[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Because Peace Corps Panama was leaving Peace Corps for political or.

[Assistant] Uh huh.

[User] Political issues. And I think I believe we got somewhere around like six jeeps. And so then my Spanish was better and then I moved from the central part of Honduras to kind of the southwest part of Honduras and had a district of six, six or seven co-ops. And these were larger co-ops that were opened every day.

[Assistant] Oh, okay.

[User] Yeah. So I, then I became more of a, of a, what you call an extensionist in agriculture. I mean, a co-op extensionist and truly going around and doing two or three days each place, auditing their books and getting any name for any information and being the spokes, you know, going into the central office. And if anybody, if there are any issues that the, that the people needed additional help with. And occasionally I got support from the, their full-time people were more than willing to come out and help participate in, oh, a pep talk or a sponsorship, you know, membership building kind of thing.

[Assistant] So you got more participation from FACACH?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Political issues. And I think I believe we got somewhere around like six jeeps. And so then my Spanish was better and then I moved from the central part of Honduras to kind of the southwest part of Honduras and had a district of six, six or seven co-ops. And these were larger co-ops that were opened every day.

[Assistant] Oh, okay.

[User] Yeah. So I, then I became more of a, of a, what you call an extensionist in agriculture. I mean, a co-op extensionist and truly going around and doing two or three days each place, auditing their books and getting any name for any information and being the spokes, you know, going into the central office. And if anybody, if there are any issues that the, that the people needed additional help with. And occasionally I got support from the, their full-time people were more than willing to come out and help participate in, oh, a pep talk or a sponsorship, you know, membership building kind of thing.

[Assistant] So you got more participation from FACACH?

[User] I got more, yeah, I got more participation from FACACH because there was a lot more to do and a lot more at stake.

[Assistant] Was the workday there six days or five days or flexible?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah. So I, then I became more of a, of a, what you call an extensionist in agriculture. I mean, a co-op extensionist and truly going around and doing two or three days each place, auditing their books and getting any name for any information and being the spokes, you know, going into the central office. And if anybody, if there are any issues that the, that the people needed additional help with. And occasionally I got support from the, their full-time people were more than willing to come out and help participate in, oh, a pep talk or a sponsorship, you know, membership building kind of thing.

[Assistant] So you got more participation from FACACH?

[User] I got more, yeah, I got more participation from FACACH because there was a lot more to do and a lot more at stake.

[Assistant] Was the workday there six days or five days or flexible?

[User] It was flexible. It was flexible. Mainly five days. But then if you were finishing up at some place, you didn't want to have to. You didn't want to come back. You wanted to make sure you got the work done. And but that, it seems like I just made it fit into a five-day workweek.

[Assistant] And, um, oh, what did you do during vacation time? Fill it in as you like.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Oh. Oh well, they totally screwed them up. I came back not knowing at all, kind of, I didn't. I was no longer interested in business. I was interested more in government or doing something in the public sector. And I guess that that was a really, yeah, that was a really good thing because that just felt like it fit more than being in the business world. Yeah.

[Assistant] That's a big insight.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] Yeah.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] And how did, just a couple of sentences about how, what did you do then?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] And if possible, get them into everyday kind of jobs that would be more consistent. We had a winter, what they call a winter day school, where they, when they were not working in the farm in the wintertime, things would slow down and if they were still around, get them in and have them work towards improved English and getting a GED. I didn't do that specific job, but that was what the agency was meant for. And it paid just, it was like Peace Corps wages in the United States, $467 or something.

[Assistant] Yeah. Wow.

[User] And then I, I went to Seattle and tried to get on with the city, the state, and it was just a hard time. So I ended up going back into business with South End Corporation for about nine months. Had applied to graduate school social work because that also it, a light went on when I was struggling looking for work and saying oh my God, yeah, that's, you know. So I looked into that and I got accepted to Portland State University, had delayed my entrance. And then I finally, um.

[Assistant] Either way.

[User] Um. And had it with business, business world and reactivated my application and then started and got my master's in social work.

[Assistant] Great. Okay. So overall, how do you assess your service in light of three goals of the Peace Corps, uh, to, I'll just read all three, okay?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] And then I, I went to Seattle and tried to get on with the city, the state, and it was just a hard time. So I ended up going back into business with South End Corporation for about nine months. Had applied to graduate school social work because that also it, a light went on when I was struggling looking for work and saying oh my God, yeah, that's, you know. So I looked into that and I got accepted to Portland State University, had delayed my entrance. And then I finally, um.

[Assistant] Either way.

[User] Um. And had it with business, business world and reactivated my application and then started and got my master's in social work.

[Assistant] Great. Okay. So overall, how do you assess your service in light of three goals of the Peace Corps, uh, to, I'll just read all three, okay?

[User] Okay.

[Assistant] One is to provide technical assistance when requested. Two is to promote better understanding of Americans. Three is, C is to promote better understanding of other people by Americans. So technical assistance.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Um. And had it with business, business world and reactivated my application and then started and got my master's in social work.

[Assistant] Great. Okay. So overall, how do you assess your service in light of three goals of the Peace Corps, uh, to, I'll just read all three, okay?

[User] Okay.

[Assistant] One is to provide technical assistance when requested. Two is to promote better understanding of Americans. Three is, C is to promote better understanding of other people by Americans. So technical assistance.

[User] Yeah, technical assistance. While it took a while, took a while. By the second year I was, I was able to answer almost every question and help with accounting issues and that kind of stuff. So I felt like I was, I felt like I truly was starting to function as an employee of the federation of credit unions. Uh. What was the second?

[Assistant] The better understanding of Americans by the host country.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah, technical assistance. While it took a while, took a while. By the second year I was, I was able to answer almost every question and help with accounting issues and that kind of stuff. So I felt like I was, I felt like I truly was starting to function as an employee of the federation of credit unions. Uh. What was the second?

[Assistant] The better understanding of Americans by the host country.

[User] So I resisted. Through USAID, there was all kinds that you could, you could get.

[Assistant] Oh yeah.

[User] A projector and the movies. And what I heard from them was that they were like, you know, middle America, you know, with kitchens that just, you know, it just, it just seemed ludicrous. So I never, I never did any of that. And it was mostly through talking. And people asking questions and you, you would answer them as best you could. And saying, well, it's a big country and here we do this. And another part of the country, they might do that, but we're all Americans. Um.

[Assistant] And then the better understanding of other people for Americans.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] A projector and the movies. And what I heard from them was that they were like, you know, middle America, you know, with kitchens that just, you know, it just, it just seemed ludicrous. So I never, I never did any of that. And it was mostly through talking. And people asking questions and you, you would answer them as best you could. And saying, well, it's a big country and here we do this. And another part of the country, they might do that, but we're all Americans. Um.

[Assistant] And then the better understanding of other people for Americans.

[User] Well, yeah. And that's.

[Assistant] By Americans.

[User] Ever since. By Americans. Uh, certainly after I came back. The, you know, talked a lot about issues that people had and the misconceptions. Tried to pop the bubble that, you know, no, that's not really correct. And it kind of feels still in today's, in 19, you know, 2019, that it has to be done all over again, especially with the view of migrants coming into the country. But, um, yeah, there was nothing formal that I could put my finger on that I did.

[Assistant] Okay. Yeah. Through the years, have you continued to have any kind of involvement with your country of service or contact with people from that country? Any continuing Peace Corps involvement and anything particular related to that third goal of understanding other people by Americans?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] I would say that the Peace Corps has affected every, every bit of my life. And again, there's not like a specific kind of thing other than I always felt after the experience that I had the confidence that I could live anywhere and in any circumstance, and I could, I could do it.

[Assistant] Okay.

[User] And that has kind of carried, you know, of course, I'm not going to put myself in jeopardy to test that. But it gives you this, this different view of the world. It certainly, when you are abroad and you look back at your country, you see that here is the United States of America and Florida and Portland are a ways away, but they're not that far away. And the things going on in that, in your country, you see more about how they inter-react and stuff and you are all part of the same country.

[Assistant] Hmm. That's interesting.

[User] It kind of shrinks, kind of shrinks the United States.

[Assistant] Okay. That's good. That's interesting. Yeah. I'm just going to assume, like, because had you never left the Northwest, you might not have seen that, that unification of the States. Or am I putting words into your mouth?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] And that has kind of carried, you know, of course, I'm not going to put myself in jeopardy to test that. But it gives you this, this different view of the world. It certainly, when you are abroad and you look back at your country, you see that here is the United States of America and Florida and Portland are a ways away, but they're not that far away. And the things going on in that, in your country, you see more about how they inter-react and stuff and you are all part of the same country.

[Assistant] Hmm. That's interesting.

[User] It kind of shrinks, kind of shrinks the United States.

[Assistant] Okay. That's good. That's interesting. Yeah. I'm just going to assume, like, because had you never left the Northwest, you might not have seen that, that unification of the States. Or am I putting words into your mouth?

