Planet Varner

Tarariras, Uruguay - Abandoned Train Station - Peace Corp Volunteer

These are several excerpts from my diaries in the Peace Corps.  I was a Natural Resources Volunteer in the town of Tarariras, Uruguay, South America in early 1990.

Peace Corps Diaries - Fire

While in the Peace Corps I was sitting in my little Uruguayan home staring through the door of my “salamandra” (wood burning stove) into the glowing, bright flames of the fire, it was very tranquil and quiet as I sat there listening to the music of the fire crackling, popping and humming as the cold outside breeze sucked the smoke away through the tin pipe. I sat wondering why we humans are so mesmerized by fire. I don’t suppose I know a single person who doesn’t like to sit around a blazing or quiet fire and listen to stories, (more…)

Yasimara and her Dad and sister. Conchillas Uruguay, 1997 - Photo KV

Since National Peace Corps Day was recently upon us I thought I would write a little about my experience in Uruguay, although one small post won’t and can’t come close to capturing even a snippet of the adventure.  I was a Natural Resources Volunteer sent to a small town in Uruguay (Tarariras) to help with a recycling program and education (instilling the three R’s – Recycle, Reduce, Reuse).  It was kind of comical, considering the amount of trash a family generated there was a tiny fraction (more…)