West Salem Coulee News, WI
May 30 2008

Mindoro man heads for Peace Corps in Armenia

By MICHAEL MARTIN | Staff writer

. When Josh Miller of Mindoro graduated from UW-La Crosse last May
with a degree in computer science, he did what most college graduates
do – he started looking for a job.

But Miller wasn’t sure that he wanted to settle into a job right away.

`I was interviewing at a few places, but during the process I didn’t
feel like it would be anything more than a job,’ Miller recalled.

`Then, at a wedding, someone told me about a relative of theirs who
was in the Peace Corps. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but
later I decided to look into it,’ he said.

He talked with a professor at UW-L who had served in the Peace Corps
in Africa. Then, after doing some research at the Peace Corps Website,
he applied for a position last August. Acceptance did not come
quickly.

`They do a thorough criminal history and financial history check,’
said Gail Jones, Miller’s mother. `In the past, they may have had a
few people who wanted to use (the Peace Corps) to `get out of Dodge.”

When Miller applied, he thought he’d be going to South America to help
one of those countries with their business development. All those
positions, however, were filled and he ended up in Armenia instead, a
small, mountainous landlocked country just to the east of Turkey.

`It was a pleasant surprise,’ Miller said.

Armenia was part of the Soviet Union until 1991 when it regained its
independence; despite its location, the country is 98 percent
Christian. Since its independence was won, Armenia has been struggling
to get back on its feet and is eager for help with business
development, particularly in the field of computers.

Miller, a 2003 graduate of Melrose-Mindoro High School, will leave for
Philadelphia at the end of the month. He’ll spend two days there in
orientation and then depart for Armenia on May 30. Once he reaches
Armenia, he will spend eight to 12 weeks in training with other Peace
Corps volunteers as they spend up to 12 hours a day learning the
region’s culture and language. Miller’s total commitment is for 27
months.

`You’re not really a full-fledged volunteer until you’ve completed the
training. And you don’t get your final assignment until after it’s
complete,’ Jones said.

Miller said now was a good opportunity to join the Peace Corps.

`I figured it was something I could do now because I don’t see myself
being able to do it if I am working at a regular job and own a house,’
Miller said.

Miller will leave Wisconsin on May 28 and can take only 100 pounds of
gear with him. Much of this month has been spent packing and weighing
and making decisions on what to take and what to leave.

Miller’s mother says she’s somewhat surprised by her son’s decision to
join the Peace Corps.

`He’s never been that much of a traveler. I guess he’ll either hate it
and can’t wait to come back home or he’ll love it and I’ll never see
him again and just get postcards. But as long as he’s happy, that’s
OK,’ she said.

For his part, Miller is getting excited about the adventure ahead.

`I’m really looking forward to it,’ he said.

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