[User] Yes. Well, okay, no. Well, because I had had that experience, I guess I had had that experience in Europe also, being able to look back. But from, this was now from the Southern viewpoint and all the country that led up to it and Mexico and, and it was like, oh, this is North America. And part of North America is the United States. But a lot of people can, you know, made the distinction between, oh, you're North American or South American, never, you know, never, not in anybody's vocabulary. And so that was, it was similar, but it was a little different perspective of the country seen from the south looking up.

[Assistant] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] It kind of shrinks, kind of shrinks the United States.

[Assistant] Okay. That's good. That's interesting. Yeah. I'm just going to assume, like, because had you never left the Northwest, you might not have seen that, that unification of the States. Or am I putting words into your mouth?

[User] Yes. Well, okay, no. Well, because I had had that experience, I guess I had had that experience in Europe also, being able to look back. But from, this was now from the Southern viewpoint and all the country that led up to it and Mexico and, and it was like, oh, this is North America. And part of North America is the United States. But a lot of people can, you know, made the distinction between, oh, you're North American or South American, never, you know, never, not in anybody's vocabulary. And so that was, it was similar, but it was a little different perspective of the country seen from the south looking up.

[Assistant] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[User] You know? Yeah.

[Assistant] Great. Is there anything else you'd like to talk about?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Um, like you always wish that you could have done more and that you were the kind of person that could just knock down barriers and things like that.

[Assistant] Yeah, yeah.

[User] And, uh. But, but you can't beat yourself up. You just do what you can do, you can do. And I have always felt like I learned much more than I gave, you know, and that just, just stuck with me. And we've had, you know, I've influenced my niece to go into and her husband to go into Peace Corps.

[Assistant] Oh!

[User] In Jamaica. And so, and some of my grandkids started to ask questions about, you know, what was this? What was that about? You know, what was that about? Well, and surprisingly, you know, the things. And they can't believe that I lived without water and electricity and that that's possible in today's world even.

[Assistant] Yeah. Yeah. Well, great. You feel like we've covered enough?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] Well, thanks for agreeing to be interviewed, Jeniffer. Tell me about your background, where you grew up, and how you heard about Peace Corps and why you decided to join.

[User] So first off, I use both of my last names. It's Jeniffer Rivera Rodriguez, and before, like I'd said, I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and I was born in 1993 and my first language is Spanish. My second one is English. And I learned English because my mom, we moved one year to the U.S. when I was in seventh grade. I learned English and then we went back to Puerto Rico. Right now, I'm a master's student in the Kroc School of Peace Studies, in my second year. I live in San Diego, graduated in May 2020.

[Assistant] Now when you were growing up in Puerto Rico, did you know anything about Peace Corps?

[User] Not a clue. It's not a thing. It's not a thing.

[Assistant] And that whole concept of like a volunteer service like that?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] So first off, I use both of my last names. It's Jeniffer Rivera Rodriguez, and before, like I'd said, I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and I was born in 1993 and my first language is Spanish. My second one is English. And I learned English because my mom, we moved one year to the U.S. when I was in seventh grade. I learned English and then we went back to Puerto Rico. Right now, I'm a master's student in the Kroc School of Peace Studies, in my second year. I live in San Diego, graduated in May 2020.

[Assistant] Now when you were growing up in Puerto Rico, did you know anything about Peace Corps?

[User] Not a clue. It's not a thing. It's not a thing.

[Assistant] And that whole concept of like a volunteer service like that?

[User] Not a thing. So I never heard about Peace Corps when I was there. But when I was, so my experience, how I learned about Peace Corps was super random. Because I was about to graduate from my bachelor's degree in psychology, and I knew that I wanted to do a master's, but I wasn't sure in what I was going to do it. So I was like, OK, I need to find something to do.

[Assistant] And where were you living at that time? You were still in Puerto Rico?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Not a clue. It's not a thing. It's not a thing.

[Assistant] And that whole concept of like a volunteer service like that?

[User] Not a thing. So I never heard about Peace Corps when I was there. But when I was, so my experience, how I learned about Peace Corps was super random. Because I was about to graduate from my bachelor's degree in psychology, and I knew that I wanted to do a master's, but I wasn't sure in what I was going to do it. So I was like, OK, I need to find something to do.

[Assistant] And where were you living at that time? You were still in Puerto Rico?

[User] Yes. So I did my bachelor's degree in Puerto Rico. And so that last year, as I was getting ready for graduation, I started Googling literally for things to do. I was like internships, summer jobs, everything, you name it, starting from scratch because nobody knew nothing. And what happened was that I was there on my computer trying to find things and a thought came to my mind. I was like, I asked my mom, like, didn't Tom Hanks do a movie about being a volunteer or something? And then she was like, yeah, I think he was like a Peace Corps volunteer or something. So I literally Googled Peace Corps. So that was super random, you tell me.

[Assistant] If not for Tom Hanks.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Not a thing. So I never heard about Peace Corps when I was there. But when I was, so my experience, how I learned about Peace Corps was super random. Because I was about to graduate from my bachelor's degree in psychology, and I knew that I wanted to do a master's, but I wasn't sure in what I was going to do it. So I was like, OK, I need to find something to do.

[Assistant] And where were you living at that time? You were still in Puerto Rico?

[User] Yes. So I did my bachelor's degree in Puerto Rico. And so that last year, as I was getting ready for graduation, I started Googling literally for things to do. I was like internships, summer jobs, everything, you name it, starting from scratch because nobody knew nothing. And what happened was that I was there on my computer trying to find things and a thought came to my mind. I was like, I asked my mom, like, didn't Tom Hanks do a movie about being a volunteer or something? And then she was like, yeah, I think he was like a Peace Corps volunteer or something. So I literally Googled Peace Corps. So that was super random, you tell me.

[Assistant] If not for Tom Hanks.

[User] Yeah, he made it happen. I should say thank you. So and then went to the website and read about it, and I was like, I think I'm going to do this. I mean, the idea of traveling and getting out of my little town that I was in and two years was a little intimidating, but I knew that it was going to be fulfilling, you know, in intentional growth there. So yeah, I applied.

[Assistant] And where did you apply? Because there wasn't an office down there, right?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yes. So I did my bachelor's degree in Puerto Rico. And so that last year, as I was getting ready for graduation, I started Googling literally for things to do. I was like internships, summer jobs, everything, you name it, starting from scratch because nobody knew nothing. And what happened was that I was there on my computer trying to find things and a thought came to my mind. I was like, I asked my mom, like, didn't Tom Hanks do a movie about being a volunteer or something? And then she was like, yeah, I think he was like a Peace Corps volunteer or something. So I literally Googled Peace Corps. So that was super random, you tell me.

[Assistant] If not for Tom Hanks.

[User] Yeah, he made it happen. I should say thank you. So and then went to the website and read about it, and I was like, I think I'm going to do this. I mean, the idea of traveling and getting out of my little town that I was in and two years was a little intimidating, but I knew that it was going to be fulfilling, you know, in intentional growth there. So yeah, I applied.

[Assistant] And where did you apply? Because there wasn't an office down there, right?

[User] No. So I, before I applied, I actually looked for the info sessions because you can put your zip code and they would like put the options of where you can go. And they had an info session like a week after that day at a college where I lived. So I went to the info session. And then, yeah, and after that, I applied by myself. Um, but when I went to the info session, there was like two more people. Like, it's not a thing I'm telling you. Like, nobody knew about Peace Corps.

[Assistant] But they, so there must have been a returned volunteer that lived in Puerto Rico.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah, he made it happen. I should say thank you. So and then went to the website and read about it, and I was like, I think I'm going to do this. I mean, the idea of traveling and getting out of my little town that I was in and two years was a little intimidating, but I knew that it was going to be fulfilling, you know, in intentional growth there. So yeah, I applied.

[Assistant] And where did you apply? Because there wasn't an office down there, right?

[User] No. So I, before I applied, I actually looked for the info sessions because you can put your zip code and they would like put the options of where you can go. And they had an info session like a week after that day at a college where I lived. So I went to the info session. And then, yeah, and after that, I applied by myself. Um, but when I went to the info session, there was like two more people. Like, it's not a thing I'm telling you. Like, nobody knew about Peace Corps.

[Assistant] But they, so there must have been a returned volunteer that lived in Puerto Rico.

[User] Yeah, so that was the only person representing the entire island. I forgot his name, honestly, because then he gave him my number and then I tried to call him, and that didn't work. So I don't even know his name or where he is, all just to say, I should also say thank you. But he was a RPCV, and he was, that was his job now, doing those info sessions in Puerto Rico because they don't have an office. So he was just doing his own, like that was a side thing, because they didn't have like headquarters or anything. I'm all about, they should do that, by the way, in Puerto Rico. But it's not a huge thing there.

[Assistant] Right. And when you applied, so you looked at the materials online and so forth.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] No. So I, before I applied, I actually looked for the info sessions because you can put your zip code and they would like put the options of where you can go. And they had an info session like a week after that day at a college where I lived. So I went to the info session. And then, yeah, and after that, I applied by myself. Um, but when I went to the info session, there was like two more people. Like, it's not a thing I'm telling you. Like, nobody knew about Peace Corps.

