First Comes Love, then Comes Malaria : How a Peace Corps Poster Boy Won My Heart and A Third World Adventure Changed My Life
by Eve Brown-Waite
Overview
From the Publisher
Eve Brown always thought she would join the Peace Corps someday, although she secretly worried about life without sushi, frothy coffee drinks and air conditioning. But with college diploma in hand, it was time to put up or shut up. So with some ambivalence she arrives at the Peace Corps office–sporting her best safari chic attire –to casually look into the steps one might take if one were to become a global humanitarian, a la Angelina Jolie. But when Eve meets John, her dashing young Peace Corps recruiter, all her ambivalence flies out the window. She absolutely must join the Peace Corps - and win John's heart in the process. Off to Ecuador she goes and - after a year in the jungle - back to the States she runs, vowing to stay within easy reach of a decaf cappuccino for the rest of her days.
But life had other plans. Just as she's getting reacquainted with the joys of toilet paper, John gets a job with CARE and Eve must decide if she’s up for life in another third world outpost. Before you can say, "pass the malaria prophylaxis," the couple heads off to Uganda, and the fun really begins—if one can call having rats in your toilet fun.
My thoughts
I thought this was a risky book from the first page on because sometimes writing like this can get old quickly. That is not the case this time around. Eve is a wonderfully entertaining writer! Perhaps not your typical Peace Corps volunteer, whatever that may be, but certainly a delightful personality with a big heart.
I loved the love story that ran parallel with her work as a Peace Corps volunteer. I would have enjoyed more details about the actual work she did, but I've read plenty of those books. This book was a lot of fun, and I highly recommend it for a lighthearted spin on some seriously complicated world issues.
