At Home on the Kazakh Steppe: A Peace Corps Memoir - Inspiring True Story of Cultural Exchange & Adventure in Kazakhstan | Perfect for Travel Enthusiasts & Memoir Readers

The Peace Corps was always something I dreamed about doing but never did. I remember how JFK inspired my generation in the 1960s by encouraging us to contribute two years of our lives to helping people in developing countries. So I looked forward with a sense of curiosity and interest to reading Janet Givens’ Peace Corp memoir and learning more about what I had missed. I was not disappointed. Not only did I learn about Kazakhstan which I had never heard of but I experienced an intimate and realistic view of a stint in the Peace Corps.Janet has woven several narratives masterfully into this multilayered story to create an engaging and intriguing memoir about her two years in the Peace Corps. The first narrative is the story of a married couple who sell everything and strike out for a foreign land to teach English by joining the Peace Corps The second narrative is the changing dynamic between a husband and a wife who are placed in unknown territory and forced to cope with their own individual responses and the preservation of their relationship. The third narrative is a glimpse into the culture and politics of the Kazakhstan people. The fourth narrative is the transformation that occurs within the narrator as she adjusts to the cultural differences and develops a deep bond with the people and the country.Janet’s descriptions of the people and the country are so rich in detail that I feel I am right there with her. Her reflections and introspection bring her reader deep into her experience. Her writing is fluid and her voice is authentic and believable, laced with a delightful sense of humor which kept me turning the pages. Her love for the people shines through and I was captivated by their kindness and generosity.Reading this Peace Corps memoir was enriching, educational and enjoyable. I highly recommend it