Have you ever wanted to be a volunteer and work in Africa or Asia? Or maybe join the United Nations and help address problems, whether they be hunger, lack of education, poor health or unemployment. Arthur’s entertaining memoir “Overseas Adventures – From Afghanistan to Zambia and Points In-Between” describes just such experiences in the period 1971 to 2021. He wrote the book during COVID and after his last long-term assignment in Malawi, South-Central Africa. In fact, the memoir brings the reader stories from more than sixteen countries around the globe.
The memoir reflects the humour and good sense that many Maritimers share and is coloured with anecdotes ranging from elephant riding in India, and paddling dugout canoes in West Africa to an unnerving robbery attempt in Guyana. Each substantive chapter starts with a map showing the country’s location, and some historical and fun facts, followed by the narrative. Fifty photographs scattered through the book help bring the author’s experience to life. Persons who read the book both enjoyed and were inspired by it.
“I have found the memoir interesting and have greatly enjoyed it. I found it a rich mixture of interesting places, interesting people, and situations – including the tense and dramatic ones. In a world that seems so marked with violence and destruction reading your book really cheered me up…”
“Your lighthearted anecdotes are fun. The way you talk about meals of different cuisines will encourage readers to look for recipes – or gag, depending on what the dishes were.” Arthur Shears grew up in Glace Bay, went to university in Halifax and Montreal and had his 21st birthday in rural Nigeria working as a volunteer science and mathematics teacher. He currently resides in Halifax, is semiretired but continues to carry out short-term assignments abroad including a just completed undertaking for the International Labour Organization in Lebanon.
The memoir in paperback is available at Atlantic News, Bookmark and other fine bookstores, or online and with e-book versions here. www. northstarskillsfordevelopment.ca