[Assistant] But they, so there must have been a returned volunteer that lived in Puerto Rico.

[User] Yeah, so that was the only person representing the entire island. I forgot his name, honestly, because then he gave him my number and then I tried to call him, and that didn't work. So I don't even know his name or where he is, all just to say, I should also say thank you. But he was a RPCV, and he was, that was his job now, doing those info sessions in Puerto Rico because they don't have an office. So he was just doing his own, like that was a side thing, because they didn't have like headquarters or anything. I'm all about, they should do that, by the way, in Puerto Rico. But it's not a huge thing there.

[Assistant] Right. And when you applied, so you looked at the materials online and so forth.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] Where did you want to go? Did you have a preference?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] Where did you want to go? Did you have a preference?

[User] So I, because you know, when you go to the website, you can see all the countries, right? And I think for me, it was important to find a place that I can speak Spanish because I'm like, I already went through learning English. I knew they'd take advantage of my Spanish. So I definitely knew that I was going to go to Spanish speaking country and then I was thinking about Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, or Costa Rica. And then I don't know why I had this idea of Costa Rica and just being in like this amazing green country and beautiful and a place that everyone wanted to go. So I just YouTube, you know, technology now. It's just YouTube like Costa Rica, Peace Corps Costa Rica, and I saw a lot of videos of volunteers, of their experience there.

[Assistant] Oh, sure.

[User] So I was like, hey, it doesn't look bad. There was specifically a volunteer who lived on the beach, and I was like, I'm wondering if I can live next to the beach. So, yeah, I think I fell in love with the country. I just was watching videos about Costa Rica and the culture there and I was like, I think this is it. It's not hard for me to make decisions about my career. I think I just go with the flow. If it looks good, I don't overthink it. So I think it's just fit right.

[Assistant] You didn't, you weren't reluctant.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] So I was like, hey, it doesn't look bad. There was specifically a volunteer who lived on the beach, and I was like, I'm wondering if I can live next to the beach. So, yeah, I think I fell in love with the country. I just was watching videos about Costa Rica and the culture there and I was like, I think this is it. It's not hard for me to make decisions about my career. I think I just go with the flow. If it looks good, I don't overthink it. So I think it's just fit right.

[Assistant] You didn't, you weren't reluctant.

[User] No, not at all. I was like, OK.

[Assistant] Independent.

[User] Yeah. And the application process also was super easy, because a lot of people told me that before it was like more weird and I don't know longer. But I think for me, the application process, it wasn't something that I was like, oh, a pain. I think it was really easy and straightforward.

[Assistant] And Peace Corps was pretty responsive?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] No, not at all. I was like, OK.

[Assistant] Independent.

[User] Yeah. And the application process also was super easy, because a lot of people told me that before it was like more weird and I don't know longer. But I think for me, the application process, it wasn't something that I was like, oh, a pain. I think it was really easy and straightforward.

[Assistant] And Peace Corps was pretty responsive?

[User] Yeah, for sure. For sure.

[Assistant] And what did your family and friends think? Because you were probably the only person that they knew that had considered Peace Corps.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah. And the application process also was super easy, because a lot of people told me that before it was like more weird and I don't know longer. But I think for me, the application process, it wasn't something that I was like, oh, a pain. I think it was really easy and straightforward.

[Assistant] And Peace Corps was pretty responsive?

[User] Yeah, for sure. For sure.

[Assistant] And what did your family and friends think? Because you were probably the only person that they knew that had considered Peace Corps.

[User] So my mom kind of knew, heard about Peace Corps, because she told me the Tom Hanks movie, so that's what she thought it was like. I haven't even seen the movie, by the way, so I don't even know how it came to mind. Um, so they were freaking out for sure. Freaking out. My grandmother was like, are you sure that you're going to let your daughter go? Because maybe they're going to, that's a trap. They're going to sell her or something. You know, everyone was scared. My mom one night came crying to me and she was like, can you please ask them to like send me an email just telling me that this is true? A huge deal. So my family didn't want me to go, because nobody really knew. We didn't know anyone else that went to Peace Corps.

[Assistant] And especially, you're going off by yourself.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah, for sure. For sure.

[Assistant] And what did your family and friends think? Because you were probably the only person that they knew that had considered Peace Corps.

[User] So my mom kind of knew, heard about Peace Corps, because she told me the Tom Hanks movie, so that's what she thought it was like. I haven't even seen the movie, by the way, so I don't even know how it came to mind. Um, so they were freaking out for sure. Freaking out. My grandmother was like, are you sure that you're going to let your daughter go? Because maybe they're going to, that's a trap. They're going to sell her or something. You know, everyone was scared. My mom one night came crying to me and she was like, can you please ask them to like send me an email just telling me that this is true? A huge deal. So my family didn't want me to go, because nobody really knew. We didn't know anyone else that went to Peace Corps.

[Assistant] And especially, you're going off by yourself.

[User] Yeah. And I was 21. So and that was my first time also, like living in my small town. So they were just super scared, overwhelmed, crazy, crying. Nobody wanted me to go, but I was like, I don't care, I'm going to go.

[Assistant] Well, what about your friends? And your brothers and sisters?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] So my mom kind of knew, heard about Peace Corps, because she told me the Tom Hanks movie, so that's what she thought it was like. I haven't even seen the movie, by the way, so I don't even know how it came to mind. Um, so they were freaking out for sure. Freaking out. My grandmother was like, are you sure that you're going to let your daughter go? Because maybe they're going to, that's a trap. They're going to sell her or something. You know, everyone was scared. My mom one night came crying to me and she was like, can you please ask them to like send me an email just telling me that this is true? A huge deal. So my family didn't want me to go, because nobody really knew. We didn't know anyone else that went to Peace Corps.

[Assistant] And especially, you're going off by yourself.

[User] Yeah. And I was 21. So and that was my first time also, like living in my small town. So they were just super scared, overwhelmed, crazy, crying. Nobody wanted me to go, but I was like, I don't care, I'm going to go.

[Assistant] Well, what about your friends? And your brothers and sisters?

[User] I have a sister and I have lots of friends. And they didn't also never knew a lot about Peace Corps, but they were like, travel the world, why not? They were super excited I think. It was mainly my family who was really concerned.

[Assistant] Sure. Well, that's understandable.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah. And I was 21. So and that was my first time also, like living in my small town. So they were just super scared, overwhelmed, crazy, crying. Nobody wanted me to go, but I was like, I don't care, I'm going to go.

[Assistant] Well, what about your friends? And your brothers and sisters?

[User] I have a sister and I have lots of friends. And they didn't also never knew a lot about Peace Corps, but they were like, travel the world, why not? They were super excited I think. It was mainly my family who was really concerned.

[Assistant] Sure. Well, that's understandable.

[User] Yeah, yeah. And for Latino families, like, we're crazy and we just want to be in each other's life every day, every minute. So they were like, I don't know, like, do they have Wi-Fi? Can I call you? How can I contact you? And I didn't know, so I didn't have the answers to their questions. So that was interesting.

[Assistant] Yeah. Well, it's pretty brave of you to do that, too.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] I have a sister and I have lots of friends. And they didn't also never knew a lot about Peace Corps, but they were like, travel the world, why not? They were super excited I think. It was mainly my family who was really concerned.

[Assistant] Sure. Well, that's understandable.

[User] Yeah, yeah. And for Latino families, like, we're crazy and we just want to be in each other's life every day, every minute. So they were like, I don't know, like, do they have Wi-Fi? Can I call you? How can I contact you? And I didn't know, so I didn't have the answers to their questions. So that was interesting.

[Assistant] Yeah. Well, it's pretty brave of you to do that, too.

[User] Yes. And I remember when I got that email, because I feel like the process of me applying since day one, I feel like day one was me Googling Peace Corps. So from there to getting accepted, I think it was super easy and fast, and I got an interview. So that first team, because you have to take like this test, right when you do, when you are applying, and then after that they were going to contact you and see if they want to interview you. So they emailed me, they're like, we want to interview you, like, do a Skype, have a Skype conversation. And I was like, I was super nervous, by the way, because I don't know. Um, so I just, yeah, I had this Skype interview and that was great. It was just me talking about myself, and I think it's really straightforward, right? You don't, you just be yourself. And then I remember getting that email that I got accepted. I remember I was watching a movie and I was like, oh, this is real. Like, it was really exciting, but also scary. But I knew that I was going to go for sure.

[Assistant] So was that time when you went to the States in seventh grade, was that the only time that you traveled outside Puerto Rico?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] So mine was a particular experience.

[Assistant] Yeah, that's great. And then, OK, so did you do any orientation or training in the States or did you go straight to Costa Rica?

