Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in Africa?

Find out at the Courtenay Branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library as local author John Peters relates his experiences of living in West Africa.

Oasis for Expats and the sequel Beyond the Oasis, draw their source material from the 25 years he spent working as an engineer in Third World countries. A keen observer of culture and human behaviour, Peters' characters — both African and Canadian — are honestly and endearingly related.

Peters' writes with a wry humour that strips away the pretensions and earnestness of development work to show real people encountering the same conflicts and challenges, albeit in a setting that sometimes turns the outcome on its head.

The youngest of eight children, Peters grew up on a small farm in southern Manitoba. After gaining his engineering degree, he took his first overseas assignment in Bangladesh. That was followed by stints in Indonesia, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan and Ethiopia.

Now enjoying retirement, he lives in the Comox Valley with his wife Frieda and has worked with numerous Valley arts organizations including the Comox Valley Youth Music Centre (CYMC) and the North Island Choral Society.

Peters’ free presentation will include a slideshow and video clips. It will take place at the Courtenay Library at 300 Sixth Street on May 19 at 2 p.m.

For more information call 250-334-3369 or visit www.virl.bc.ca.

— Courtenay Library