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

[User] Well, we had projects there at the camp. One group had raised chickens. And I can't for the life of me remember what my group did, but we weren't in charge of chickens. It may come to me as I think about it. We presented demonstrations on food, how to use powdered milk, for example, how to make useful things, maybe sewing, that sort of thing. We were supposed to do this in Spanish, so as time went on and it wasn't the first week, of course, but as time went on, we had little classes and we were in charge of presenting something.

[Assistant] So you'd work in small groups and you'd have to get up and do a presentation.

[User] Right. And of course, we had our duties at camp. We had to clean latrines. We had to sweep, you know, and we had, every day we had to get up very early. And a big guy named Al would wake us up by pounding on our door and we would do calisthenics and exercises in the dining hall. And then, if not every time we did this, almost every day we ran down to the other camp. Sometimes, not always, but we ran down to a particular point. I can't know how far the other camp was from our camp. And it was hilly, so we would run as far as we could or as far as they indicated we should try. And then sometimes we went down to the other camp, either if we ever ran all the way and then did this Outward Bound water work, but we got down to the other camp some way. And then they put us through some water challenges, and they, for example, would tie our hands and we had to swim across the water.

[Assistant] Drown proofing.

[User] Yes. And then they'd tie our feet, not our hands, and they tie both and we had to swim. And then we went out into the ocean cove, into a cove where we did some drown proofing one time or one or two times.

[Assistant] Through all this, how did you take to the physical training?


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

[User] Right. And of course, we had our duties at camp. We had to clean latrines. We had to sweep, you know, and we had, every day we had to get up very early. And a big guy named Al would wake us up by pounding on our door and we would do calisthenics and exercises in the dining hall. And then, if not every time we did this, almost every day we ran down to the other camp. Sometimes, not always, but we ran down to a particular point. I can't know how far the other camp was from our camp. And it was hilly, so we would run as far as we could or as far as they indicated we should try. And then sometimes we went down to the other camp, either if we ever ran all the way and then did this Outward Bound water work, but we got down to the other camp some way. And then they put us through some water challenges, and they, for example, would tie our hands and we had to swim across the water.

[Assistant] Drown proofing.

[User] Yes. And then they'd tie our feet, not our hands, and they tie both and we had to swim. And then we went out into the ocean cove, into a cove where we did some drown proofing one time or one or two times.

[Assistant] Through all this, how did you take to the physical training?

[User] Good. Fine. I was always physically active and strong and had worked outside a lot.

[Assistant] And how about others in the group?


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

[User] Yes. And then they'd tie our feet, not our hands, and they tie both and we had to swim. And then we went out into the ocean cove, into a cove where we did some drown proofing one time or one or two times.

[Assistant] Through all this, how did you take to the physical training?

[User] Good. Fine. I was always physically active and strong and had worked outside a lot.

[Assistant] And how about others in the group?

[User] Seemingly OK. I mean, I don't recall. There may have been some. Now we did some rappelling off of the rocks, which I enjoyed, frankly, it was fun. And, you know, I can't remember if some weren't able to do it. Some may have been afraid. I just I don't recall. I don't know that anybody particularly stood out.

[Assistant] That brings up the other aspect of training that may have been at play. Was there a selection process going on?


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

[User] Good. Fine. I was always physically active and strong and had worked outside a lot.

[Assistant] And how about others in the group?

[User] Seemingly OK. I mean, I don't recall. There may have been some. Now we did some rappelling off of the rocks, which I enjoyed, frankly, it was fun. And, you know, I can't remember if some weren't able to do it. Some may have been afraid. I just I don't recall. I don't know that anybody particularly stood out.

[Assistant] That brings up the other aspect of training that may have been at play. Was there a selection process going on?

[User] Yes. Yes.

[Assistant] Do you recall that?


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

[User] Seemingly OK. I mean, I don't recall. There may have been some. Now we did some rappelling off of the rocks, which I enjoyed, frankly, it was fun. And, you know, I can't remember if some weren't able to do it. Some may have been afraid. I just I don't recall. I don't know that anybody particularly stood out.

[Assistant] That brings up the other aspect of training that may have been at play. Was there a selection process going on?

[User] Yes. Yes.

[Assistant] Do you recall that?

[User] We had at that time, regular, probably weekly, I'm not real sure, interviews with a psychologist.

[Assistant] Mm hmm. One on one?


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

[User] We had at that time, regular, probably weekly, I'm not real sure, interviews with a psychologist.

[Assistant] Mm hmm. One on one?

[User] One on one.

[Assistant] OK.

[User] One on one. It may not have been as frequently as once a week. He probably came down once a month, but it seemed like it was once a week.

[Assistant] Do you recall your interviews?


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

[User] One on one. It may not have been as frequently as once a week. He probably came down once a month, but it seemed like it was once a week.

[Assistant] Do you recall your interviews?

[User] I do. I do. Probably I was scared to death, obviously, because, you know, here's this little northwest Iowa girl, you know, and here's this psychologist. And this has something to do with whether I'll get to go or not, you know? Um, but it seemed to work out OK, and I'm sure language was part of that, I mean. And you know, your personality, how you interact with everybody else. And um.

[Assistant] Go ahead.

[User] Well, it's hard to know, frankly, in those days what they were looking for in a volunteer because I'm not sure that they knew either what they were looking for. Plus, the Dominican Republic had an extra, there was a special problem there. There had a revolution that just happened.

[Assistant] While you were in Puerto Rico?


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

[User] I do. I do. Probably I was scared to death, obviously, because, you know, here's this little northwest Iowa girl, you know, and here's this psychologist. And this has something to do with whether I'll get to go or not, you know? Um, but it seemed to work out OK, and I'm sure language was part of that, I mean. And you know, your personality, how you interact with everybody else. And um.

[Assistant] Go ahead.

[User] Well, it's hard to know, frankly, in those days what they were looking for in a volunteer because I'm not sure that they knew either what they were looking for. Plus, the Dominican Republic had an extra, there was a special problem there. There had a revolution that just happened.

[Assistant] While you were in Puerto Rico?

[User] Well, earlier in '65. And so the United Nations Peacekeeping Force was there, which included a large number of American marines. So we knew that we were being sent into an unstable situation.

[Assistant] Now this all emerged in Puerto Rico?


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

[User] Well, it's hard to know, frankly, in those days what they were looking for in a volunteer because I'm not sure that they knew either what they were looking for. Plus, the Dominican Republic had an extra, there was a special problem there. There had a revolution that just happened.

[Assistant] While you were in Puerto Rico?

[User] Well, earlier in '65. And so the United Nations Peacekeeping Force was there, which included a large number of American marines. So we knew that we were being sent into an unstable situation.

[Assistant] Now this all emerged in Puerto Rico?

[User] Well, you know, I can't remember how much we knew or how much I knew.

[Assistant] Because most of you would not be following affairs in Dominican Republic, I mean.


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

[User] Well, earlier in '65. And so the United Nations Peacekeeping Force was there, which included a large number of American marines. So we knew that we were being sent into an unstable situation.

