With the last of my children out of college and launched into their own lives, it was time to look for an adventure for myself. I chose the Peace Corps because the idea of traveling to a far away place in a very different world appealed to me, as well as being able to give back some of the experience and knowledge I'd gained. I almost went to one of the "Stans" in eastern Europe, but a family crisis kept me home that time and my new assignment turned out to be in the South Pacific. I was thrilled. I love the sea and the South Pacific seemed such an exotic destination. I left just after the catastrophic events of September 11th and was away for two and a half years. It turned out to be the most amazing adventure of my life, if you don't count raising four children as an adventure, but that's a whole other story. In any case, my time spent in the Peace Corps is time I will never regret. As much as I gave of myself, I gained so much more. I met people from all around the world and made some very special new friendships. I now have a second family half a world away who welcome me back for visits with as much love and enthusiasm as my own family and my life will be forever richer for the experience.