Joana & Scott Ramos

Click on a state to view a gallery of photos from our travels

When the Peace Corps called in the fall of 1972, we were both in dead-end jobs in Madison, WI. This was an opportunity for which we had not planned but could not pass up. However, through a series of bureaucratic missteps, we ended up not training as part of a large group, as is the norm for new volunteers, rather arrived in Rio de Janeiro for training midway between 2 groups.

Normally, PC training runs for about 3 months, with progress through the language course a function of each individual's knack for incorporating a new grammar and vocabulary. We were fortunate to have similar learning rates and a dedicated instructor and managed to complete the entire class in just 6 weeks.

Because we were not part of a training group, we do not have the extended "family" of other volunteers. But, we served as a waystation for volunteers who passed through Rio. In addition, on several excursions throughout Brasil, we met many more folks and enjoy opportunities to reminisce. These pages are an attempt to relive some of the fascinating aspects of this enormous country, one which we came to adopt as our second 'home'.

Our Peace Corps photos were taken in the pre-digital age, so to get them up on our site requires scanning (and optimizing) each image, a painstaking project. Progress will be slow; some day, we'll catch up. In the meantime, hope you enjoy.

Since the Peace Corps, we returned to live for 3 years, in Manaus, working at INPA. Our travels were limited, however, with 2 young ones in tow. Subsequent trips back to Brasil in the 90s and 2000s have offered other opportunities to see more of the country, including the ability to obtain digital images, some of which are now included.

Created with iView MediaPro and PageSpinner.