink, by Han Suyin 4th Division. I didn't know anyone on the boat and Modern Malaysia Growing Up With Ghosts, by Bernice Chauly I started daydreaming and found myself singing The Garden of the Evening Mists, by Tan Twan (softly, I hope) "Do your ears hang low?" Caught myself and looked around. I was the only one with Eng The Gift of Rain, by Tan Twan Eng short ears.

The Map of the Invisible World, by Tash Aw I worked in 2nd Division and there weren't so The Consumption of Kuala Lumpur, by Ziauddin many long ears. But I do remember some older Sardar ladies who threw their ears over their shoulders or tied them in a knot to keep them from getting in For more information on Malaysian authors, you the way. Very practical. may refer to the website http://www.ranker.com/list/famous-authors-frommalaysia/reference Nancy Gallant

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 2

ACTIVITY REPORT FOR THE FRIENDS OF MALAYSIA 2015 by 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. Travel now! Change is a reoccurring theme in our newsletter this time.

Malaysian travel then, 1962.

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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 by on the Peninsula. Rubber was still king but someone must have been looking at oil palm Rod Zwirner plantation production as a partial substitute.

The main thrust was to stop shifting cultivation A recent FoM discussion about saving orphaned in Sabah and Sarawak. I am sure there must baby elephants (Oregon Zoo news) brought up be a literature on this phenomenon, and it several issues, not the least of which is how to discuss multifaceted problems and how to contribute would be interesting to hear from RPCV's who were directly involved. Connecting to world to their amelioration. Firstly, the impulse to provide markets is very tricky. I think even UNESCO milk to Sabah's orphaned elephants is basically was involved in Sabah, probably because sound, for the creatures need nutrition and to bond with those feeding them. Secondly, the habitat loss there was a lot of thinking about how to help due to deforestation for palm oil plantations must be market-based, settled economies. dealt with in a comprehensive way. Fred Putnam Anyway, in 1970, the Asia Foundation gave (Group 24), who is spending a serious part of his me a grant to do a school leaver survey for retirement on palm oil certification, chimed in with both males and females to see how they ways to support this process. Thirdly, palm oil looked at Settlement Schemes as related to production itself was challenged. longhouse/kampong life. This got shot down

by Malaysia, maybe because there was a Some of us found out how important palm oil “radical tinge� to some of the questions. I did production is to Indonesian and Malaysian slip some copies to teachers in Group 30 after economies and human nutrition. It is not going we were finished training, so I still have a few away and must be done sustainability with completed copies. I certainly viewed responsibility for the planet and everyone involved.

Oil palms provide over a third of the world's cooking Settlement Schemes as a possible component of the new Malaysian, democratic society. oil, is not genetically engineered, produces the There was some expectation that with the highest yields on less land, and has 3 versatile oil products which process and blend well. For a while slowing down of the communist insurrection there was a nutritional scare based on research that that this could be part of Chinese and tribal might have been funded by GMO producers, like the integration. I was quite aware of the leadership drain that Peace Corps was corn, soy and canola seed industries. There are enabling by educating students in a system plenty of places to do further research and donate geared to help them leave their villages, get a like the Borneo Project, RainForestNetwork, Union salary and become "modern" away from of Concerned Scientists, but one can start with extended family. Having gone through our Fred's Facebook page, "Sustainable Palm Oil training some PCV's got into trouble for News." My experience in looking at market-based encouraging suitable kids to go home, get solutions is that you must become aware of who is watching the certifiers and what banks are lending to further practical training, then help provide the the devastating, corrupt producers. One perspective next generation of leadership. of certification has 8 goals with 39 objectives, so the Another important experience for me was possibilities of fudging and cheating are always taking students to an Australian logging project present. ventures played out in the Kapit area. I do just below the Pelagus Rapids and watching Now, to add another dimension, let me start by how such how such ventures played out in the offering some personal reflections. In 1965 or Kapit area. I do not (CONTINUED P.5)

HOW SAVING BABY ELEPHANTS IN SABAH RELATES TO UN DEVELOPMENT GOALS

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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.

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.

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.

by Michael H. Anderson

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.