[Assistant] Now this all emerged in Puerto Rico?

[User] Well, you know, I can't remember how much we knew or how much I knew.

[Assistant] Because most of you would not be following affairs in Dominican Republic, I mean.

[User] Not, well, we might have if we knew that, that's where we were to be assigned.

[Assistant] Oh, right, OK.


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

[User] Well, you know, I can't remember how much we knew or how much I knew.

[Assistant] Because most of you would not be following affairs in Dominican Republic, I mean.

[User] Not, well, we might have if we knew that, that's where we were to be assigned.

[Assistant] Oh, right, OK.

[User] We might have. Can I remember that I went to the New York? No, I didn't go the New York Times. I'm sure I didn't, because that just wasn't in my array of choices. I'm sorry. I mean, I'm not saying that. Some probably were more informed than others. But we did have a lot of classes where we learned about the history of the country and about the politics of the country. Who is who, what newspapers were there, what they stood for, who had been the leaders. What happened after Trujillo, who had been the dictator, was killed, you know, and why the country was so unstable. What we could expect, that we were not to fraternize with American troops, and why.

[Assistant] Right. But whoever was lecturing expressed the confidence that it was appropriate for you to go there and work in community development?


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

[User] We might have. Can I remember that I went to the New York? No, I didn't go the New York Times. I'm sure I didn't, because that just wasn't in my array of choices. I'm sorry. I mean, I'm not saying that. Some probably were more informed than others. But we did have a lot of classes where we learned about the history of the country and about the politics of the country. Who is who, what newspapers were there, what they stood for, who had been the leaders. What happened after Trujillo, who had been the dictator, was killed, you know, and why the country was so unstable. What we could expect, that we were not to fraternize with American troops, and why.

[Assistant] Right. But whoever was lecturing expressed the confidence that it was appropriate for you to go there and work in community development?

[User] And that it would be safe, that it would be safe. Yes. Well, that was my perception anyway.

[Assistant] Well, yeah.

[User] And they were, I think I got the sense that they were watching the situation. You know, that they were constantly monitoring what was happening. And we had a library there in the camp where we could go and read the newspapers.

[Assistant] During this time, did anyone from, was Peace Corps already in Dominican Republic?


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

[User] And that it would be safe, that it would be safe. Yes. Well, that was my perception anyway.

[Assistant] Well, yeah.

[User] And they were, I think I got the sense that they were watching the situation. You know, that they were constantly monitoring what was happening. And we had a library there in the camp where we could go and read the newspapers.

[Assistant] During this time, did anyone from, was Peace Corps already in Dominican Republic?

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] And had they pulled out at the time of the revolution or stayed?


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

[User] And they were, I think I got the sense that they were watching the situation. You know, that they were constantly monitoring what was happening. And we had a library there in the camp where we could go and read the newspapers.

[Assistant] During this time, did anyone from, was Peace Corps already in Dominican Republic?

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] And had they pulled out at the time of the revolution or stayed?

[User] Well, they did not pull out. They brought, um, they consolidated. I think the Peace Corps office might have been cut off. The rebels overtook some part of the capital city. And they might, Peace Corps office might have been cut off at that point, and they talked about having to get some volunteers, I won't say rescue, but bring some volunteers from an area that wasn't safe into an area that was. And as far as being out in the rural areas, I think most of the action was in the capital city. And so that's probably, the volunteers there were in most danger just because there was random shooting. Or not so random shooting.

[Assistant] Right. Did anyone from Peace Corps staff in Dominican Republic come to Puerto Rico to talk to you?


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

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] And had they pulled out at the time of the revolution or stayed?

[User] Well, they did not pull out. They brought, um, they consolidated. I think the Peace Corps office might have been cut off. The rebels overtook some part of the capital city. And they might, Peace Corps office might have been cut off at that point, and they talked about having to get some volunteers, I won't say rescue, but bring some volunteers from an area that wasn't safe into an area that was. And as far as being out in the rural areas, I think most of the action was in the capital city. And so that's probably, the volunteers there were in most danger just because there was random shooting. Or not so random shooting.

[Assistant] Right. Did anyone from Peace Corps staff in Dominican Republic come to Puerto Rico to talk to you?

[User] Good question.

[Assistant] Sort of firsthand.


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

[User] Well, they did not pull out. They brought, um, they consolidated. I think the Peace Corps office might have been cut off. The rebels overtook some part of the capital city. And they might, Peace Corps office might have been cut off at that point, and they talked about having to get some volunteers, I won't say rescue, but bring some volunteers from an area that wasn't safe into an area that was. And as far as being out in the rural areas, I think most of the action was in the capital city. And so that's probably, the volunteers there were in most danger just because there was random shooting. Or not so random shooting.

[Assistant] Right. Did anyone from Peace Corps staff in Dominican Republic come to Puerto Rico to talk to you?

[User] Good question.

[Assistant] Sort of firsthand.

[User] I'm trying to remember if, it would have been John Smith. He was the director in country, and I'm just trying to remember if he came to Puerto Rico. It seems like he did, but I can't remember him sitting, you know, you kind of think, well, now where was he? If he was there, where did he address us? Yeah, I just can't remember that he did. I just can't recall.

[Assistant] Let's go to the end of phase one of training. Was there any kind of selection board held at that point, sort of like a midpoint selection? Or was there a sense that everybody who was there was going to continue?


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

[User] Good question.

[Assistant] Sort of firsthand.

[User] I'm trying to remember if, it would have been John Smith. He was the director in country, and I'm just trying to remember if he came to Puerto Rico. It seems like he did, but I can't remember him sitting, you know, you kind of think, well, now where was he? If he was there, where did he address us? Yeah, I just can't remember that he did. I just can't recall.

[Assistant] Let's go to the end of phase one of training. Was there any kind of selection board held at that point, sort of like a midpoint selection? Or was there a sense that everybody who was there was going to continue?

[User] No. People were deselected all along the way. Well, I don't know during the first month.

[Assistant] But did they tend to disappear?


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

[User] I'm trying to remember if, it would have been John Smith. He was the director in country, and I'm just trying to remember if he came to Puerto Rico. It seems like he did, but I can't remember him sitting, you know, you kind of think, well, now where was he? If he was there, where did he address us? Yeah, I just can't remember that he did. I just can't recall.

[Assistant] Let's go to the end of phase one of training. Was there any kind of selection board held at that point, sort of like a midpoint selection? Or was there a sense that everybody who was there was going to continue?

[User] No. People were deselected all along the way. Well, I don't know during the first month.

[Assistant] But did they tend to disappear?

[User] Mm hmm. They sure did.

[Assistant] And talk about that.


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

[User] No. People were deselected all along the way. Well, I don't know during the first month.

[Assistant] But did they tend to disappear?

[User] Mm hmm. They sure did.

[Assistant] And talk about that.