[User] So from Puerto Rico, I traveled to Texas. We did like a one or two day, I think it was like one day orientation. And we left the next morning. So I remember we stayed there in the hotel in Texas, in Houston, Texas, and I think I was a little intimidated again. I feel like my English, I was worried about my English. It was funny. That was like the only concern honestly. I was like, I know Spanish, I don't care, and I don't have a hard time socializing with people, but I was like, am I going to like? I was wondering if the training was going to be super technical or not. But anyway, I was just going with the flow and then that one day. Like, it wasn't a training, it was like a, I don't know, orientation, right? And then the next day we went to Costa Rica. And that's when my training started. And training was intense. Training was too long. It was like three months, right? But then it was like from 8:00 to 5:00 or 6:00 or longer if we had to. It was painful.

[Assistant] But for most of the trainees, it's intensive language.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] And you didn't have to worry about that.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] So from Puerto Rico, I traveled to Texas. We did like a one or two day, I think it was like one day orientation. And we left the next morning. So I remember we stayed there in the hotel in Texas, in Houston, Texas, and I think I was a little intimidated again. I feel like my English, I was worried about my English. It was funny. That was like the only concern honestly. I was like, I know Spanish, I don't care, and I don't have a hard time socializing with people, but I was like, am I going to like? I was wondering if the training was going to be super technical or not. But anyway, I was just going with the flow and then that one day. Like, it wasn't a training, it was like a, I don't know, orientation, right? And then the next day we went to Costa Rica. And that's when my training started. And training was intense. Training was too long. It was like three months, right? But then it was like from 8:00 to 5:00 or 6:00 or longer if we had to. It was painful.

[Assistant] But for most of the trainees, it's intensive language.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] And you didn't have to worry about that.

[User] No. Spanish class was fun class for me.

[Assistant] You could probably helped with, help tutor the other guys.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] And you didn't have to worry about that.

[User] No. Spanish class was fun class for me.

[Assistant] You could probably helped with, help tutor the other guys.

[User] So we got there and they categorized us or level. I was, of course, superior. But then there was another, there was one other girl who was Spanish was also superior or advanced, because I guess she kind of had an accent, but her Spanish was perfect. But so we had two days of technical training and three days of Spanish and culture training. And of course, for me. Everyone hated Spanish training. But I was like, this is my thing. Because I was just talking with a professor and just having fun. And my assignments, I would get it done like that, in the same day. So super fun Spanish class. Oh my gosh.

[Assistant] It's interesting that they didn't maybe have a different track for you.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] No. Spanish class was fun class for me.

[Assistant] You could probably helped with, help tutor the other guys.

[User] So we got there and they categorized us or level. I was, of course, superior. But then there was another, there was one other girl who was Spanish was also superior or advanced, because I guess she kind of had an accent, but her Spanish was perfect. But so we had two days of technical training and three days of Spanish and culture training. And of course, for me. Everyone hated Spanish training. But I was like, this is my thing. Because I was just talking with a professor and just having fun. And my assignments, I would get it done like that, in the same day. So super fun Spanish class. Oh my gosh.

[Assistant] It's interesting that they didn't maybe have a different track for you.

[User] No. So I guess.

[Assistant] You're kind of just spinning your wheels there in Spanish class.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] So we got there and they categorized us or level. I was, of course, superior. But then there was another, there was one other girl who was Spanish was also superior or advanced, because I guess she kind of had an accent, but her Spanish was perfect. But so we had two days of technical training and three days of Spanish and culture training. And of course, for me. Everyone hated Spanish training. But I was like, this is my thing. Because I was just talking with a professor and just having fun. And my assignments, I would get it done like that, in the same day. So super fun Spanish class. Oh my gosh.

[Assistant] It's interesting that they didn't maybe have a different track for you.

[User] No. So I guess.

[Assistant] You're kind of just spinning your wheels there in Spanish class.

[User] So our class was kind of different. Because I guess depending on your level, they will teach you certain things. So for us, there were three girls in my, two other girls in my class, so we didn't learn how to write or the verbs because we already knew Spanish pretty well. So I think our Spanish class was more cultural words and how it changes because I still.

[Assistant] Some of the local customs and things like that?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] No. So I guess.

[Assistant] You're kind of just spinning your wheels there in Spanish class.

[User] So our class was kind of different. Because I guess depending on your level, they will teach you certain things. So for us, there were three girls in my, two other girls in my class, so we didn't learn how to write or the verbs because we already knew Spanish pretty well. So I think our Spanish class was more cultural words and how it changes because I still.

[Assistant] Some of the local customs and things like that?

[User] Yeah, because my Spanish, it is different from Costa Rican Spanish, like they're different. And my pronunciation is different. So yeah, it was less informal. I think it was more informal and more like about the culture, lingo, and all of that. So it was fun for sure. It was super fun Spanish class.

[Assistant] Let's back up and tell me when you first landed in the country, how did that feel and what was your impression? Do you remember your first impression of the country?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] So our class was kind of different. Because I guess depending on your level, they will teach you certain things. So for us, there were three girls in my, two other girls in my class, so we didn't learn how to write or the verbs because we already knew Spanish pretty well. So I think our Spanish class was more cultural words and how it changes because I still.

[Assistant] Some of the local customs and things like that?

[User] Yeah, because my Spanish, it is different from Costa Rican Spanish, like they're different. And my pronunciation is different. So yeah, it was less informal. I think it was more informal and more like about the culture, lingo, and all of that. So it was fun for sure. It was super fun Spanish class.

[Assistant] Let's back up and tell me when you first landed in the country, how did that feel and what was your impression? Do you remember your first impression of the country?

[User] Yeah, it was cloudy. I was like, I need sun because, you know, Costa Rica was like, it's going to be sunny every day, but it was super cloudy because we arrived in San Jose. And San Jose is cloudy usually and rainy. And I was sick because of the climate, because me going from 90 degree, 95, to like then Houston and then Costa Rica, that, I was so sick. But it was super cloudy and rainy, and I remember being in the little van and I was like, this does not look cute at all.

[Assistant] Were you a little disappointed?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah, because my Spanish, it is different from Costa Rican Spanish, like they're different. And my pronunciation is different. So yeah, it was less informal. I think it was more informal and more like about the culture, lingo, and all of that. So it was fun for sure. It was super fun Spanish class.

[Assistant] Let's back up and tell me when you first landed in the country, how did that feel and what was your impression? Do you remember your first impression of the country?

[User] Yeah, it was cloudy. I was like, I need sun because, you know, Costa Rica was like, it's going to be sunny every day, but it was super cloudy because we arrived in San Jose. And San Jose is cloudy usually and rainy. And I was sick because of the climate, because me going from 90 degree, 95, to like then Houston and then Costa Rica, that, I was so sick. But it was super cloudy and rainy, and I remember being in the little van and I was like, this does not look cute at all.

[Assistant] Were you a little disappointed?

[User] Kind of. Because Costa Rica, like San Jose, is not a beautiful city. It has beautiful architecture in different places. But like Costa Rica is not, San Jose is different areas. So I was like, OK, everything was super gray. And in the city, San Jose is not a really clean city, so I was a little worried. But then as we didn't stay in San Jose that night, we went to a place a city, a province called Cartago, and there was more nature there. So that was like, OK, it's getting better. But it was so cold. And I think, I don't know if it was my fault or what, but I didn't know like weather wise, like what specific weather was. I don't know. I thought it was going to be sunny, right? So Cartago was cold. It was so cold. It was insane. We were all cold.

[Assistant] And this is where you did your training?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah, it was cloudy. I was like, I need sun because, you know, Costa Rica was like, it's going to be sunny every day, but it was super cloudy because we arrived in San Jose. And San Jose is cloudy usually and rainy. And I was sick because of the climate, because me going from 90 degree, 95, to like then Houston and then Costa Rica, that, I was so sick. But it was super cloudy and rainy, and I remember being in the little van and I was like, this does not look cute at all.

[Assistant] Were you a little disappointed?

[User] Kind of. Because Costa Rica, like San Jose, is not a beautiful city. It has beautiful architecture in different places. But like Costa Rica is not, San Jose is different areas. So I was like, OK, everything was super gray. And in the city, San Jose is not a really clean city, so I was a little worried. But then as we didn't stay in San Jose that night, we went to a place a city, a province called Cartago, and there was more nature there. So that was like, OK, it's getting better. But it was so cold. And I think, I don't know if it was my fault or what, but I didn't know like weather wise, like what specific weather was. I don't know. I thought it was going to be sunny, right? So Cartago was cold. It was so cold. It was insane. We were all cold.

[Assistant] And this is where you did your training?

[User] For the first, like three days or something. And then in Cartago. And then from there we moved to the other province called Heredia. And that was where we had our three months training. And Heredia is pretty cold too. So we were up in the mountains.

[Assistant] So while you were there in training, how many people were in your group?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Kind of. Because Costa Rica, like San Jose, is not a beautiful city. It has beautiful architecture in different places. But like Costa Rica is not, San Jose is different areas. So I was like, OK, everything was super gray. And in the city, San Jose is not a really clean city, so I was a little worried. But then as we didn't stay in San Jose that night, we went to a place a city, a province called Cartago, and there was more nature there. So that was like, OK, it's getting better. But it was so cold. And I think, I don't know if it was my fault or what, but I didn't know like weather wise, like what specific weather was. I don't know. I thought it was going to be sunny, right? So Cartago was cold. It was so cold. It was insane. We were all cold.

