Paul J Hamel

Return to Bafia Cameroon Paul J Hamel

Imagine being in your early twenties and very, very far away from home in a small town in the middle of Africa with no internet, no television, no phone, no electricity, no running water, no car, and no paved roads. That was my life in Bafia from 1969 to 1971. Sometimes people ask me what it was like serving in the Peace Corps in Africa. I usually reply that it was a life-changing experience that has influenced me greatly throughout my life. My Peace Corps experiences taught me many valuable lessons that helped guide me through life: self-reliance, appreciation for what I have, the art of giving without expecting anything in return, and feeling that I have made a difference in the lives of others.