Never too late to lend a helping hand

Joan Bash always wanted to join the Peace Corps and make a difference in the developing world. But the Huntington Beach resident didn’t quite expect to wait until she was 58.

“It was always in the back of my mind,” she said. “I had to wait till it was convenient in my life to do it.”

Bash hopped on a plane to Philadelphia Saturday morning, beginning her trip to Bulgaria. Though only 5% of Peace Corps volunteers are older than 50, officials say they encourage all ages to join.

The Peace Corps welcomes older volunteers, said local agency spokesman David Briery. Eastern European countries especially are looking for people with the experience to help them grow their economy, he said.

“They’re more interested in things like business development,” he said. “They look upon America as more experienced in that area, and people over 50 often have a lifetime of experience.”

Bash just retired from working 35 years at one company selling canning equipment, and she said now is a time for a change.

She has been divorced for almost 20 years, and her two daughters have their own children, she added. If the 27-month tour of service works out, she plans to spend the next 12 years working for the Peace Corps around the world.

“You get to a point in your life where you think there’s more out there,” she said. “If it’s something you should be doing, you figure out where it is, and you should try to do it.”

Volunteers first live with a host family for three months, learning the language and training for their task, Briery said. Bash said she doesn’t know what the program will have her do after that, but she’s excited.

“When you get there, the Bulgarian government are the ones that are going to determine the details,” she said. “I could be digging up a garden as far as that goes.”

Though she loves to travel and has been all over Western Europe, Bash said she loved calling Huntington Beach her home.

“Once you get here, why would you want to leave, unless you’re going to Bulgaria?” she said.