Memories of Serving on Micronesia
from Tondalaya & Ron Gillespie
(submitted November 04, 2019)
"Ron and I were PCVs in India, subsequently appointed to Staff/Afghanistan. When Ron was undergoing staff training in Washington and I was directing a student abroad program in India for EIL, I received a telegram from him asking if I would consider being retransferred to Micronesia....I was ecstatic, as I was raised on Guam, for me it would be returning to my "roots".
PC was having a difficult time keeping staff due to distaff problems with adjusting. Ron loved my families stories of living in Micronesia and he was all for the move. We had just gotten married in Delhi and six months later found ourselves winging toward Saipan and not Kabul, Ron being the new Program and Training officer for PC/Micronesia.
After changing planes in Guam we boarded the old work horse of Air Mike the DC-3 flight to Saipan. On a balmy sunny morning January 19, 1971 we landed at Kobler Field. I was home!.
We were met by Ann Warren wife of the Directer (Tom was in WDC at the time), Dr. Glenn Mathias, Farley and Mary [Maxwell] and Mitch Pangalinan.
We convoyed to San Antonio village and were given the keys to this lovely house right on the beach. This was our abode for two and a half happy years.
Living on the ocean we never used the air con, sold it, rarely used a fan as the tradewinds continually wafted through the house carrying the scent of the plumeria growing outside. What a way to begin a marraige!
[Shown below] is a picture of our house, it is still there but cement now not wood, but the same shape.
We have returned many times and keep in touch with many. I have a sister who lives in Saipan and one on Guam still. Another sister and husband were volunteers in Rota.
The roots grow deep!"
PC was having a difficult time keeping staff due to distaff problems with adjusting. Ron loved my families stories of living in Micronesia and he was all for the move. We had just gotten married in Delhi and six months later found ourselves winging toward Saipan and not Kabul, Ron being the new Program and Training officer for PC/Micronesia.
After changing planes in Guam we boarded the old work horse of Air Mike the DC-3 flight to Saipan. On a balmy sunny morning January 19, 1971 we landed at Kobler Field. I was home!.
We were met by Ann Warren wife of the Directer (Tom was in WDC at the time), Dr. Glenn Mathias, Farley and Mary [Maxwell] and Mitch Pangalinan.
We convoyed to San Antonio village and were given the keys to this lovely house right on the beach. This was our abode for two and a half happy years.
Living on the ocean we never used the air con, sold it, rarely used a fan as the tradewinds continually wafted through the house carrying the scent of the plumeria growing outside. What a way to begin a marraige!
[Shown below] is a picture of our house, it is still there but cement now not wood, but the same shape.
We have returned many times and keep in touch with many. I have a sister who lives in Saipan and one on Guam still. Another sister and husband were volunteers in Rota.
The roots grow deep!"
[Tondalaya & Ron's home on Saipan (1971)]
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[Picture on front yard from first party at their new home]
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