The Vegetable Grows and the Lion Roars: My Peace Corps Service

"The Vegetable Grows and the Lion Roars: My Peace Corps Service" is a memoir about author Gary Lindberg's experiences as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Ivory Coast, Africa in the 1960's. This powerful book offers a fascinating glimpse into what it was like to be a Peace Corps Volunteer in the early days of the program. This one-of-a-kind memoir presents how he decided to apply for the opportunity, how he trained, his project, the daily life activities, and the friends he made while he was there. He also shares highlights from the travels he took when on vacation breaks, such as his experience on a safari and his visit to the legendary city of Timbuktu. Get ready for first-hand insight into a truly extraordinary experience!

This memoir combines historical elements with personal vignettes as Gary Lindberg elaborates on his many adventures – such as having a broken radiator in the middle of nowhere and how he and his companions got help. In addition, he offers an interesting view of village life and work during a special project he worked on in a village called Déahouépleu. Accompanying the text are photos that illustrate his work, life, and travels.

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Gary Lindberg's parents moved just before his seventh birthday to Santa Maria, California. There he grew up and attended grade school up through high school. Gary is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in U. S. History. Then he volunteered to join the Peace Corps for two and a half years during which he taught primary school students and teachers various techniques in a school gardens program in the Ivory Coast which is located in West Africa between Liberia and Ghana. He became fluent in French during that time. After his Peace Corps service, Gary toured Europe and primarily visited Italy, Germany (including East Berlin then under Communist control), France, England, and the Netherlands. Since he was drafted, Gary volunteered for the Navy in which he served for four years. Next, he went to San Francisco State University where he earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a concentration in Management and Personnel. After that, Gary began his 43-year career as a Human Resources professional for a number of major companies including National Gypsum, Celotex, McCormick (spices), Del Monte, Quebecor Printing, and Micro Lithography, Inc. Gary retired in November 2019 to pursue personal interests.