[User] Well, probably most of that deselection happened toward the end, I would hope, I would think toward the end of time. And again, we probably assumed that much of it had to do with what was happening between us and the psychologist. That may not have been the case. But I can think of several men. There were no women deselected. I think there were only five or six of us in the group, frankly. Men who just were, you know, the rumor got around that they weren't going to be part of the group anymore or they weren't going in country.

[Assistant] Yeah. Did the group coalesce at all and react to this? I mean, protest or at least mutter about it?


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

[User] You know, we didn't. You know, we didn't.

[Assistant] OK.

[User] And I know that some training groups did.

[Assistant] Yeah, yeah.

[User] But there was no sense of, uh, thank you, being, um, irate. I think we probably just got quiet about it and wondered, you know, what was the reason? Why did they feel like these would not be suitable volunteers? Did it have to do with, what did it have to do with?

[Assistant] There were no explanations given that you recall?


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

[User] And I know that some training groups did.

[Assistant] Yeah, yeah.

[User] But there was no sense of, uh, thank you, being, um, irate. I think we probably just got quiet about it and wondered, you know, what was the reason? Why did they feel like these would not be suitable volunteers? Did it have to do with, what did it have to do with?

[Assistant] There were no explanations given that you recall?

[User] Not that I recall.

[Assistant] OK. How did you feel about the process? Did you feel pretty comfortable that you were going? You weren't going to be deselected, as they say?


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

[User] But there was no sense of, uh, thank you, being, um, irate. I think we probably just got quiet about it and wondered, you know, what was the reason? Why did they feel like these would not be suitable volunteers? Did it have to do with, what did it have to do with?

[Assistant] There were no explanations given that you recall?

[User] Not that I recall.

[Assistant] OK. How did you feel about the process? Did you feel pretty comfortable that you were going? You weren't going to be deselected, as they say?

[User] I guess I must have, but that may have just been in hindsight, I made it through. You know, I don't recall. I'm sure that everybody was a bit nervous. You know, I'll say this and you can do with it what you want. But it seems like there may have been some, maybe they always asked questions about gender preference in those days. Maybe they did. But it just seemed like there was some hunting for gender preference.

[Assistant] Yeah, I think you're right.


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

[User] Not that I recall.

[Assistant] OK. How did you feel about the process? Did you feel pretty comfortable that you were going? You weren't going to be deselected, as they say?

[User] I guess I must have, but that may have just been in hindsight, I made it through. You know, I don't recall. I'm sure that everybody was a bit nervous. You know, I'll say this and you can do with it what you want. But it seems like there may have been some, maybe they always asked questions about gender preference in those days. Maybe they did. But it just seemed like there was some hunting for gender preference.

[Assistant] Yeah, I think you're right.

[User] And it may have just been my perception and at that point in my life what did I know? And then in our culture, what did we know about gender preference in terms of a lifestyle, you know, or a choice or not a choice.

[Assistant] But you're right.


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

[User] I guess I must have, but that may have just been in hindsight, I made it through. You know, I don't recall. I'm sure that everybody was a bit nervous. You know, I'll say this and you can do with it what you want. But it seems like there may have been some, maybe they always asked questions about gender preference in those days. Maybe they did. But it just seemed like there was some hunting for gender preference.

[Assistant] Yeah, I think you're right.

[User] And it may have just been my perception and at that point in my life what did I know? And then in our culture, what did we know about gender preference in terms of a lifestyle, you know, or a choice or not a choice.

[Assistant] But you're right.

[User] It just seemed like to me that was because I know those questions were asked. Now I do remember. Oh, I know. One of the questions that the psychologist asked had to do with, uh, we must have had some kind of a class on the dangers of getting involved with a host country national. And so what I think his question had to do with what would I do if I was attracted to someone, a Dominican. And I think he was just checking that out in terms of, you know, my response, and did I think it was ever possible that that could happen? Because I think if you can entertain the possibility of it happening, you're a lot healthier, because it's just realistic to think that it could. So I must have answered it OK because.

[Assistant] Let's go to the second phase of training. You want to describe it, how it was organized and?


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

[User] Going out into the field and living with the family?

[Assistant] Yeah.

[User] Sure. In prior to that, one of the really, I guess it was fun and it was an adventure. And it was kind of scary too. All, there may have been six or seven women at that point. I'm not sure. There weren't any more than that. And we were taken out. And there had been several preliminary excursions into the wild, led by one of the trainers, where we would go out and we had to spend the night. We had to pitch our tent, spend the night, cook snails and eat them. Snails that we found on the ground, you know, land snails. Pretty much just stay out there by ourselves, not talk to anybody for that period of time. You know, there's something. And then let's say six, six, seven girls, women, young women were. We had backpacks and we were all outfitted with our boots and map, and we were taken out and dropped off at a certain point and we were supposed to find our way back to camp over a period of days. And not supposed to go to tiendas or little stores and buy food and all that kind of stuff. So that was quite an adventure. And it, you know, the adventure had to do with how well we were going to cooperate, who going to read the map, who's going to take orders, who's going to give orders.

[Assistant] Do you recall what role you played in the group?

[User] I probably was not a leader at that point in terms of saying, this is how we need to do it. You know, I had opinions, definitely. But you know, somebody else probably felt like they wanted to.

[Assistant] And I gather you did work your way back to camp.


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

[User] Sure. In prior to that, one of the really, I guess it was fun and it was an adventure. And it was kind of scary too. All, there may have been six or seven women at that point. I'm not sure. There weren't any more than that. And we were taken out. And there had been several preliminary excursions into the wild, led by one of the trainers, where we would go out and we had to spend the night. We had to pitch our tent, spend the night, cook snails and eat them. Snails that we found on the ground, you know, land snails. Pretty much just stay out there by ourselves, not talk to anybody for that period of time. You know, there's something. And then let's say six, six, seven girls, women, young women were. We had backpacks and we were all outfitted with our boots and map, and we were taken out and dropped off at a certain point and we were supposed to find our way back to camp over a period of days. And not supposed to go to tiendas or little stores and buy food and all that kind of stuff. So that was quite an adventure. And it, you know, the adventure had to do with how well we were going to cooperate, who going to read the map, who's going to take orders, who's going to give orders.

[Assistant] Do you recall what role you played in the group?

[User] I probably was not a leader at that point in terms of saying, this is how we need to do it. You know, I had opinions, definitely. But you know, somebody else probably felt like they wanted to.

[Assistant] And I gather you did work your way back to camp.

[User] We got back to camp. Saw some beautiful country, didn't get the disease that snails in that country transmit through the water, bilharzia.

[Assistant] Oh, OK. Yeah. Did any of the six sort of indicate they were very uncomfortable with what was happening or?


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

[User] We got back to camp. Saw some beautiful country, didn't get the disease that snails in that country transmit through the water, bilharzia.

[Assistant] Oh, OK. Yeah. Did any of the six sort of indicate they were very uncomfortable with what was happening or?

[User] I don't think so. There was no, you know, there was no great emotional upheaval in any of us. No, I don't think so. At least that's not my recollection.

[Assistant] Sure.

