WNY Peace Corps volunteer's time in Namibia cut short

GOOD EVENING ONCEAGAIN,TONIGHT 7-THOUSANDPEACE CORPVOLUNTEERS ARECOMING HOME AS ARESULT OF THEGLOBALCORONAVIRUSPANDEMIC.FOR MANY OF THOSEVOLUNTEERS..

THISMASS EVACUATION OFSORTS ..

CAUGHTMOST OF THEM BYSURPRISE..TONIGHT 7EYEWITNESS NEWSREPORTER NIKKIDEMENTRI SPEAKSWITH ONE YOUNGVOLUNTEER..

WHOINSTEAD OF ENJOYINGHER TIME IN SOUTHAFRICA..

IS NOWSITTING HERE ATHOME INQUARANTINE.."NAT POP VIDEO"WRIGHT, 9:27:01-:08"THE PEOPLE I METTHERE, THEY WEREN'TLIKE MY FAMILY, THEYWEREN'T LIKE MYFRIENDS, THEY AREMY FAMILY, THEY AREMY FRIENDS."MARGARET WRIGHT ISTALKING ABOUT THEFAMILY AND FRIENDSSHE HAD TO LEAVEBEHIND IN NAMIBIA.

APLACE SHE'S CALLEDHOME FOR ALMOSTTWO YEARS, SELF-DESCRIBED AS ABEAUTIFUL ANDVIBRANT COUNTRYRICH IN GEOGRAPHYAND CULTUREBORDERING SOUTHAFRICA.

SHE SERVEDAS A PEACE CORPSVOLUNTEER TEACHINGMATH AND SCIENCE TOMIDDLESCHOOLERS...HELPINGWITH SECONDARYPROJECTS LIKEBUILDING A SCHOOLLIBRARY.WRIGHT, 9:27:56-:28:02"THAT COUNTRY ANDTHOSE PEOPLE GAVEME SO MUCH AND ALL ICAN DO IS SHARETHEIR STORY." ONMARCH 15TH -- HERENTIRE WORLDCHANGED.

ALL PEACECORPS OPERATIONSSUSPENDED, ALLVOLUNTEERS TO BEEVACUATED.WRIGHT, 9:10:17-:21 "IBELIEVE THAT NAMIBIAAS A WHOLE POSTDIDN'T REALLY SEE ITCOMING." WRIGHTFOUND OUT HOURSAFTER SHE LERNEDTHE NAMIBIANGOVERNMENTCLOSED SCHOOLSDUE TO THE COVID-19OUTBREAK.

SHE WASHEARTBROKEN ANDSURPRISED.MARGARET, 9:17:02-:05"IT'S CRAZY TO THINKTHAT IT WAS JUSTVERY ABRUPTLYENDED."MARGARET, 9:10:44-:47"I PACKED MY WHOLELIFE INTO TWOSUITCASES." 76-HUNDRED MILES 35HOURS OF TRAVELAND FOUR PLANESSHE RETURNED HOMETO FREDONIA FROMNAMIBIAMONDAY NIGHT.FULL-CIRCLE FORWRIGHT LANDING ATTHE SAME TERMINALSHE LEFT MONTHSAGO, BUT NOT THEWAY SHE WANTED ITTO END.WRIGHT, :06 "IT WASVERY SURREAL.

THEWAY WE LEFTAMERICA, WAS NOTREALLY THE AMERICAWE WEREREENTERING." WRIGHTSAYS THIS MOVEIMPACTS MANY MORETHAN JUST THE 7,000VOLUNTEERS.ACROSS 60 COUNTRIES.WRIGHT, 9:38:44-:55"IT'S THECOMMUNITIES THATINVITED US INTO THEIRHOMES AND THEIRLIVES AND THEIRWORKPLACES.THEY'RE THE ONESWHO NEED THE LOVEAND SUPPORT,ESPECIALLY IN A TIMELIKE THIS." FOR NOWSHE'S IN QUARANTINEAS ALL VOLUNTEERSWERE ASKED TO DOSO.

ALTHOUGHWRIGHT IS STILLTRYING TO DIGESTTHE WHIRLWIND OFTHE LAST TWOWEEKS, SHE HAS THISMESSAGE FOR HERADOPTED FAMILY.WRIGHT, :04 "JUSTKEEP IN TOUCH.

WEARE AN OCEAN AWAY,BUT IT DOESN'T HAVETO FEEL THAT WAY."WRIGHT, 9:34:18-:36"STAY SAFE AND KEEPLIVING YOUR LIFE.

WEWILL MEET AGAINSOMEDAY FOR SURE,THERE'S NO DOUBTABOUT THAT." ND,7EWN.