Ripples in the Pond

In 1966, college student Mike Stake was in danger of flunking his second straight year of college. His life seemed to be on hold, and he had no real sense of direction. An application for Peace Corps training changed everything.

In this fresh and funny memoir, Stake recalls two amazing years of agricultural work in the tiny rural community of Mandola in Rajasthan, India. Sent to help farmers try a new strain of wheat, Stake found himself nervously approaching life in a village where few people spoke English and where the local language-a variant of Hindi called Haroti-was completely incomprehensible to him.

To his relief, the villagers welcomed Stake and his fellow volunteers with open arms, and for the next two years, Stake lived as a native of Mandola, sharing in the village's triumphs and disappointments. When he returned home, he was very different from the aimless young man he had been when he left.

A thoughtful, often humorous tale of Stake's experiences and the importance of Peace Corps projects worldwide, Ripples in the Pond will resonate with former Peace Corps workers and inspire a new generation of volunteers.