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Triumph and hope! Aug 27, 2009
Barbara Joe and I are the same age, but that's where the similarities end. I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in my twenties; she served in her sixties. I taught in a boarding school in Nigeria, lived in comfortable faculty housing and played tennis at the local "sundowner" club. She lived in uncomfortable circumstances in isolated rural villages in Honduras ironically named "Triumph" and "Hope" and dealt directly with poverty and illness as a health worker.
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a Peace Corps volunteer at an age when most of us are drawing Social Security, then "Triumph & Hope: Golden Years with the Peace Corps in Honduras" is the book for you. Her memoir is, indeed, a story of triumph and hope as she overcame divorce and the death of her own son, followed by the death of a foster son, to make a difference in an impoverished developing county.
Barbara was determined to rise from the ashes of these bitter disappointments. Unlike most volunteers, she was already fluent in the language of her host country, Spanish, even before she arrived, which eased her adjustment to a strange, new culture. Her book is a wonderful tale of warm encounters and lasting friendships with the people she served. It's illustrated with photos of her friends and colleagues that provide evidence of her accomplishments in a country she adopted as her own.
 Absorbing read Aug 16, 2009
As a former Peace Corps volunteer in neighboring El Salvador (1970-72)and recent member of a medical brigade with Shoulder to Shoulder [...] in Honduras I thoroughly enjoyed Joe's book. It conjured up both old and not-so-old memories. What I had forgotten between Peace Corps service in the 1970's and medical brigade work in 2009 is the sheer difficulty of getting ANYTHING done given the lack of infrastructure and the pervasiveness of graft/corruption/politics. Joe's accomplishments are enormous in that context, and I doubt a reader who has not experienced a developing culture first-hand will fail to fully appreciate that fact. Although she frequently mentions such barriers, my only criticism of this book is that Joe's narrative fails to bring home the enormity of the challenges a volunteer faces in negotiating the cultural and political landscape to perform with the high degree of effectiveness that Joe achieved.
That quibble aside, her book presents an unvarnished, straight forward, and unsentimental account of Peace Corps service with its characteristic bipolar swings. Triumph and Hope is written in a clear expository style. It will have great appeal to those who have lived in developing cultures. It is an invaluable resource to anyone considering Peace Corps or other service in a developing country. Kudos to Barbara Joe for a must enjoyable read!
Great Read Aug 12, 2009
Barbara Joe's book "Triumph & Hope" is a must read for anyone who has ever lived or is thought about living in an undeveloped counrty. It is an extremely senistive, well written book. The tale of her years in Honduras covers the ups and downs, the joy and frustration and the dreams and achievements of goals reached and those beyond reach. For me, who entered Peace Corp in mid-life it brought back many memories even though our experiences and locations were total different. I found the book delightful and charming and have given it to numerous people as a gift.
Great book! Jul 28, 2009
I just finished this book and thought it was excellent. I am a former Peace Corps volunteer (El Salvador '96-'98) and simply wanted to say that I thought the book really gives the reader a view from the inside, a real life perspective of the hardships, challenges, and joy of living in Central America. I can relate to so many of the stories and personalities in the book. It's amazing how the book brought back intense emotions and memories for me. I admire the author's dedication and commitment to the people of Latin America, as well as her courage to welcome so many adventures. The book was simply a great, inspiring reminder of the many ways we can all contribute to the global society.
One day at a time Jun 03, 2009
Barbara Joe tells the good and bad of life in the Peace Corps, and she does it in an entertaining way. Even little things are a struggle, but somehow, day by day, her efforts add up to successes. I don't know if the realities that Barbara Joe describes will encourage or discourage volunteers, but those who read and choose to volunteer will be better informed of what there decision means. And I'm certainly glad for all the people, like Barbara Joe, who are willing to give up their own comfort to help others.
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