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THE PEACE CORPS – “BACK THEN” AND NOW

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 stillindependent 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)

(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.

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.

More Volunteers now serve in large cities than they did when the “typical” PCV during my time lived and As always, PC is a great way to gain leadership and international development worked in towns or rural villages. (I remember one experience, learn a language, and see the of the PCVs in my Group XX was assigned to an unusually small, isolated place – an east coast island wider world. out in the South China Sea which required a 2 hour Back when Malaysia had a PC program, most boat trip to reach it and which was virtually Volunteers identified “adventure or travel” as inaccessible during the height of the monsoon the main reason for joining – and some early season). But the idea of “community” and the need male PVCs signed up in an effort to avoid the to build local trust and respect your host culture are draft since the Vietnam War was raging and emphasized as much as ever. some could get a deferment from their local draft board. Today’s seemingly more altruistic Relatively new, however, is the emphasis on Volunteers are likely to cite “opportunity to partnerships. PC no longer “goes it alone” and help others” and then “personal growth” as guards its bureaucratic independence. It their key motivating factors. “Pragmatism” – increasingly interacts with others and welcomes gaining international experience, learning a partners, including even other federal government foreign language, challenging US job market, programs, as well as the private sector and nonetc. – is the third factor for both past and governmental organizations. These new PC current Volunteers. “partners” include everything from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR) and “Let A major difference between current and early Girls Learn” initiatives to Rotary International and Volunteers has to do with living conditions and Special Olympics. The idea is that PC goals and limited budgets can often be best met through active communication while abroad. When I was a Volunteer in Malaysia, (CONTINUED P. 7) cooperation with others sharing similar values and objectives.

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.

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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.

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 shortterm assignments for returned Volunteers or experienced professionals to provide highimpact, 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 More than 91% have a cellphone, and “calling back to secured the largest budgetary increase in its history (its FY 2015 budget was $379.5 the States” isn’t a big deal or something done only in million), and last year nearly 23,000 people the case of a serious emergency. I recall being in applied to become Volunteers – a 40-year Malaysia for the terrible May 13, 1969 riots and declaration of a “state of emergency,” and I don’t think high.

I even thought about trying to call home to say I was Mike Anderson, Malaysia Group XX teacher OK. Calls were expensive and connections difficult.

Access to even very limited technology has made it far in Sungai Petani, Kedah, and Kuala Lumpur easier for Volunteers to maintain contact not only with from 1968-71. people back home but also with Volunteers and staff FRIENDS OF MALAYSIA in-country.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 1/1 TO 12/31/15 Most PCVs still live comparatively simple and on a by level close to their counterparts, but my impression is Paul Murphy Treasurer FoM that the Peace Corps of late has been giving far more Opening Checking Balance $6,957.43 attention to assigning Volunteers only to sites that have undergone careful review for safety factors.

REVENUE: Health and security risks, including natural disasters, Dues 1,200.00 civil unrest and even terrorism, are inherent in some Donations 510.00 countries, and the PC seems to be trying harder -TOTAL REVENUE $1,710.00 sometimes under pressure from Volunteers, The National Peace Corps Association and the media -- to EXPENSES: provide the training, medical and other support and NPCA Affiliation Fee 50.00 information PCVs must have to remain safe, healthy Tel Conference Calls 395.17 and productive. Gender issues and concerns, Donations to Charities 1,090.00 including violence against women, are getting more Bank Exp. 130.68 attention both in terms of supporting Volunteers and 120.18 being more sensitive to host-country community needs Newsletter Exp. Other 25.00 and aspirations.

TOTAL EXPENSES - $1,811.03 Accounts Payable Paid -35.00 Finally, the PC is different today because of some $6,821.40 significant policy reforms which makes applying for the Closing Checking Balance 7

THE TUNKU FONDLY REMEMBERS PEACE CORPS by 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.