[Assistant] And this is where you did your training?

[User] For the first, like three days or something. And then in Cartago. And then from there we moved to the other province called Heredia. And that was where we had our three months training. And Heredia is pretty cold too. So we were up in the mountains.

[Assistant] So while you were there in training, how many people were in your group?

[User] In my cohort, I think maybe like 22.

[Assistant] So you started to bond with some of your.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] For the first, like three days or something. And then in Cartago. And then from there we moved to the other province called Heredia. And that was where we had our three months training. And Heredia is pretty cold too. So we were up in the mountains.

[Assistant] So while you were there in training, how many people were in your group?

[User] In my cohort, I think maybe like 22.

[Assistant] So you started to bond with some of your.

[User] Yeah, I get it. I feel like for me that I get attached to like two people. So when I first arrived in Houston, I shared a room with my now best friend Taina. And to my surprise, she's half Puerto Rican and half Dominican. So I'm like, OK, you're going to be my best friend. So we bonded in a second. My best friend, for sure. And then, yeah, I think once. I've also I think I was a different person back then, I think I'm a different person now. Because back then I was more protective of myself and I was like, I don't know who should I trust here. And there's differences between me being Puerto Rican and being born and raised in an island from them all being from the States. So it was, I felt a little like out of place, because when we were having those informal conversations they have, they use different words, right? And they had different games, different songs. So I was like, I feel like my cultural experience then was to with them. I was like, how do I connect with these people because they're singing some songs that I don't even know? So that was definitely interesting.

[Assistant] Hmm. Yeah. Yeah, it would be because you had the continental U.S. culture to deal with and then the culture of your assignment.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] In my cohort, I think maybe like 22.

[Assistant] So you started to bond with some of your.

[User] Yeah, I get it. I feel like for me that I get attached to like two people. So when I first arrived in Houston, I shared a room with my now best friend Taina. And to my surprise, she's half Puerto Rican and half Dominican. So I'm like, OK, you're going to be my best friend. So we bonded in a second. My best friend, for sure. And then, yeah, I think once. I've also I think I was a different person back then, I think I'm a different person now. Because back then I was more protective of myself and I was like, I don't know who should I trust here. And there's differences between me being Puerto Rican and being born and raised in an island from them all being from the States. So it was, I felt a little like out of place, because when we were having those informal conversations they have, they use different words, right? And they had different games, different songs. So I was like, I feel like my cultural experience then was to with them. I was like, how do I connect with these people because they're singing some songs that I don't even know? So that was definitely interesting.

[Assistant] Hmm. Yeah. Yeah, it would be because you had the continental U.S. culture to deal with and then the culture of your assignment.

[User] Yeah, because I think my host family, I only spoke Spanish. So we just got along like in a second, right? So I didn't have no problem. My whole family, by the way, amazing. And my host sister's going to visit me at Christmas.

[Assistant] So you lived with a family during training?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah, I get it. I feel like for me that I get attached to like two people. So when I first arrived in Houston, I shared a room with my now best friend Taina. And to my surprise, she's half Puerto Rican and half Dominican. So I'm like, OK, you're going to be my best friend. So we bonded in a second. My best friend, for sure. And then, yeah, I think once. I've also I think I was a different person back then, I think I'm a different person now. Because back then I was more protective of myself and I was like, I don't know who should I trust here. And there's differences between me being Puerto Rican and being born and raised in an island from them all being from the States. So it was, I felt a little like out of place, because when we were having those informal conversations they have, they use different words, right? And they had different games, different songs. So I was like, I feel like my cultural experience then was to with them. I was like, how do I connect with these people because they're singing some songs that I don't even know? So that was definitely interesting.

[Assistant] Hmm. Yeah. Yeah, it would be because you had the continental U.S. culture to deal with and then the culture of your assignment.

[User] Yeah, because I think my host family, I only spoke Spanish. So we just got along like in a second, right? So I didn't have no problem. My whole family, by the way, amazing. And my host sister's going to visit me at Christmas.

[Assistant] So you lived with a family during training?

[User] Yes. All the training, yeah.

[Assistant] OK, that's good.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah, because I think my host family, I only spoke Spanish. So we just got along like in a second, right? So I didn't have no problem. My whole family, by the way, amazing. And my host sister's going to visit me at Christmas.

[Assistant] So you lived with a family during training?

[User] Yes. All the training, yeah.

[Assistant] OK, that's good.

[User] Beautiful family, mom, dad and two daughters, and got along with them in a second. And again, like my host sister's going to visit me, we're going to go to Puerto Rico for Christmas. We bonded like strong.

[Assistant] Is she your age or a little younger?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yes. All the training, yeah.

[Assistant] OK, that's good.

[User] Beautiful family, mom, dad and two daughters, and got along with them in a second. And again, like my host sister's going to visit me, we're going to go to Puerto Rico for Christmas. We bonded like strong.

[Assistant] Is she your age or a little younger?

[User] I'm 26 and I think she's like 22. So kind of like the same age.

[Assistant] Oh, that'll be fun.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Beautiful family, mom, dad and two daughters, and got along with them in a second. And again, like my host sister's going to visit me, we're going to go to Puerto Rico for Christmas. We bonded like strong.

[Assistant] Is she your age or a little younger?

[User] I'm 26 and I think she's like 22. So kind of like the same age.

[Assistant] Oh, that'll be fun.

[User] Oh yeah. That was, I mean, for other volunteers, they had their experience. But I think for me, I loved my, and I love my host family from training. Awesome for sure. And I also kind of was a spoiled girl in my group because my house was nice. It was pretty fancy.

[Assistant] What was the community like? Was it a city or a village or small town?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] I'm 26 and I think she's like 22. So kind of like the same age.

[Assistant] Oh, that'll be fun.

[User] Oh yeah. That was, I mean, for other volunteers, they had their experience. But I think for me, I loved my, and I love my host family from training. Awesome for sure. And I also kind of was a spoiled girl in my group because my house was nice. It was pretty fancy.

[Assistant] What was the community like? Was it a city or a village or small town?

[User] It was kind of city, yeah. Um yeah. We had everything there. Everything super accessible. So yeah, it was. I wouldn't call it a big city, but it was a city.

[Assistant] Ok, so not a real hardship. You had running water and electricity.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] It was kind of city, yeah. Um yeah. We had everything there. Everything super accessible. So yeah, it was. I wouldn't call it a big city, but it was a city.

[Assistant] Ok, so not a real hardship. You had running water and electricity.

[User] Yeah. The only thing that sucked was I didn't have a water heater, so you have.

[Assistant] Cold water.

[User] It wasn't cold water. It was freezing. I fainted a little bit. I like, whenever I shower, I was like, I needed to do my thing, like prepare emotionally. Because it was out of this world cold. It was ice cold water and they just, they shower like that. They were fine. It was just me. So that was an experience, but I had to shower so.

[Assistant] Well, it's a, yeah, different technique that you have to learn.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah. The only thing that sucked was I didn't have a water heater, so you have.

[Assistant] Cold water.

[User] It wasn't cold water. It was freezing. I fainted a little bit. I like, whenever I shower, I was like, I needed to do my thing, like prepare emotionally. Because it was out of this world cold. It was ice cold water and they just, they shower like that. They were fine. It was just me. So that was an experience, but I had to shower so.

[Assistant] Well, it's a, yeah, different technique that you have to learn.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] Well, OK. So then, uh, what was a typical day like during your training?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] It wasn't cold water. It was freezing. I fainted a little bit. I like, whenever I shower, I was like, I needed to do my thing, like prepare emotionally. Because it was out of this world cold. It was ice cold water and they just, they shower like that. They were fine. It was just me. So that was an experience, but I had to shower so.

[Assistant] Well, it's a, yeah, different technique that you have to learn.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] Well, OK. So then, uh, what was a typical day like during your training?

[User] Uh, I would say, well, I will wake up like at 6:50 or 6:30 and then everything was so cold. Then just get ready. Had some breakfast. My host mom will always cook something that I could take the next day. So I took my lunch every day and she made good food. Spoiled girl for sure. She even made pizza from scratch. Thank you. And then I was just getting ready and take the bus with. I had a friend who lived super close to me, so we would just take the bus together. And then we would take the bus every morning and arrive at another city. But it was like next to our city. And walk to the place that we will, it was just like a community center. And we will all just be there like at 8:00 a.m. and start the day.

[Assistant] So all the volunteers weren't in the same neighborhood. They were scattered.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Uh, I would say, well, I will wake up like at 6:50 or 6:30 and then everything was so cold. Then just get ready. Had some breakfast. My host mom will always cook something that I could take the next day. So I took my lunch every day and she made good food. Spoiled girl for sure. She even made pizza from scratch. Thank you. And then I was just getting ready and take the bus with. I had a friend who lived super close to me, so we would just take the bus together. And then we would take the bus every morning and arrive at another city. But it was like next to our city. And walk to the place that we will, it was just like a community center. And we will all just be there like at 8:00 a.m. and start the day.

