Barbara Coe, A Joyful Journey Event at Village Books

Join us in the Reading Gallery to hear a fascinating account of one woman’s life-changing journey.
Dr. Barbara Coe longed to do international development work. She finally got the chance at age fifty-seven. However, she was not quite prepared for what occurred. Working in Vietnam, Moldova, Armenia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and then Italy, she never knew what amazing event was next. The poverty and hardship were mind-boggling: lack of food; crumpled infrastructure; abysmal health services and education. She wondered whether she could really help. Yet, the people were warm, cheerful and generous. Her grim living conditions were surpassed by adventures, gatherings, and lively conversations with new friends. Her language and customs gaffes offered comic relief. She went to teach, but experienced profound learning.
For Barbara, this was a Joyful Journey, one for which she was profoundly grateful. In this account, laced with wry humor, she takes you along, to places less traveled, to taste the cultures, landscapes, and most of all, our shared humanity.