Face to watch

Peter Bastian '98 is learningthat not all who need help arewilling to take it. The psychologymajor is using the Tucker Foundation's first Olga Gruss LewinPost-Graduate Fellowship tospend the year in the small, isolated mountain community ofMainilla, Costa Rica, as ateacher and fledgling therapistfor first- through sixth-graders.While the community is embracing Bastian as a friend, some arewary of receiving his help."Many people here suffer froman emotional poverty ratherthan a financial one," he says.With patience, Bastian is making some progress: Two of hisstudents are reading for enjoyment—unheard of in Matinilla and 20 more are learning taekwon do from Bastian, a blackbelt. He has also arranged community volunteers to help installInternet connections, cover dirtfloors with ceramic and educatethe school cook in nutrition andcleanliness. When the internship ends in November Bastianhopes to write about his experience and attend graduateschool in psychology.