[Assistant] So all the volunteers weren't in the same neighborhood. They were scattered.

[User] Yeah. Yes. Like, you needed to take the bus to visit other people. You can't walk. Like I could walk to my friends. So I don't know. I don't know what the category I don't have. I don't think it's different cities, but maybe barrios. I don't know.

[Assistant] Suburbs.

[User] Yeah, yeah. Near but not walking distance. We had to take the bus. But yeah.

[Assistant] So then you come together at this training center and?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah. Yes. Like, you needed to take the bus to visit other people. You can't walk. Like I could walk to my friends. So I don't know. I don't know what the category I don't have. I don't think it's different cities, but maybe barrios. I don't know.

[Assistant] Suburbs.

[User] Yeah, yeah. Near but not walking distance. We had to take the bus. But yeah.

[Assistant] So then you come together at this training center and?

[User] Yeah, spend an entire day there, literally the entire day. It was exhausting. Oh my gosh, we were uber grumpy for sure. We were, because it was too long. I mean, I can't, you know, human beings. I don't know white people. Our model of working is so traditional, it hasn't changed, and we need to be in a room from 8:00 to 6:00 p.m. Come on. You lose me after noon. After lunch, I'm gone. So we were exhausted, all of us. They probably hated us a little bit because we were just like complaining. Because it was just a lot of info. Info, info, info, info. Every day.

[Assistant] And on top of the language, you were in community youth development programs. So which is kind of open ended, right? So did they have specific?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah, yeah. Near but not walking distance. We had to take the bus. But yeah.

[Assistant] So then you come together at this training center and?

[User] Yeah, spend an entire day there, literally the entire day. It was exhausting. Oh my gosh, we were uber grumpy for sure. We were, because it was too long. I mean, I can't, you know, human beings. I don't know white people. Our model of working is so traditional, it hasn't changed, and we need to be in a room from 8:00 to 6:00 p.m. Come on. You lose me after noon. After lunch, I'm gone. So we were exhausted, all of us. They probably hated us a little bit because we were just like complaining. Because it was just a lot of info. Info, info, info, info. Every day.

[Assistant] And on top of the language, you were in community youth development programs. So which is kind of open ended, right? So did they have specific?

[User] Skills?

[Assistant] Yeah, or things that they wanted to impart with you?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah, spend an entire day there, literally the entire day. It was exhausting. Oh my gosh, we were uber grumpy for sure. We were, because it was too long. I mean, I can't, you know, human beings. I don't know white people. Our model of working is so traditional, it hasn't changed, and we need to be in a room from 8:00 to 6:00 p.m. Come on. You lose me after noon. After lunch, I'm gone. So we were exhausted, all of us. They probably hated us a little bit because we were just like complaining. Because it was just a lot of info. Info, info, info, info. Every day.

[Assistant] And on top of the language, you were in community youth development programs. So which is kind of open ended, right? So did they have specific?

[User] Skills?

[Assistant] Yeah, or things that they wanted to impart with you?

[User] Yeah, so for us, for example, we had to go to schools sometimes and do like little workshops and practice. So because I know other groups now, they usually have like TEFL and SED together. But for my cohort it was just youth development, so we would just always be together, except for Spanish class. But they did some specific training to us, like really regarding like the youth resources that were in Costa Rica, going to schools, getting, you know, but getting to know the education system there. Um yeah, because we. And then training about like health and safety, so different things. Yeah. But it was two, yeah, two days a week, the technical, and then three the Spanish and cultural training.

[Assistant] Three months of that.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Skills?

[Assistant] Yeah, or things that they wanted to impart with you?

[User] Yeah, so for us, for example, we had to go to schools sometimes and do like little workshops and practice. So because I know other groups now, they usually have like TEFL and SED together. But for my cohort it was just youth development, so we would just always be together, except for Spanish class. But they did some specific training to us, like really regarding like the youth resources that were in Costa Rica, going to schools, getting, you know, but getting to know the education system there. Um yeah, because we. And then training about like health and safety, so different things. Yeah. But it was two, yeah, two days a week, the technical, and then three the Spanish and cultural training.

[Assistant] Three months of that.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] Did you guys, while you were in training, did you get any breaks where you can just go off and have fun with your friends or anything? Like for the weekend or anything like that?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] Did you guys, while you were in training, did you get any breaks where you can just go off and have fun with your friends or anything? Like for the weekend or anything like that?

[User] Depending on your host family, because we were like, we didn't have much money, right? So I think and we did sometimes went to like the river or just like something close, but we were just so exhausted that we didn't do anything like. We did travel after training, though, and we were like more relaxed. But in training, it was just like, it was so much time. We just exhausted on the weekend. So it depended really on your host family because my host family, they did that sometimes, so I would just go out with them. But I think as a group in training, we probably maybe went out like no more than four times, which sucks. Because also they scared us and they were like, you should not go out and you should not drink. Literally, they say no. Apparently, because other groups, they ruined it for us. So we were good, a good group. We didn't go out. Because we had a lot of bars there. We could go out after training. That was the thing, apparently, but we were like, scared. We were like, oh, I don't think we should go because we're going to be those people.

[Assistant] And maybe that was one of the advantages of staying with a host family rather than everybody staying in a barracks or something because you would spend the evenings with your family instead of just hanging out at the bar with the rest of the group.

[User] Yes. Yeah. So it was a lot of hanging out with their host families, for sure.

[Assistant] And then so you finished training and then where was your assignment?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yes. Yeah. So it was a lot of hanging out with their host families, for sure.

[Assistant] And then so you finished training and then where was your assignment?

[User] So I was assigned in a province called Guanacaste, and that was the place I wanted to go. So I was like, really thankful for that. It was a rural, semi-rural community about like two thousand people and it was, in a bus, it was maybe like five hours away from the capital, so it wasn't that bad. And it was like one bus that I only had to take. So that was an advantage. And I was, yeah, I arrived there with another host family and I was like, uh, because I had fun with my host family. But like, you had to live six months now with your host family before you could live by yourself.

[Assistant] OK. But later on, you were allowed to live by yourself?

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] And why was that? Was it for safety?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] So I was assigned in a province called Guanacaste, and that was the place I wanted to go. So I was like, really thankful for that. It was a rural, semi-rural community about like two thousand people and it was, in a bus, it was maybe like five hours away from the capital, so it wasn't that bad. And it was like one bus that I only had to take. So that was an advantage. And I was, yeah, I arrived there with another host family and I was like, uh, because I had fun with my host family. But like, you had to live six months now with your host family before you could live by yourself.

[Assistant] OK. But later on, you were allowed to live by yourself?

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] And why was that? Was it for safety?

[User] Apparently, yeah. Yeah, they were super straight with that because I know some volunteers wanted to live by themselves, like after three months, and they said no. That was, I was also lucky and I had a good host family. But I'm an adult. I wanted to live by myself and they were so strict about that. But anyway, I lived with them the six months and then they had like a small apartment like behind their house. I just moved there. But I needed to wait six months, which was insane. But my host mom cooked for me every day. That was fun. I was definitely spoiled for sure, and I had Wi-Fi, that was pretty fancy. And also a bike. Um, but it was super hot. Guanacaste is dry and it's hot and it's weird weather.

[Assistant] So it wasn't coastal?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] And why was that? Was it for safety?

[User] Apparently, yeah. Yeah, they were super straight with that because I know some volunteers wanted to live by themselves, like after three months, and they said no. That was, I was also lucky and I had a good host family. But I'm an adult. I wanted to live by myself and they were so strict about that. But anyway, I lived with them the six months and then they had like a small apartment like behind their house. I just moved there. But I needed to wait six months, which was insane. But my host mom cooked for me every day. That was fun. I was definitely spoiled for sure, and I had Wi-Fi, that was pretty fancy. And also a bike. Um, but it was super hot. Guanacaste is dry and it's hot and it's weird weather.

[Assistant] So it wasn't coastal?

[User] Uh, it was. No, it wasn't coastal, no. But I wasn't that far from the beach though. Like if I could go to the mountains I could probably see the beach. So in a bus? Yeah.

[Assistant] So you say the town was about two thousand people. What were the houses like? Were they modern houses? Electricity and running water?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Uh, it was. No, it wasn't coastal, no. But I wasn't that far from the beach though. Like if I could go to the mountains I could probably see the beach. So in a bus? Yeah.

[Assistant] So you say the town was about two thousand people. What were the houses like? Were they modern houses? Electricity and running water?

[User] Most of them, they did. I think where I lived, most of the houses were right. It was more like an outside of where I lived, that they were in more like poverty, but where I lived. It was like this town, the center of town, so houses were pretty normal. Water, people have Wi-Fi, you know. I would say, like medium, how do you say like? Many class?

[Assistant] Middle class?

[User] Middle class, yeah, it was middle class for sure.