[User] I just knew we got back, and I remember the beautiful, beautiful landscapes in Puerto Rico and the beautiful streams and finding scorpions in our sleeping quarters and things like that.

[Assistant] So, yeah, tell me about the family stay. How was that organized?


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

[User] Well, they had evidently, the staff and Peace Corps there at the training centers, had gone out and had located families, and they may have used them before, although I don't know if they had or not. And I was assigned to a family in the southwest part of the island.

[Assistant] Alone?

[User] Alone. Mm hmm. And it was parents and two boys, I believe, two early teenage boys. And the mother had cancer. So anyway. And it was not too far from the Presbyterian mission. It's called El Guacio. And so my jumping off point was that mission. So I was able to, I must have been dropped off there. Don't remember how I got there. But I could. And there was another volunteer with me who was going to go somewhere else in that southwest corner.

[Assistant] OK.

[User] But I never saw him after that. So I was trying to think of the name of the town. San Sebastian was the town, but we weren't in town. We were out in the country, out on a farm, little farm place. So I was able to stay at El Guacio that first night probably. And then I walked. I don't know how far I walked. I just remember that it was muddy and the dirt was red and I had white shoes. That dirt never came off. That red never came off. Funny recollection. But anyway, I found my way to their house. I don't know how I.

[Assistant] So you had the name and?


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

[User] Alone. Mm hmm. And it was parents and two boys, I believe, two early teenage boys. And the mother had cancer. So anyway. And it was not too far from the Presbyterian mission. It's called El Guacio. And so my jumping off point was that mission. So I was able to, I must have been dropped off there. Don't remember how I got there. But I could. And there was another volunteer with me who was going to go somewhere else in that southwest corner.

[Assistant] OK.

[User] But I never saw him after that. So I was trying to think of the name of the town. San Sebastian was the town, but we weren't in town. We were out in the country, out on a farm, little farm place. So I was able to stay at El Guacio that first night probably. And then I walked. I don't know how far I walked. I just remember that it was muddy and the dirt was red and I had white shoes. That dirt never came off. That red never came off. Funny recollection. But anyway, I found my way to their house. I don't know how I.

[Assistant] So you had the name and?

[User] I must have had the name and more or less where it was located, and so I just.

[Assistant] Was it a couple or just the?


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

[User] But I never saw him after that. So I was trying to think of the name of the town. San Sebastian was the town, but we weren't in town. We were out in the country, out on a farm, little farm place. So I was able to stay at El Guacio that first night probably. And then I walked. I don't know how far I walked. I just remember that it was muddy and the dirt was red and I had white shoes. That dirt never came off. That red never came off. Funny recollection. But anyway, I found my way to their house. I don't know how I.

[Assistant] So you had the name and?

[User] I must have had the name and more or less where it was located, and so I just.

[Assistant] Was it a couple or just the?

[User] No, it was the couple, the parents and these two children. At least that, seemed like it was just those two boys.

[Assistant] At the end of phase one, had you had another language test? Do you recall?


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

[User] I must have had the name and more or less where it was located, and so I just.

[Assistant] Was it a couple or just the?

[User] No, it was the couple, the parents and these two children. At least that, seemed like it was just those two boys.

[Assistant] At the end of phase one, had you had another language test? Do you recall?

[User] You know, I can't remember. I can't remember at all.

[Assistant] So as you're walking through the mud to get to this, do you have any sense that you can speak Spanish?


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

[User] No, it was the couple, the parents and these two children. At least that, seemed like it was just those two boys.

[Assistant] At the end of phase one, had you had another language test? Do you recall?

[User] You know, I can't remember. I can't remember at all.

[Assistant] So as you're walking through the mud to get to this, do you have any sense that you can speak Spanish?

[User] Gosh, I don't know. Probably not. Probably, I probably I thought I could, and probably I thought I could understand a lot more than I was going to understand, frankly. I probably could not string a good sentence together because it was, you know, your fright level comes up when you think, I've got to make myself understood.

[Assistant] So how did it go with the?


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

[User] You know, I can't remember. I can't remember at all.

[Assistant] So as you're walking through the mud to get to this, do you have any sense that you can speak Spanish?

[User] Gosh, I don't know. Probably not. Probably, I probably I thought I could, and probably I thought I could understand a lot more than I was going to understand, frankly. I probably could not string a good sentence together because it was, you know, your fright level comes up when you think, I've got to make myself understood.

[Assistant] So how did it go with the?

[User] I guess it was OK, you know. It was good to have those two boys because, you know, there was a jukebox right there. They must have had a little dance place or something. So music was a common denominator and I learned, I got to learn a lot of songs. Some songs I still remember from that period of time, and songs are a good way to learn Spanish too. And so I learned to play dominoes with them.

[Assistant] And were you able to adjust to the food?


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

[User] Gosh, I don't know. Probably not. Probably, I probably I thought I could, and probably I thought I could understand a lot more than I was going to understand, frankly. I probably could not string a good sentence together because it was, you know, your fright level comes up when you think, I've got to make myself understood.

[Assistant] So how did it go with the?

[User] I guess it was OK, you know. It was good to have those two boys because, you know, there was a jukebox right there. They must have had a little dance place or something. So music was a common denominator and I learned, I got to learn a lot of songs. Some songs I still remember from that period of time, and songs are a good way to learn Spanish too. And so I learned to play dominoes with them.

[Assistant] And were you able to adjust to the food?

[User] Yes. Didn't get sick. Not every day, but many days I would walk. I would, she would pack some kind of a little lunch, I guess, or a drink anyway. I would take orange juice. And I remember that sometimes the orange juice had ants in it because there were ants in the sugar or lemonade or something. So I can remember that experience. But I could walk, I don't remember how far, quite a ways, but I could walk to a town, a pretty good sized town. And so either out in the country or in town, probably was out in the country, I met a home demonstration agent, Puerto Rican, who was teaching different types of sewing.

[Assistant] Did you know she was there?


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

[User] I guess it was OK, you know. It was good to have those two boys because, you know, there was a jukebox right there. They must have had a little dance place or something. So music was a common denominator and I learned, I got to learn a lot of songs. Some songs I still remember from that period of time, and songs are a good way to learn Spanish too. And so I learned to play dominoes with them.

[Assistant] And were you able to adjust to the food?

[User] Yes. Didn't get sick. Not every day, but many days I would walk. I would, she would pack some kind of a little lunch, I guess, or a drink anyway. I would take orange juice. And I remember that sometimes the orange juice had ants in it because there were ants in the sugar or lemonade or something. So I can remember that experience. But I could walk, I don't remember how far, quite a ways, but I could walk to a town, a pretty good sized town. And so either out in the country or in town, probably was out in the country, I met a home demonstration agent, Puerto Rican, who was teaching different types of sewing.

[Assistant] Did you know she was there?

[User] No, I just can't remember how I even met her, or maybe I met her in somebody else's house. I think I must have, I must have been visiting because I had some sense that. See, we were supposed to, we had a project out there. Well, we were supposed to assess the community, you know, not formally, but informally assess the community, figure out what their felt needs were, what their real needs were in terms of something grandiose.

