Each year to celebrate Ramadan, there was a parade and camel races in honor of the Sultan of Illela. These men are the minstrels riding ahead of the Sultan, announcing his arrival. Illela was renown for its horses. Following the camel race...
I participated in many religious festivities in my predominantly Islamic community. On the seventh morning after a child’s birth, the baptism takes place where the infant is blessed and formally named. Here, my friend Kadi holds her newborn. ...
This photo was taken the afternoon of Eid El Kbir in my host family's home in Amizmiz, Morocco. Every year, on the morning of the Eid, each Muslim home slaughters a sheep in honor of Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son to God, but instead...
This photo was taken on 6 Sept. 2010 at a Monastery in Bulgaria. The 6th of September is a major holiday for the town. Everyone hikes to the monastery ruins, for blessings from the priest and a picnic. The picture shows me and people from the...
Dance; Traditional dress; Host families; Swearing-in ceremonies
This photos was taken shortly after the Peace Corps swearing-in ceremony in Bulgaria on June 10, 2011. After the ceremony volunteers new and old and their host families and friends went out to the Plaza for music and dancing. As a brand new Peace...
Host community friends; Traditional dress; Ceremonies
This photo was taken in Guatemala during the annual Rabin Ajaw (Mayan Princess) election on July 28th, 2011. The girl and young woman are dressed in traditional Mayan clothing to celebrate Guatemala's largest cultural event and carry incense to...
In this photo, I had just begun my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer a week prior. I was fascinated by all of the activities they had during the "Fiestas Patronales", or Patron Saint Festivals. The festivities are compared to the U.S.'s county...
Dan & Donna sitting with the host family mother and father (Sina & Faiva) at the party the night we were sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers for Tuvalu. The white around the necks is baby powder; it is a custom in Tuvalu to show appreciation during...
This photograph of Chris (on the left against the back wall) meeting with Omanis was taken by a Volunteer while on a field trip in Oman. Also in the photo is Abdulla from 1977-79. Three men were Peace Corps Volunteers with the Department of...
Scott and Myra Erickson preparing to depart Tuvalu following the completion of two and a half years of service on Nukulaelae atoll, November 1982. Our departure followed the first visit of her majesty Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to Tuvalu.
This photo was taken at St Joseph’s College in Alafua, Samoa in 2004. The Samoans take great pride in the fact that they have maintained a rich cultural heritage in the face of many adversities. These students at St Joseph’s College are...
This photo was taken during my best friend's baby naming ceremony in a local church in a fishing village in the Western Region of Ghana. The photo shows a line of women bringing the newborn child to the front to be dedicated and officially named....
The Vegetarian Festival is an annual event in Thailand, celebrated especially by Chinese Thais. Specially chosen devotees prepare physically and spiritually before the festival and follow a vegetarian diet. During the event they partake in...