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 My meeting with Mr. Sargent Shriver, the government hospital and doctor in Sandakan, brother-in-law of the late President Kennedy and could only make trips by means of small the first Peace Corps Director, remained indelibly outboard motor-boats, which took three to six in my mind. When he mentioned to me about this days to reach the outpost. organization my first thought was that a group of volunteers formed in America were coming to Some of the Peace Corps Volunteers have help maintain peace in Malaya and in the free returned to this country to travel memory lane world and to renew friendship and acquaintance with people they met in those early days.

We had just declared this country “white” after 12 years of communist insurrection. Mr. Shriver I remember an occasion, when I visited explained to me that the Peace Corps which Washington, I was going up the steps of the President Kennedy had established was for the Government office to meet a high government purpose of helping emerging nations in their officials, whose office or name I cannot pursuit of peaceful development. I readily remember, for it was so long ago. A group of accepted the offer but would like to know more young men and women, who came especially to about the type of work and help that would be see me, greeted me on the steps leading to the made available to us. office. They told me that they had served in Malaya under the Peace Corps programme and Then on 4th September, 1961, an agreement for had enjoyed themselves.

(CONTINUED P.9) the Peace Corps programme in Malaysia 8

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 Therefore, on our part, we can say that we have been most grateful to them for the help they have to raise within one month: $100,000 from at least 435 people. Fourhundred thirty five is the given us and we feel proud to have met and known them. May this feeling continue for all time. number of Congress people that Sargent Shriver went door to door visiting with in order to get the It is therefore with great regret that we now Peace Corps legislation passed. understand that they will be leaving us soon but the service they have rendered us will remain in Friends of Malaysia has donated $200 to this our country. project, and many of the FoM board members also gave individually. We felt that a Editor’s Note: As a keeper of the history of Peace documentary like this would help bring the Corps in Malaysia, I note that Malaysia was not mission of the Peace Corps and its successes to officially a country until 1963 nearly a year and a the attention of the American public again. In the half after the first volunteers arrived in Malaya and 1960’s, most people knew about the Peace North Borneo and Sarawak. They were separate Corps, but today some people don’t know that it programs throughout most of the early 70’s. The still exists. I’m happy to report that as of April 24 first nurse to serve at Tongud on the Kinbatangan the goals have been exceeded, $107,520 has River was Kay Kennard from Seattle, Washington. been donated by 699 people and organizations.

The over all number of volunteers that served was SEVERAL RPCVs ATTEND 4,000 in the 23 years that Peace Corps was affiliated with Malaysia.

BIG EMBASSY EVENT

(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.

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.

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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.

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.

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 Who would think that walking was a think chicken was just fine. challenge? But one of my fear memories was crossing a gulch by walking over a round log.

I received the following email from Nancy Galgard: The others all just walked along. But I looked down and - No Way. So, I sat down and Thanksgiving,1970 was one to remember. Dick shinnied across. I remember Ujai, who was Dehmel, Bill Britt and I joined Liz Lacey at her school having trouble with math, saying, "Miss can do in Betong for a "kind of traditional" Thanksgiving maths, but she can't do walking." They dinner. laughed. And I laughed. And what the heck?

I loved walking through the jungle, even Dick, Bill and I took the bus from our schools in though I wasn't very good. I especially liked it Saratok and Debak. Remember those bumpy, noisy, after I had been there awhile and knew my dusty bus rides? And we had a special Thanksgiving way. Walking all alone was glorious. You gift for the event, a live duck that the guys carried, a could hear all the sounds - or sing as loud as comical, noisy entree-to-be. The other people on the you wanted. And there were a few bus didn't seem to think it odd for us to be toting that spectacular places where you would walk out duck - but I knew that image would stay with me of the trees into a clearing at the top of a hill forever. What a mess! where you could see all the way to the sea.