[Assistant] And then did you work at a school or you were assigned to a school?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Most of them, they did. I think where I lived, most of the houses were right. It was more like an outside of where I lived, that they were in more like poverty, but where I lived. It was like this town, the center of town, so houses were pretty normal. Water, people have Wi-Fi, you know. I would say, like medium, how do you say like? Many class?

[Assistant] Middle class?

[User] Middle class, yeah, it was middle class for sure.

[Assistant] And then did you work at a school or you were assigned to a school?

[User] So all of us had partners, project partners, in schools. I worked in a high school.

[Assistant] A local counterpart?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] So all of us had partners, project partners, in schools. I worked in a high school.

[Assistant] A local counterpart?

[User] So I work in the local high school and then we were free to choose our project partners. So we were free to choose other partners, and honestly, my school was not pretty. It was.

[Assistant] Pretty?

[User] Yeah, my school was not pretty, and also I thought. So Peace Corps, my service description when I applied, it didn't say you're going to be working in a school, that's going to be your thing. It said. I applied for a position in sexual education because that was my experience in. So literally, nowhere there it says you're going to be working in a high school. And I think we all say that like, hey, we were not expecting to work in a high school most of the time. So, and they admit that, OK, that's our fault, because that was their expectation of, like, we needed to work.

[Assistant] Where did you think you were going to work?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah. But I reached out to other project partners, and then I mostly worked with the local woman's office. They had a woman's office there, and I love her so much. Flordelis. She's my best friend, too. I still talk to her. I was talking to her like two days ago. Um, she was my main project partner because I loved more doing stuff for like community, you know, I think cause the school environment there, it was toxic. It wasn't. It wasn't really good. I don't know. Like they were not, they didn't understand sustainable change. They didn't understand peace and justice and all of that.

[Assistant] Are you talking about the faculty, the students?

[User] The faculty. I think the students were fine. I mean, you know, like any other teenager. But I think the faculty were not committed to just creating sustainable change, committed to life skills, to self-esteem, and to mental health and to supporting their students more than just beside academically. I don't think. And of course, I know now most of the things, I know better now. But back then I was trying to. It was a little frustrating because I was, I don't know, I didn't know what to do. I was younger and I was, I didn't. I wasn't expecting for me, literally, having to take the lead on everything. But that's basically what you have to do when you get in, you have to be confident and move people around. But I didn't know better. Now I know better. But yeah, I think my. So I kept working with a high school, but I think what I enjoy the most was working with the community, working with the woman's office, with the local clinic, health clinic. I think those were great project partners.

[Assistant] OK, so you kind of expanded your scope?

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] And you just found out about these things and started doing them.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] The faculty. I think the students were fine. I mean, you know, like any other teenager. But I think the faculty were not committed to just creating sustainable change, committed to life skills, to self-esteem, and to mental health and to supporting their students more than just beside academically. I don't think. And of course, I know now most of the things, I know better now. But back then I was trying to. It was a little frustrating because I was, I don't know, I didn't know what to do. I was younger and I was, I didn't. I wasn't expecting for me, literally, having to take the lead on everything. But that's basically what you have to do when you get in, you have to be confident and move people around. But I didn't know better. Now I know better. But yeah, I think my. So I kept working with a high school, but I think what I enjoy the most was working with the community, working with the woman's office, with the local clinic, health clinic. I think those were great project partners.

[Assistant] OK, so you kind of expanded your scope?

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] And you just found out about these things and started doing them.

[User] Yeah, I think most of my meaningful work were with the other organizations because it was. And it was funny because all of the other. It was a small town, so everyone knew each other, so we would meet. They had like a local network that will meet like every twice a month or something from service providers for that community. And we were all frustrated with the high school because they, the high school, it was just, it wasn't a good environment to work in, like the faculty that were not committed. And then the principal got changed and the new principal came in and he does not care about life skills at all. He does care about grades.

[Assistant] But this being kind of a middle class community, people were literate?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah, I think most of my meaningful work were with the other organizations because it was. And it was funny because all of the other. It was a small town, so everyone knew each other, so we would meet. They had like a local network that will meet like every twice a month or something from service providers for that community. And we were all frustrated with the high school because they, the high school, it was just, it wasn't a good environment to work in, like the faculty that were not committed. And then the principal got changed and the new principal came in and he does not care about life skills at all. He does care about grades.

[Assistant] But this being kind of a middle class community, people were literate?

[User] Yeah, yeah. And maybe middle class, I wouldn't maybe use that word because we have a different understanding in the U.S., but I think for Costa Rica, middle class meant that they were not hungry.

[Assistant] Hmm.

[User] Um, that they could go to school and have shoes, you know?

[Assistant] They were going to school and their parents probably went to school.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah, yeah. And maybe middle class, I wouldn't maybe use that word because we have a different understanding in the U.S., but I think for Costa Rica, middle class meant that they were not hungry.

[Assistant] Hmm.

[User] Um, that they could go to school and have shoes, you know?

[Assistant] They were going to school and their parents probably went to school.

[User] One of their parents went to school, but none of the parents actually went to college, for example, and maybe one of them worked. The other one didn't work. So, yeah, it's not the same understanding we have here. But people like, yeah, they have food on the table. Maybe one of them had a car. If not, they were going to take the bus. That's normal. But yeah, I was disappointed with my high school. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to do. I was like, how do I make these people want to take on this, right? Because the idea is for it to be sustainable. Like I could do many things and I did many workshops at first because they just wanted to me to do workshops, but then I was like, OK, this is not going to be sustainable because I'm going to leave.

[Assistant] When you leave, then what happens?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Um, that they could go to school and have shoes, you know?

[Assistant] They were going to school and their parents probably went to school.

[User] One of their parents went to school, but none of the parents actually went to college, for example, and maybe one of them worked. The other one didn't work. So, yeah, it's not the same understanding we have here. But people like, yeah, they have food on the table. Maybe one of them had a car. If not, they were going to take the bus. That's normal. But yeah, I was disappointed with my high school. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to do. I was like, how do I make these people want to take on this, right? Because the idea is for it to be sustainable. Like I could do many things and I did many workshops at first because they just wanted to me to do workshops, but then I was like, OK, this is not going to be sustainable because I'm going to leave.

[Assistant] When you leave, then what happens?

[User] What happens? And I think Peace Corps and my training did emphasize that sustainable, sustainable. But it's hard to create sustainable projects with. Also because I was young, I was a woman, and they don't take us as seriously. I think a guy's experience is different than girls' because I talked with my friends and they were like, we just go there and professors are harassing us and trying to like, you know, be cute with us and flirting. Really, I don't. I'm not. I don't. I'm not here for that. So it was being a girl, being young, being 21, 22. It was difficult for them to get me seriously and in the high school environment, though, because I feel like outside it was different. Like, I don't know. Yeah, it was different for other service providers than the high school.

[Assistant] So what were these other groups that you got involved with?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] One of their parents went to school, but none of the parents actually went to college, for example, and maybe one of them worked. The other one didn't work. So, yeah, it's not the same understanding we have here. But people like, yeah, they have food on the table. Maybe one of them had a car. If not, they were going to take the bus. That's normal. But yeah, I was disappointed with my high school. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to do. I was like, how do I make these people want to take on this, right? Because the idea is for it to be sustainable. Like I could do many things and I did many workshops at first because they just wanted to me to do workshops, but then I was like, OK, this is not going to be sustainable because I'm going to leave.

[Assistant] When you leave, then what happens?

[User] What happens? And I think Peace Corps and my training did emphasize that sustainable, sustainable. But it's hard to create sustainable projects with. Also because I was young, I was a woman, and they don't take us as seriously. I think a guy's experience is different than girls' because I talked with my friends and they were like, we just go there and professors are harassing us and trying to like, you know, be cute with us and flirting. Really, I don't. I'm not. I don't. I'm not here for that. So it was being a girl, being young, being 21, 22. It was difficult for them to get me seriously and in the high school environment, though, because I feel like outside it was different. Like, I don't know. Yeah, it was different for other service providers than the high school.

[Assistant] So what were these other groups that you got involved with?

[User] So, for example, the woman's office, the local clinic. Uh, I'm trying to remember their names. The municipality, the local municipality there.

[Assistant] Which would be like the city government?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] What happens? And I think Peace Corps and my training did emphasize that sustainable, sustainable. But it's hard to create sustainable projects with. Also because I was young, I was a woman, and they don't take us as seriously. I think a guy's experience is different than girls' because I talked with my friends and they were like, we just go there and professors are harassing us and trying to like, you know, be cute with us and flirting. Really, I don't. I'm not. I don't. I'm not here for that. So it was being a girl, being young, being 21, 22. It was difficult for them to get me seriously and in the high school environment, though, because I feel like outside it was different. Like, I don't know. Yeah, it was different for other service providers than the high school.

[Assistant] So what were these other groups that you got involved with?

[User] So, for example, the woman's office, the local clinic. Uh, I'm trying to remember their names. The municipality, the local municipality there.