[Assistant] In two weeks?


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

[User] No, I just can't remember how I even met her, or maybe I met her in somebody else's house. I think I must have, I must have been visiting because I had some sense that. See, we were supposed to, we had a project out there. Well, we were supposed to assess the community, you know, not formally, but informally assess the community, figure out what their felt needs were, what their real needs were in terms of something grandiose.

[Assistant] In two weeks?

[User] Like, two weeks. Do they need an aqueduct? As if we were supposed to know. So figure out what the needs were and the same kind of thing that we would be doing in country. So I felt like I needed to talk to the people as best I could, although I'm not sure, I can't remember. I must have gone to people's houses, but I did go to where this home demonstration agent was having a class, and I must have gone several times, which was a good place to be because, you know, there were people there and I could listen. And so I remember, I still have a needlepoint thing that I did when I was there because I let her teach me how to do that.

[Assistant] Oh, OK.

[User] It was great, and she was a young woman.

[Assistant] So it was about a two-week period?


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

[User] Like, two weeks. Do they need an aqueduct? As if we were supposed to know. So figure out what the needs were and the same kind of thing that we would be doing in country. So I felt like I needed to talk to the people as best I could, although I'm not sure, I can't remember. I must have gone to people's houses, but I did go to where this home demonstration agent was having a class, and I must have gone several times, which was a good place to be because, you know, there were people there and I could listen. And so I remember, I still have a needlepoint thing that I did when I was there because I let her teach me how to do that.

[Assistant] Oh, OK.

[User] It was great, and she was a young woman.

[Assistant] So it was about a two-week period?

[User] It seems to me that it was, yeah.

[Assistant] Did you find anyone with whom you could speak English?


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

[User] It was great, and she was a young woman.

[Assistant] So it was about a two-week period?

[User] It seems to me that it was, yeah.

[Assistant] Did you find anyone with whom you could speak English?

[User] Hmm. I don't remember. I did run into the other volunteer one time in that town.

[Assistant] I mean, it'd be extraordinary to go two weeks and not.


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

[User] It seems to me that it was, yeah.

[Assistant] Did you find anyone with whom you could speak English?

[User] Hmm. I don't remember. I did run into the other volunteer one time in that town.

[Assistant] I mean, it'd be extraordinary to go two weeks and not.

[User] Oh yeah, exactly. I may have gone back to Guacio, you know, the mission, the Presbyterian mission during that period of time. I probably did. Like you say, would I remember that, my gosh, I haven't spoken to anybody in English for two weeks. You know, would I remember that? I don't know.

[Assistant] Now this period is kind of modeling what you're going to be expected to do.


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

[User] Hmm. I don't remember. I did run into the other volunteer one time in that town.

[Assistant] I mean, it'd be extraordinary to go two weeks and not.

[User] Oh yeah, exactly. I may have gone back to Guacio, you know, the mission, the Presbyterian mission during that period of time. I probably did. Like you say, would I remember that, my gosh, I haven't spoken to anybody in English for two weeks. You know, would I remember that? I don't know.

[Assistant] Now this period is kind of modeling what you're going to be expected to do.

[User] Right.

[Assistant] And how did you feel about it now? I mean, your role as a volunteer is beginning to get some definition.


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

[User] Oh yeah, exactly. I may have gone back to Guacio, you know, the mission, the Presbyterian mission during that period of time. I probably did. Like you say, would I remember that, my gosh, I haven't spoken to anybody in English for two weeks. You know, would I remember that? I don't know.

[Assistant] Now this period is kind of modeling what you're going to be expected to do.

[User] Right.

[Assistant] And how did you feel about it now? I mean, your role as a volunteer is beginning to get some definition.

[User] Right. And I just knew that, well, I mean, at that point, you believe that what they're telling you what you're going to do in country is assess the community, figure out what the felt needs are, get to know the people, get to listen to them about what they what they're saying, and all that. And obviously now in hindsight, that's very idealistic, but you have to have a framework.

[Assistant] But at that point, you?


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

[User] Right.

[Assistant] And how did you feel about it now? I mean, your role as a volunteer is beginning to get some definition.

[User] Right. And I just knew that, well, I mean, at that point, you believe that what they're telling you what you're going to do in country is assess the community, figure out what the felt needs are, get to know the people, get to listen to them about what they what they're saying, and all that. And obviously now in hindsight, that's very idealistic, but you have to have a framework.

[Assistant] But at that point, you?

[User] I bought into it.

[Assistant] You accepted that.


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

[User] Right. And I just knew that, well, I mean, at that point, you believe that what they're telling you what you're going to do in country is assess the community, figure out what the felt needs are, get to know the people, get to listen to them about what they what they're saying, and all that. And obviously now in hindsight, that's very idealistic, but you have to have a framework.

[Assistant] But at that point, you?

[User] I bought into it.

[Assistant] You accepted that.

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] OK, that makes sense.


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

[User] I bought into it.

[Assistant] You accepted that.

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] OK, that makes sense.

[User] Because you have to. You have to have a model. You have to have a framework to why are you here? What am I doing here?

[Assistant] So since it did make sense, then you began to feel reasonably comfortable and put yourself into the.


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

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] OK, that makes sense.

[User] Because you have to. You have to have a model. You have to have a framework to why are you here? What am I doing here?

[Assistant] So since it did make sense, then you began to feel reasonably comfortable and put yourself into the.

[User] Yes, I even came up with a project, and I can't remember what it was now. But I just I remember we had to go back.

[Assistant] It wasn't building an aqueduct.


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

[User] Because you have to. You have to have a model. You have to have a framework to why are you here? What am I doing here?

[Assistant] So since it did make sense, then you began to feel reasonably comfortable and put yourself into the.

[User] Yes, I even came up with a project, and I can't remember what it was now. But I just I remember we had to go back.

[Assistant] It wasn't building an aqueduct.

[User] It had something to do with water. I can't remember what. Yeah, it did have something to do with water. We were to report. I don't think we ever went back to the camp in Arecibo. My recollection is we might have gone directly from staying with that family to San Juan to a particular motel, the hotel, where we gathered as a group. And we and I remember we all came in from the hinterlands, you know, and I think I was one of the last ones to get there because I probably had farther to come to. And then we reported on our stay.

[Assistant] To the group?


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

[User] It had something to do with water. I can't remember what. Yeah, it did have something to do with water. We were to report. I don't think we ever went back to the camp in Arecibo. My recollection is we might have gone directly from staying with that family to San Juan to a particular motel, the hotel, where we gathered as a group. And we and I remember we all came in from the hinterlands, you know, and I think I was one of the last ones to get there because I probably had farther to come to. And then we reported on our stay.

[Assistant] To the group?

[User] To the group, right.

[Assistant] In English?

[User] Yes, yes. Yes, in English.

[Assistant] So now this is the end of the Puerto Rican phase of training.


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

[User] To the group, right.

