It Seemed Like A Good Idea at the Time

Like Confessions of a Clueless Rebel, this is a true story that brings us back in time. Partly serious and largely humor— ous, this tale captures the real story of an idealistic band of youthful Americans who journeyed halfway around the world in response to President John F. Kennedy's call to '…ask what you can do for your country.' They signed up to serve in the Peace Corps back in those waning days of Camelot when fervor and innocence trumped experience and common sense. Little did they realize what that decision would entail.

These recollections from the author and several aging members of India-44, a well-meaning if ill-fated Peace Corps group, serve as a reasonable proxy for those early volunteer days…what later would be known as the 'wild west' of overseas service. The group served in what were considered comparatively difficult Peace Corps sites, pre-industrial villages in rural India where some provided health services and others agricultural advice. Unfortunately, virtually none of them were technically prepared for the roles they were expected to play.

In hindsight, it was a situation ripe for disaster or great humor, depending on your view the world. Despite the chal— lenges, their experiences manage to capture some of the best of our people and our country, as well as provide much at which to laugh, wonder, and sometimes even weep. This is no sugar-coated tale of heroic deeds and boundless success. Far from it! They were simply a bunch of smart kids doing their best in a very difficult, almost impossible, situation. Join them as they sought meaning, love, understanding, and purpose in places and situations that chal— lenged them to the fullest and, for the most part, made them more complete human beings. It really did seem like a good idea at the time. In the end, it was!