[Assistant] Which would be like the city government?

[User] Yeah, yeah. Um, the different like spiritual groups and another, what was it called? Just any service provider. It was so many, any service the city would get. I would just go with once, you know, to their meeting and check it out. And it was cool because that was part of this network. But I forgot who their leaders, what's the name? But the network that I was working with that was like the hub for every service provider. So I was aware of what was happening locally, and we were all literally just trying to work in the high school because it was so difficult. So that was interesting.

[Assistant] And you stayed there for your entire service?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] So, for example, the woman's office, the local clinic. Uh, I'm trying to remember their names. The municipality, the local municipality there.

[Assistant] Which would be like the city government?

[User] Yeah, yeah. Um, the different like spiritual groups and another, what was it called? Just any service provider. It was so many, any service the city would get. I would just go with once, you know, to their meeting and check it out. And it was cool because that was part of this network. But I forgot who their leaders, what's the name? But the network that I was working with that was like the hub for every service provider. So I was aware of what was happening locally, and we were all literally just trying to work in the high school because it was so difficult. So that was interesting.

[Assistant] And you stayed there for your entire service?

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] At the same school?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah, yeah. Um, the different like spiritual groups and another, what was it called? Just any service provider. It was so many, any service the city would get. I would just go with once, you know, to their meeting and check it out. And it was cool because that was part of this network. But I forgot who their leaders, what's the name? But the network that I was working with that was like the hub for every service provider. So I was aware of what was happening locally, and we were all literally just trying to work in the high school because it was so difficult. So that was interesting.

[Assistant] And you stayed there for your entire service?

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] At the same school?

[User] Yes. But I divided my, I went to the high school like two days a week and then two other days to the municipality and then the woman's office.

[Assistant] OK, so you were free to do that?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] At the same school?

[User] Yes. But I divided my, I went to the high school like two days a week and then two other days to the municipality and then the woman's office.

[Assistant] OK, so you were free to do that?

[User] Yeah. That was amazing. Yeah, they gave me. They were like, as long as you go like at least one or two days at the high school, we will be good with that. So I liked that flexibility that I could just create my own schedule. I think that was nice and focus on the things that I like more. Because I'm still a human being, you know? Because it's funny because like, you go there and I feel like people don't think you have needs and people just talk to me about themselves. And but I was, for me to take care of myself will be just doing the things that I want to do, that I enjoyed, which was mainly working with a woman's office, with a health clinic. Because I think, in my experience, it's so easy to get lost in their culture, right? Because that's where we were for there to build relationships and cross-cultural experience. But I think at one point it was just overwhelming because sometimes people would say, hi, you know, but they don't really sit with you. How are you doing? Right? They don't. Yeah, they don't see that. They just think we're just there to work and work and provide things for them. So that was interesting.

[Assistant] You must have developed some personal relationships with people.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yes. But I divided my, I went to the high school like two days a week and then two other days to the municipality and then the woman's office.

[Assistant] OK, so you were free to do that?

[User] Yeah. That was amazing. Yeah, they gave me. They were like, as long as you go like at least one or two days at the high school, we will be good with that. So I liked that flexibility that I could just create my own schedule. I think that was nice and focus on the things that I like more. Because I'm still a human being, you know? Because it's funny because like, you go there and I feel like people don't think you have needs and people just talk to me about themselves. And but I was, for me to take care of myself will be just doing the things that I want to do, that I enjoyed, which was mainly working with a woman's office, with a health clinic. Because I think, in my experience, it's so easy to get lost in their culture, right? Because that's where we were for there to build relationships and cross-cultural experience. But I think at one point it was just overwhelming because sometimes people would say, hi, you know, but they don't really sit with you. How are you doing? Right? They don't. Yeah, they don't see that. They just think we're just there to work and work and provide things for them. So that was interesting.

[Assistant] You must have developed some personal relationships with people.

[User] Oh yeah.

[Assistant] Some of these people you worked with and made a lot of friends there.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah. That was amazing. Yeah, they gave me. They were like, as long as you go like at least one or two days at the high school, we will be good with that. So I liked that flexibility that I could just create my own schedule. I think that was nice and focus on the things that I like more. Because I'm still a human being, you know? Because it's funny because like, you go there and I feel like people don't think you have needs and people just talk to me about themselves. And but I was, for me to take care of myself will be just doing the things that I want to do, that I enjoyed, which was mainly working with a woman's office, with a health clinic. Because I think, in my experience, it's so easy to get lost in their culture, right? Because that's where we were for there to build relationships and cross-cultural experience. But I think at one point it was just overwhelming because sometimes people would say, hi, you know, but they don't really sit with you. How are you doing? Right? They don't. Yeah, they don't see that. They just think we're just there to work and work and provide things for them. So that was interesting.

[Assistant] You must have developed some personal relationships with people.

[User] Oh yeah.

[Assistant] Some of these people you worked with and made a lot of friends there.

[User] For sure. I mean, that was the most important thing. If you tell me Peace Corps relationships, I built so many amazing, long lasting relationships. Like I'm going to go to a wedding on Christmas of one of my friends. So I definitely got to know so amazing people that it was just like, people that basically adopted me as their daughter. And that's super meaningful.

[Assistant] Well, that's not an uncommon that people maybe don't find their job so rewarding.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Oh yeah.

[Assistant] Some of these people you worked with and made a lot of friends there.

[User] For sure. I mean, that was the most important thing. If you tell me Peace Corps relationships, I built so many amazing, long lasting relationships. Like I'm going to go to a wedding on Christmas of one of my friends. So I definitely got to know so amazing people that it was just like, people that basically adopted me as their daughter. And that's super meaningful.

[Assistant] Well, that's not an uncommon that people maybe don't find their job so rewarding.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] But the relationships they build with the people in the community are what really has the lasting impact.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] For sure. I mean, that was the most important thing. If you tell me Peace Corps relationships, I built so many amazing, long lasting relationships. Like I'm going to go to a wedding on Christmas of one of my friends. So I definitely got to know so amazing people that it was just like, people that basically adopted me as their daughter. And that's super meaningful.

[Assistant] Well, that's not an uncommon that people maybe don't find their job so rewarding.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] But the relationships they build with the people in the community are what really has the lasting impact.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] So that's how you felt?


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah.

[Assistant] So that's how you felt?

[User] For sure. For sure. And I think maybe my work, I wasn't like, if you asked me, were you satisfied with your work, professional aspect of the service? And I'm like, you know, I've learned to be satisfied now because I feel like I wanted to do so many things that I couldn't do. But I think I'm at peace with it now. And I'm like, you know, you never know that people that you influence, right? The people that you said something that it's going to stick to them forever.

[Assistant] Right.

[User] So I just humble myself and I'm like, do you define your own success? And if I'm defining my success was in building those relationships that I know they're going to last forever. Yeah.

[Assistant] Now you didn't look and talk like these other Peace Corps volunteers that came from the continental United States.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] For sure. For sure. And I think maybe my work, I wasn't like, if you asked me, were you satisfied with your work, professional aspect of the service? And I'm like, you know, I've learned to be satisfied now because I feel like I wanted to do so many things that I couldn't do. But I think I'm at peace with it now. And I'm like, you know, you never know that people that you influence, right? The people that you said something that it's going to stick to them forever.

[Assistant] Right.

[User] So I just humble myself and I'm like, do you define your own success? And if I'm defining my success was in building those relationships that I know they're going to last forever. Yeah.

[Assistant] Now you didn't look and talk like these other Peace Corps volunteers that came from the continental United States.

[User] Yeah, I don't have blue eyes.

[Assistant] So do think you think you were, were you treated a little differently you think? Or maybe they had trouble understanding why you were there.


[System] Act as an information elicitation agent for oral history.

[User] Yeah, I don't have blue eyes.

[Assistant] So do think you think you were, were you treated a little differently you think? Or maybe they had trouble understanding why you were there.

[User] You know, definitely they expect when they think about Americans, they expect someone who has blue eyes, blond hair. But they didn't treat me differently. They were excited that I was from Puerto Rico because it was Latin America, and Puerto Rico was known for the music, right? We have a lot of artists, so they knew what Puerto Rico was and they thought I knew all the artists. So it was fun. Then they always tell me, oh, you have such a beautiful accent. Like, how is your country? How does your island look and how is the culture there? So I think they were excited to get to know me. So that was fun. Um, but yeah, I don't think I got really like, oh Nina, she's not a gringa or an American. I think they were kind of excited to get to know me. So that was fun. They always make fun of my accent.

[Assistant] Really?

[User] Yeah, for sure. Um, so but they didn't treat me with the magic that they treat the blue-eyed people, right? Like, they're like, excited about my own culture. But I think in that they forgot that I was coming from the Peace Corps, which is a U.S. program, you know? Yeah. They were like, oh, you're just one person that's here to work, you know? Yeah, I don't think they treated me as the Peace Corps volunteer. They treat me as someone who is just there to work with them.

[Assistant] And so after your six months with the host family, you finally got your own house.