[Assistant] In English?

[User] Yes, yes. Yes, in English.

[Assistant] So now this is the end of the Puerto Rican phase of training.

[User] Then we must have. Then that's when we flew home, I guess, for two weeks.

[Assistant] Well, just to finish. What do you recall any final selection or had it just been going along all?


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

[User] Yes, yes. Yes, in English.

[Assistant] So now this is the end of the Puerto Rican phase of training.

[User] Then we must have. Then that's when we flew home, I guess, for two weeks.

[Assistant] Well, just to finish. What do you recall any final selection or had it just been going along all?

[User] You know, I don't. I don't recall.

[Assistant] No point when someone walked in a room and said, well, you're all going.


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

[User] You know, I don't. I don't recall.

[Assistant] No point when someone walked in a room and said, well, you're all going.

[User] No.

[Assistant] OK.

[User] No, I don't recall that. I don't recall any division of us, or I don't recall at that point somebody saying, you know, so-and-so is not going.

[Assistant] During training, did you do any peer preference reporting? In other words, if you're going to be assigned, you'd like to be assigned with X, or you didn't want to be assigned with X.


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

[User] No.

[Assistant] OK.

[User] No, I don't recall that. I don't recall any division of us, or I don't recall at that point somebody saying, you know, so-and-so is not going.

[Assistant] During training, did you do any peer preference reporting? In other words, if you're going to be assigned, you'd like to be assigned with X, or you didn't want to be assigned with X.

[User] Don't recall that. I don't recall that at all. We may have, but if so, it didn't leave a wrinkle in my brain.

[Assistant] Did anyone explain why you were going to get home leave for two weeks? Did it relate to the political situation?


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

[User] No, I don't recall that. I don't recall any division of us, or I don't recall at that point somebody saying, you know, so-and-so is not going.

[Assistant] During training, did you do any peer preference reporting? In other words, if you're going to be assigned, you'd like to be assigned with X, or you didn't want to be assigned with X.

[User] Don't recall that. I don't recall that at all. We may have, but if so, it didn't leave a wrinkle in my brain.

[Assistant] Did anyone explain why you were going to get home leave for two weeks? Did it relate to the political situation?

[User] I don't think so. I just thought it was probably standard operating procedure. But it wasn't, because I've talked to other volunteers that didn't. I mean, not only was that a break in our training and our mindset, you know, here we are back then wherever we came from. And the language, you know, two weeks off when we don't have to hear the language and look at the expense, right?

[Assistant] But no one, was there any kind of rumor mongering that, well, things are probably not that good right now in Dominican Republic. So they want to give this.


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

[User] Don't recall that. I don't recall that at all. We may have, but if so, it didn't leave a wrinkle in my brain.

[Assistant] Did anyone explain why you were going to get home leave for two weeks? Did it relate to the political situation?

[User] I don't think so. I just thought it was probably standard operating procedure. But it wasn't, because I've talked to other volunteers that didn't. I mean, not only was that a break in our training and our mindset, you know, here we are back then wherever we came from. And the language, you know, two weeks off when we don't have to hear the language and look at the expense, right?

[Assistant] But no one, was there any kind of rumor mongering that, well, things are probably not that good right now in Dominican Republic. So they want to give this.

[User] No. Not at all.

[Assistant] All right, fine.


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

[User] I don't think so. I just thought it was probably standard operating procedure. But it wasn't, because I've talked to other volunteers that didn't. I mean, not only was that a break in our training and our mindset, you know, here we are back then wherever we came from. And the language, you know, two weeks off when we don't have to hear the language and look at the expense, right?

[Assistant] But no one, was there any kind of rumor mongering that, well, things are probably not that good right now in Dominican Republic. So they want to give this.

[User] No. Not at all.

[Assistant] All right, fine.

[User] I don't, I just don't recall that. And again, I thought it was probably it may be because of training on the island there in Puerto Rico, that was standard operating procedure.

[Assistant] OK. So you went home.


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

[User] No. Not at all.

[Assistant] All right, fine.

[User] I don't, I just don't recall that. And again, I thought it was probably it may be because of training on the island there in Puerto Rico, that was standard operating procedure.

[Assistant] OK. So you went home.

[User] Went back to northwest Iowa.

[Assistant] You folks had another shot at you.


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

[User] I don't, I just don't recall that. And again, I thought it was probably it may be because of training on the island there in Puerto Rico, that was standard operating procedure.

[Assistant] OK. So you went home.

[User] Went back to northwest Iowa.

[Assistant] You folks had another shot at you.

[User] Yeah, right, exactly.

[Assistant] Did you feel more confident talking about what you were going to be doing?


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

[User] Went back to northwest Iowa.

[Assistant] You folks had another shot at you.

[User] Yeah, right, exactly.

[Assistant] Did you feel more confident talking about what you were going to be doing?

[User] Mm hmm. Yeah.

[Assistant] I assume you did not discuss the political situation in any depth.


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

[User] Yeah, right, exactly.

[Assistant] Did you feel more confident talking about what you were going to be doing?

[User] Mm hmm. Yeah.

[Assistant] I assume you did not discuss the political situation in any depth.

[User] No, I'm not sure I could have at that point, except I knew that there were. I don't think that, they certainly weren't tuned into it. And maybe that was good, I mean.

[Assistant] Well, that's it. Did they know that there was a revolution that had just taken place?


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

[User] No, I'm not sure I could have at that point, except I knew that there were. I don't think that, they certainly weren't tuned into it. And maybe that was good, I mean.

[Assistant] Well, that's it. Did they know that there was a revolution that had just taken place?

[User] I don't think so. And I don't remember. I didn't go into great detail. I suppose they always perceived that whenever you left the American shore, there was going to be danger.

[Assistant] Sure. OK.

[User] And if only they knew what now, right, now it is that way. But in those days, relatively safe.

[Assistant] During the two weeks, what did you do?


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

[User] And if only they knew what now, right, now it is that way. But in those days, relatively safe.

[Assistant] During the two weeks, what did you do?

[User] I ate.

[Assistant] OK.

[User] I gained about ten pounds. I ate and saw my family.

[Assistant] Any of your friends try to dissuade you at that point?


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

[User] I ate.

[Assistant] OK.

[User] I gained about ten pounds. I ate and saw my family.

[Assistant] Any of your friends try to dissuade you at that point?

[User] Nope. Don't recall that.

[Assistant] Was there any kind of big send off?


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

[User] I gained about ten pounds. I ate and saw my family.

[Assistant] Any of your friends try to dissuade you at that point?

[User] Nope. Don't recall that.

[Assistant] Was there any kind of big send off?

[User] Oh, certainly had family gathering. You know, where grandma cooked and everybody came? And uh, yeah. Saw everybody.

[Assistant] I mean, was there anyone in the family who was putting a positive cast on what it was that you were doing? I mean, echoes of Kennedy sort of?


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

[User] Nope. Don't recall that.

[Assistant] Was there any kind of big send off?