Incredible! And then there was the good When we got to Betong, the guys killed the duck and feeling of arriving at a longhouse, hot and de-feathered it. We cleaned it and roasted it and sweaty and everyone being glad to see you made a really good Thanksgiving feast. I remember and then mandi in the river. Wonderful! a lot of good food, a lot of shared holiday memories and a lot of fun. But most of all, I remember that The best walking stories probably belonged to duck on the bus. I've bought dozens of Thanksgiving Dick Dehmel. He had polio as a child and turkeys since then - but no Thanksgiving bird will walked with crutches. I remember some of ever make the impression that duck made. the people in training complaining about the I live in Maryland, just outside DC - so it is pretty cold muddy walks. But Dick never said a word. here - though not freezing. I had two sons. One The Ibans loved this man and respected him lives near us here in Maryland. The other lives in incredibly. He was smart and hilariously Culver City. funny and what a gift! I often wondered how he made it up those notched logs to the You got me remembering my first Thanksgiving in longhouses - especially the ones with no rails Sarawak. We were in training still and I was on my on the side. I, of course, would just crawl up. first visit to Debak, where I was to teach. Bill Britt But his legs would not do that. I found out and I worked there together, and it was just about years later that he would wait until the others perfect. We replaced Sheldon Shaeffer and Mike had gone up and then the Iban’s would just Kistler, who had been very well liked there. On Tcarry him up because his body wouldn't do it.

Day, my first full day in Debak, they took us to dinner We were fortunate to have Sarawak. at one of their friends' houses. I remember eating chicken curry, which worked fine for Thanksgiving Happy Thanksgiving. and drinking my first tuak. I had tuak several times over those two years, but none was ever as good as 10

WE GET MAIL!

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 11

SELAMAT DATANG, MALAYSIA VIII AND FRIENDS HOLDS 50TH REUNION by Ruth 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.

In a circle starting with upper left side...Brian MCarthy, Cele Wood, Dick Sisti,Carl Trocki, Mike and Bobbi Righi, Maggie Hartford and George 12

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 Righi

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 parklike 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!).

Picture 2 from Rod and Ruth Zwinner 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 Curriculum!) 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 13

Picture 3 Ellen, Carl & Rod

(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 Picture 6 Donna and Orang Tua Brian McCarthy Ann] from Rod and Ruth. Note the Waipio work shirts hanging in front of the mirror (courtesy of We talked about trying to set up a website or Carl and Donna). something like that (Dick G., what was it you Dinner for 24 at the Firefly restaurant on Saturday suggested?) where we could not only post our night. The weather held out until that night. reunion pictures, but also some of the old Sunday was a huge storm (I know it’s all relative, pictures. not blizzard, right??) But some of the strongest winds I’ve seen in the 40 years we’ve lived in SD. Editor’s Note: I was invited to join the reunion of White caps on the bay. Many trees toppled, Malaysia VIII and had a great time. Each including one that fell on a young woman member of the group shared stories and fond drummer, on her way to a gig, tragically taking her memories of Malaysia and the life long friends life. that they met while Volunteers. Many of these stories are lost each year as volunteers find their Most people stayed around through Monday, so next assignment in another world. As the editor I Sun. night those remaining went to the local Stone would cherish the opportunity to add your story to Brewery for a good meal. 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.

Picture 5 from Mike Wood Brian, Ruth and Rod

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.

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FRIENDS OF MALAYSIA BOARD MEMBERS

JOIN FRIENDS OF MALAYSIA Membership gives you access to our latest newsletter and your membership fee is used to help us make contributions to charities in Malaysia.

Barry Morris, President Johor Bahru, Johor 1970-72 Thaine Allison, Jr., V.P. of Programs Bandau/Kudat, Sabah, 1962-64

Name/Maiden Name (if applicable) ____________________________________

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

____________________________________ Address______________________________

Ruth (Mueller) Zwirner Secretaty Sarawak, 1969-71

City________________ State _____________ Zip_____________

Michael Anderson Sungei Patani, Kedah/ KL 1968-71

Phone______________________

Bob Cricenti Port Swettenham/Klang, 1968-69

Email_______________________

Marjorie Harrison Selangor, 1974-76

Peace Corps Service Years______________ Service location _______________________

Lynn Juhl Kroh, Perak, 1967-69

Make checks payable to: Friends of Malaysia Dues: NPCA FREE FOM only $15

Karen Flolid McClay Sarawak, 1965-68

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

Michael Saba Seremban, Negri Sembilan, 1965-68 Rodman Zwirner Sarawak, 1964-67, training staff part-time, 1969-71

Mt. Kinabalu still stands high after the earth quake.

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