Many years ago when I worked at DCA, Washington National Airport in

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

Washington DC I was checking in a young couple of a flight to Philadelphia. They had an inordinate amount of luggage. 7 or 8 bags. Large. Very heavy. I was writing up the excess baggage thing when one of them commented, quite casually, that they were on their way after the Philadelphia stop to somewhere in Africa because they were in the Peace Corps. And they'd been told they needed to bring a LOT of stuff with them to their posting. I immediately voided out the excess baggage charge form. I told them I wasn't going to charge them anything, and that when they checked in at the next airport to please, please mention the Peace Corps connection. I knew that there was no way of knowing if the next ticket agent would understand, but at least I'd saved them a bit of money.

My very best friend then and now was (is) a man who was in the Peace Corps before he came to work for our airline. We became, and still remain, close friends. Because of him I have a very special place in my heart for Peace Corps people.

In 2008, when I was first living here in Santa Fe, I took a temp job at a local mobile home community. The other woman in the office was interesting, and when she told me she'd been in the Peace Corps, I realized I knew everything I needed to know about her.

I'll pass over various details, but will say we have become good friends since then.

[Normanart]

1. RPCV Philippines

93-95, and stayed to work in the training area. Best job ever. Thanks for your support!

[BlueMTexpat]

2. RPCVS are the BEST!

Of course, I have to say that, LOL!

Morocco III (64-66) here. I stayed in Morocco for another four years teaching in private schools and then returned ten years later to work with a USAID-financed development project there for another two years. In many ways, I still consider that nation as a home and its lovely people my family. My experiences there literally changed my life.

Those of my RPCV Morocco colleagues who are still with us have remained firm friends, although we have been scattered far and wide since those days. We try to "reune" when we can. Unfortunately, our last get-together was scheduled for August 2020. It sill hasn't taken place.

When I meet other RPCVs from Morocco or elsewhere, it is always like meeting kindred spirits.

**********
I love that you called DCA, Washington National Airport. I refuse to use the name foisted upon it by GOPers (with help from too many Dems) in 1998.

No DCer worth his/her salt has EVER accepted the change.

[denbot]

3. My beautiful and overly competent wife was a Peace Corps Vet (Burundi/Rwanda)

A couple of months ago an old Corps friend was passing through L.A. and was going to give Alley a call on his lay over. Unknown to my wife, instead of calling he just showed up with 3 other Corps members, but Alley thinks she was in the shower. Her buddy later said he knew he had the right spot because of our waterless "lawn" and the chilis, tomatoes, asparagus, and gourds competing fair and square with our roses..

I'm a Navy vet, in my eye any peace corps vet is my shipmate.