Happiest days of your life?

[joe552]

So when were the happiest days of your life? Maybe it's right now. Or you might even expect they are still ahead of you (perhaps planning a retirement in Thailand).

Up to now, mine were the time I lived in BC, Canada. Worked at a boarding school, had good friends who were into theatre and working with young people.

Second, would be the time I spent on a kibbutz in Israel, with lots of international friends.

Third, my time serving with the UN in Lebanon in '78 for 6 months.

Don't accuse me of always looking back. I had that on another thread. Either join the discussion, or ignore it.

[bobsaigon2]

I have referenced Lao Tzu who suggested that the way to achieve peace of mind was to not dwell on the past, not anticipate the future, but simply focus on living the present as well as possible. In general I think it's good advice. I find it depressing to contemplate all the less than successful relationships in my life. But yes, there were good days that can be, should be savored. My list would include:

-- Working in Ethiopia as a Peace Corps Volunteer
-- Teaching at a Thai university
-- The successes I had as an immigration consultant for Vietnamese immigrants

[joe552]

Thanks bob. The Peace Corps always fascinated me. Can you tell us a bit about how it worked?

[bobsaigon2]

I guess I was inspired by John Kennedy's words (Ask what you can do for your country, not what your country can do for you), so in 1963 I sent in an application to the Peace Corps. There was a bit of background info needed and some sort of testing to see if one could handle learning a foreign language, which I couldn't but that was not a problem. The FBI showed up in my neighborhood to do a clearance. A couple of months were spent at UCLA: History and language of Ethiopia, physical training, which I did my best to avoid, and then we were off to Africa. These days most of the training is done in-country which probably makes more sense.

Assigned to a secondary school In Addis Ababa to teach English. Today's Volunteers in Ethiopia don't teach, mainly in the health care and community development fields. We were given a small salary and rent assistance, but did not have access to the US Embassy food shops. Learned to eat Ethiopian food frequently and I still miss it. Peace Corps doctors provided health care. At the time, foreign teachers were still a bit of a novelty and Ethiopians were generally accepting and hospitable. Students were appreciative of my efforts, I had quite a few social events with them. It was a very good two years.

I felt unwell while travelling back to the US and found out I had contracted hepatitis, which meant a week in hospital but the fees were waived because I was a returned Volunteer.

[joe552]

Thanks bob, sounds like an interesting time. I remember when I was in Lebanon, and met a UN staffer while on a break in Israel, and I thought "that's a life I want". Didn't happen, but who knows.

I'm sure your experience in Africa changed you as a person (how could it not) and you made a difference in peoples's lives. Salute you, sir.

[latintopxxx]

R U about to kick the bucket??? some of your topics R a bit of a worry

[scottish-guy]

If he starts posting that he's tidied up the house, put all his affairs in order, and has bought some new rope, then we'll call the paramedics.

But, on topic, I'm hoping the "happiest days of my life" are still to come!

[a447]

The happiest days of my life were those days spent living and working in Japan. Hands down. No contest.

And if I ever feel a bit down, I make a short trip to Japan and that provides me with an instant cure. A couple of days is enough, and I'm back to my old self.

[joe552]

Was it work that took you to Japan in the first place, a447?

[a447]

It was my father's job. He was transferred to Tokyo.