[User] Oh, certainly had family gathering. You know, where grandma cooked and everybody came? And uh, yeah. Saw everybody.

[Assistant] I mean, was there anyone in the family who was putting a positive cast on what it was that you were doing? I mean, echoes of Kennedy sort of?

[User] Right. It certainly was not, even from my dad at that point, it wasn't negative. I mean, it's just that I could, I gathered, I knew that he was not overjoyed with my decision, but in terms of everyday reminding me, you know, you shouldn't do this or whatever. No, I don't recall that.

[Assistant] And you were pretty firm in your conviction about going.


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

[User] Right. It certainly was not, even from my dad at that point, it wasn't negative. I mean, it's just that I could, I gathered, I knew that he was not overjoyed with my decision, but in terms of everyday reminding me, you know, you shouldn't do this or whatever. No, I don't recall that.

[Assistant] And you were pretty firm in your conviction about going.

[User] Yes. Yeah.

[Assistant] OK.

[User] I mean, I was going.

[Assistant] So let's get you there. What now after the two weeks? What happened?


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

[User] Yes. Yeah.

[Assistant] OK.

[User] I mean, I was going.

[Assistant] So let's get you there. What now after the two weeks? What happened?

[User] Well, I can't remember if we flew like to Miami and then on to the D.R. But anyway, got to the D.R.

[Assistant] Right. That was the whole group of you?


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

[User] I mean, I was going.

[Assistant] So let's get you there. What now after the two weeks? What happened?

[User] Well, I can't remember if we flew like to Miami and then on to the D.R. But anyway, got to the D.R.

[Assistant] Right. That was the whole group of you?

[User] Right.

[Assistant] And as far as you know, you're all CD volunteers.


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

[User] Well, I can't remember if we flew like to Miami and then on to the D.R. But anyway, got to the D.R.

[Assistant] Right. That was the whole group of you?

[User] Right.

[Assistant] And as far as you know, you're all CD volunteers.

[User] Right.

[Assistant] OK. Do you remember your arrival?


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

[User] Right.

[Assistant] And as far as you know, you're all CD volunteers.

[User] Right.

[Assistant] OK. Do you remember your arrival?

[User] I'm not, I remember getting off the plane and it was steamy and hot. I remember that part. And I'm trying to remember when we knew where we were going to be assigned. We must have ended up in another one of those hotels where we have meetings and they determined where we were going. Because I went with one, well, there were probably four of us that were sent kind of in the same direction, way out into the southwest corner of the island. And I was in Neiba, a town called N-E-I-B-A [also spelled Neyba], and there were two other. And there were other volunteers already there from previous groups, by the way. Now that I think about that. I don't think there was anyone assigned from my group to Neiba besides me, but there were other volunteers there and there had been from the beginning.

[Assistant] And they were community development volunteers?


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

[User] I'm not, I remember getting off the plane and it was steamy and hot. I remember that part. And I'm trying to remember when we knew where we were going to be assigned. We must have ended up in another one of those hotels where we have meetings and they determined where we were going. Because I went with one, well, there were probably four of us that were sent kind of in the same direction, way out into the southwest corner of the island. And I was in Neiba, a town called N-E-I-B-A [also spelled Neyba], and there were two other. And there were other volunteers already there from previous groups, by the way. Now that I think about that. I don't think there was anyone assigned from my group to Neiba besides me, but there were other volunteers there and there had been from the beginning.

[Assistant] And they were community development volunteers?

[User] Um, one was a geologist and had been, several of them were geologists and had been in well drilling and water issues. And one of the interesting things was that the Dominican Republic at that point had a community development organization in their government. One of the, they had a branch that was community development, and it had but only for men. And so only the male parts of our group were assigned to the government's community development program. The women were on our own.

[Assistant] Wow.

[User] On our own. And so I remember they gave me a, "they" must have been the Peace Corps in Santo Domingo, probably through CARE or something. I had a sewing machine that I was supposed to take out there and take it to the sewing school because most of those communities of any size had programs already ongoing. And one of them, not that they were all functioning well, but there was a woman teaching sewing in a little government school there, all kinds of sewing. So I ended up, that's where this machine went, was to this school. And when I first went there, let me think where. I remember staying, hmm, with the family. But I can't remember how.

[Assistant] Did one of the old volunteers arrange it for you?


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

[User] Um, one was a geologist and had been, several of them were geologists and had been in well drilling and water issues. And one of the interesting things was that the Dominican Republic at that point had a community development organization in their government. One of the, they had a branch that was community development, and it had but only for men. And so only the male parts of our group were assigned to the government's community development program. The women were on our own.

[Assistant] Wow.

[User] On our own. And so I remember they gave me a, "they" must have been the Peace Corps in Santo Domingo, probably through CARE or something. I had a sewing machine that I was supposed to take out there and take it to the sewing school because most of those communities of any size had programs already ongoing. And one of them, not that they were all functioning well, but there was a woman teaching sewing in a little government school there, all kinds of sewing. So I ended up, that's where this machine went, was to this school. And when I first went there, let me think where. I remember staying, hmm, with the family. But I can't remember how.

[Assistant] Did one of the old volunteers arrange it for you?

[User] Maybe some, maybe that was what happened, that somebody from.

[Assistant] How far from the capital was Neiba?


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

[User] On our own. And so I remember they gave me a, "they" must have been the Peace Corps in Santo Domingo, probably through CARE or something. I had a sewing machine that I was supposed to take out there and take it to the sewing school because most of those communities of any size had programs already ongoing. And one of them, not that they were all functioning well, but there was a woman teaching sewing in a little government school there, all kinds of sewing. So I ended up, that's where this machine went, was to this school. And when I first went there, let me think where. I remember staying, hmm, with the family. But I can't remember how.

[Assistant] Did one of the old volunteers arrange it for you?

[User] Maybe some, maybe that was what happened, that somebody from.

[Assistant] How far from the capital was Neiba?

[User] About as far as you can get.

[Assistant] And how did you travel?


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

[User] Maybe some, maybe that was what happened, that somebody from.

[Assistant] How far from the capital was Neiba?

[User] About as far as you can get.

[Assistant] And how did you travel?

[User] It probably took about four hours maybe, three or four hours.

[Assistant] How did you travel?


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

[User] It probably took about four hours maybe, three or four hours.

[Assistant] How did you travel?

[User] Publicos, public cars, like taxis that ran between towns.

[Assistant] OK.

[User] And there were, you could go to a certain, you could call. I guess, we must have been able to call a taxi in the capital city and there would be cars going to Neiba or going to the southwest. And sometimes you had to go to a certain town and then get another car to Neiba. But most often you could get one. And when you're in Neiba and you wanted to come back, it was a little easier because you knew certain people. There weren't that many people leaving Neiba to go to the capital with their public car.

[Assistant] Just to back up a little bit because of the political sensitivity of what you were doing. Was there anywhere along during training or in your initial time in the country where you had a sense that there were CIA people in your group or looking at your group or?


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

[User] Publicos, public cars, like taxis that ran between towns.

