A Succinct Biography of the Peace Corps Years
-
Carole D. Kimball -
written by Lori Stackpole (Carole's sister)
It all began in Frogmore, South Carolina........
1980 - 1983
You all know these years. In the beginning you had the language immersion, host families, the intermittent opportunities to reunite and debrief, have fun then miss each other all over again as you left for your assignments.
Carole had an extended stay in Lesotho due to the death of our parents which occurred just within a year of each other necessitating Carole's' return home twice during her time in Lesotho. How she got up the "gumption" to go back both times had a lot to do with all of the wonderful friends she had left back in africa. She knew that being with you and seeing through on her sunflower oil project would help her heal and keep our parents legacy alive.
At the end of Carole's' life changing experience in Lesotho she was nominated and selected for a Peace Corps Fellowship in Washington D.C. under Loret Miller-Rupe. This wonderful opportunity resulted in her continuing jaunt around the world.
1985 - 1988
You can't count on me to get all of this correct because to me Carole exemplified all the best of Peace Corps on every contract she accepted. She served as either Associate Country Director, Trainer or Trainer of Trainers in: The Solomon Islands, The Philippines (Micronesia), Romania, Kazakhstan and Czechoslovakia.
While she was in the Philippines - Manila the PCV's had to be evacuated due to an uprising by the local guerilla militia who threatened Corazon Aquinos' leadership. On PCV, only known to me as Tim, was taken hostage. Carole was an "Official" with the Peace Corps and had felt a responsibility for these particular groups of PCV's and chose to stay and work with the CIA to negotiate the release of this hostage. There were scant news releases of the particular situation yet enough I heard from many friends of her, from college professors to college buddies asking about her security. My only answer could be, "She's done what she believes is right....just pray".
Tim was released and these were great heart wrenching stories which took her years to tell.
1985 -1992 or so
The years of contract training were amazing and grueling, Fortunately Carole spent a near year touring prior to these bleak (her words) assignments. She traveled to Fiji, Bali, back to Vanuatu and vacationed with our brother in Australia.
1993- 2006
Back to Maine. In between all of this travel, over all those years Carole made her home with our family. When she finally settled she had an apt. in Portland. Once back she resumed her amazing Aunt duties for my three children, Matthew now 34, Holly 26, and Chris 22. Every single one of them has this belief, that they were the most important person in her life (I know it was really ME). She has many names in our family. The children called her "Aunt Dottier" in reference to her constant and loving dotting on them. After Lesotho, I called her "Pulang"her Sesotho name (She who Came with Rain). My husband, Bruce, called her "Honey"- and we would both answer.
Once Carole decided she would not accept another contract with the Peace Corps she took a position as a Customer Service Representative with a photocopy company. She then accepted a position with Down East Energy. If you remember Carole well enough you can only know that she would be the woman you would want to hear on the other end of the phone when you are cold and poor and out of oil! She excelled in her position and as always her co-workers were so kind and important to her.
At Carole's funeral there were numerous poorly illiterate phrases from Carole's friends and family of Sesotho expressions she taught us for appropriate occasions. Of course, none of us could get the Qualabani "click" right but we pretended. We told stories of things she had told us of her time there - with you.
As with all of you there is SO much in between the lines but I do know this; in the un- opportunistic opportunity of reading Carole's journals, the woman who got off the plane in Africa and said "I don't think we're in America anymore" also said 3 years and forever after, "There's No Place like Africa".