Peace Corps pair from Bainbridge return from Africa

Published 10:04 am Saturday, April 26, 2014

Rudi and Kristin Pettersen just returned to Bainbridge Island after serving two years in the Peace Corps in Africa.

Rudi is a 2004 graduate of Bainbridge High. Both Rudi and Kristin graduated from Western Washington University in 2009.

While in the Peace Corps in Namibia they served as teachers in the town of Karibib, population 5,000. Kristin taught in a primary school and Rudi taught science and technology in the secondary school. Kristin raised funds to create a library in her school. Rudi started a garden project for interested students. He also got the schools computer lab connected and operational, after it had been idle for a year for lack of technical knowledge.

After leaving Namibia last October they traveled for five months in Africa, Europe and Asia. One of the highlights was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.