(CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Tuesday praised as "one of the best" the oldest Peace Corps volunteer in the world, an 85-year old Florida woman serving in Morocco.
from here: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/11/03/morocco.us.peace.corp.senior/index.html?eref=rss_latest
Clinton recognized Muriel Johnston during a meet-and-greet session of U.S. Embassy officials and other Americans in Marrakech, Morocco. Clinton was representing the U.S. at an international conference in Morocco, during a trip that stretched from Pakistan to the Middle East.
"I have to recognize -- I just learned about this last night -- Muriel Johnston. Muriel? Stand up, Muriel," Clinton said to applause and cheers from Johnston's fellow Peace Corps workers and other Americans.
"My young staff said, 'Oh my goodness, Muriel Johnston, she's the oldest Peace Corps volunteer in the world.' I said, 'That's not the way we think about it.' No, Muriel and I might say she is one of the best Peace Corps volunteers in the world," Clinton said to more applause, emphasizing "best."
"And it's also a great reminder that in America in the 21st century, there are not only second acts, there's third acts and fourth acts and fifth acts and -- if you're ready to embrace new challenges," Clinton said.
Later, Clinton shook hands with Johnston and asked if she was enjoying herself.
"I'm having a wonderful time, " Johnston told the secretary.
Johnston is serving as a health worker in the Moroccan province of Azilal. She hails from New York but has lived in Sebastian, Florida, since 1992. Peace Corps headquarters in Washington confirmed that she is the oldest Peace Corps volunteer currently serving.
She is one of more than 7,600 Peace Corps volunteers at work in 75 countries.
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Ben,
ReplyDeleteI, too, am a graduate from the University of Memphis and am in the process of applying to the Peace Corps. I moved to Chicago after graduating. I read blogs from PCVs all the time, and I just happen to run across yours and was surprised to see that you are a UofM grad. I haven't gotten my placement yet, but I am medically cleared so I expect a letter in the mail by January. Anyway, I was wondering if you had any words of wisdom about your experience. Do you feel like your UofM experience prepared you? Don't mean to be a burden, but it would be great to hear what you have to say.
Timmy Freeman (dtfreemn@gmail.com)