[Assistant] OK.

[User] And there were, you could go to a certain, you could call. I guess, we must have been able to call a taxi in the capital city and there would be cars going to Neiba or going to the southwest. And sometimes you had to go to a certain town and then get another car to Neiba. But most often you could get one. And when you're in Neiba and you wanted to come back, it was a little easier because you knew certain people. There weren't that many people leaving Neiba to go to the capital with their public car.

[Assistant] Just to back up a little bit because of the political sensitivity of what you were doing. Was there anywhere along during training or in your initial time in the country where you had a sense that there were CIA people in your group or looking at your group or?

[User] No. It could have been. I was totally unaware. So focused on me and what's going to happen.

[Assistant] Do you recall anyone, when you first came in, there must have been staging with some of the Peace Corps staff? Do you recall any of them saying be alert to the fact that strangers may come up, Americans, and try to get information from you? Was there ever any mention of CIA?


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

[User] No. It could have been. I was totally unaware. So focused on me and what's going to happen.

[Assistant] Do you recall anyone, when you first came in, there must have been staging with some of the Peace Corps staff? Do you recall any of them saying be alert to the fact that strangers may come up, Americans, and try to get information from you? Was there ever any mention of CIA?

[User] No.

[Assistant] OK. Fine.

[User] During the time that I was in Neiba, however, there was a special contingent of special forces troops that brought a helicopter in there. They rented a house and they had a medic among them. And so they set up, supposedly it was to serve the people. And so the medic attended to people, gave shots, probably whatever, helped people that were sick. And I think there were four of them. They were in uniform.

[Assistant] Did you have anything to do with them?


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

[User] No.

[Assistant] OK. Fine.

[User] During the time that I was in Neiba, however, there was a special contingent of special forces troops that brought a helicopter in there. They rented a house and they had a medic among them. And so they set up, supposedly it was to serve the people. And so the medic attended to people, gave shots, probably whatever, helped people that were sick. And I think there were four of them. They were in uniform.

[Assistant] Did you have anything to do with them?

[User] We were not to talk to them. You know, that was the bottom line of course. Now I won't, you know, the idea was that even if you saw them on the street, particularly if you saw them in public, you were not to acknowledge them, which was a little ridiculous. But because we didn't want to give the impression to the Dominicans that we were a part of that, you know, a part of it. So I remember talking, but I can't remember where that would have happened, to the major whatever. But just in passing. I mean, it wasn't anything that, you know, we didn't spend time together or anything like that. But they were there, right there, and it wasn't that large a town. It was a provincial capital, but it was clear out there next, not very far from the Haitian border, see, the border was very close. So, you know, they could call it a peacekeeping force.

[Assistant] Were you near the coast or on the coast?


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

[User] During the time that I was in Neiba, however, there was a special contingent of special forces troops that brought a helicopter in there. They rented a house and they had a medic among them. And so they set up, supposedly it was to serve the people. And so the medic attended to people, gave shots, probably whatever, helped people that were sick. And I think there were four of them. They were in uniform.

[Assistant] Did you have anything to do with them?

[User] We were not to talk to them. You know, that was the bottom line of course. Now I won't, you know, the idea was that even if you saw them on the street, particularly if you saw them in public, you were not to acknowledge them, which was a little ridiculous. But because we didn't want to give the impression to the Dominicans that we were a part of that, you know, a part of it. So I remember talking, but I can't remember where that would have happened, to the major whatever. But just in passing. I mean, it wasn't anything that, you know, we didn't spend time together or anything like that. But they were there, right there, and it wasn't that large a town. It was a provincial capital, but it was clear out there next, not very far from the Haitian border, see, the border was very close. So, you know, they could call it a peacekeeping force.

[Assistant] Were you near the coast or on the coast?

[User] The southern coast. Not too, you know, relatively speaking, it was close to the southern coast. Yeah. Not all that.

[Assistant] Let's go back to your arriving in the town, getting with a family. You're carrying your sewing machine.


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

[User] We were not to talk to them. You know, that was the bottom line of course. Now I won't, you know, the idea was that even if you saw them on the street, particularly if you saw them in public, you were not to acknowledge them, which was a little ridiculous. But because we didn't want to give the impression to the Dominicans that we were a part of that, you know, a part of it. So I remember talking, but I can't remember where that would have happened, to the major whatever. But just in passing. I mean, it wasn't anything that, you know, we didn't spend time together or anything like that. But they were there, right there, and it wasn't that large a town. It was a provincial capital, but it was clear out there next, not very far from the Haitian border, see, the border was very close. So, you know, they could call it a peacekeeping force.

[Assistant] Were you near the coast or on the coast?

[User] The southern coast. Not too, you know, relatively speaking, it was close to the southern coast. Yeah. Not all that.

[Assistant] Let's go back to your arriving in the town, getting with a family. You're carrying your sewing machine.

[User] I guess so. I can't remember. Somehow I got that sewing machine out there and I stayed with, you know, there must have been. I think there was a, there must have been a Dominican woman who had been assigned out there, maybe to develop schools. You know, that was a big thing. You build schools. It seems to me that there was somebody who was there who was leaving, so I believe I stayed with her or whoever she was living with for a short period of time until I could find a place to live.

[Assistant] Was she bilingual?


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

[User] The southern coast. Not too, you know, relatively speaking, it was close to the southern coast. Yeah. Not all that.

[Assistant] Let's go back to your arriving in the town, getting with a family. You're carrying your sewing machine.

[User] I guess so. I can't remember. Somehow I got that sewing machine out there and I stayed with, you know, there must have been. I think there was a, there must have been a Dominican woman who had been assigned out there, maybe to develop schools. You know, that was a big thing. You build schools. It seems to me that there was somebody who was there who was leaving, so I believe I stayed with her or whoever she was living with for a short period of time until I could find a place to live.

[Assistant] Was she bilingual?

[User] No. No. And heaven only knows how I got by, because I didn't. Now, in hindsight, because I still use my language a lot now, and I've gotten a lot more proficient. And so in hindsight I think, how did I get by? I mean, what did I know how to say? I mean, I don't know. I truly don't. But anyway, it was helpful that I was not the first volunteer in that country, in that town. I mean, there were others, they were all men that had been there, and there was one that was leaving shortly. He'd been in, I think, well drilling or water, working with water.

[Assistant] Did any of the old volunteers try to sort of take you aside to kind of clue you into what was going on?


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

[User] No. No. And heaven only knows how I got by, because I didn't. Now, in hindsight, because I still use my language a lot now, and I've gotten a lot more proficient. And so in hindsight I think, how did I get by? I mean, what did I know how to say? I mean, I don't know. I truly don't. But anyway, it was helpful that I was not the first volunteer in that country, in that town. I mean, there were others, they were all men that had been there, and there was one that was leaving shortly. He'd been in, I think, well drilling or water, working with water.

[Assistant] Did any of the old volunteers try to sort of take you aside to kind of clue you into what was going on?

[User] Yes. For example, where could I get a house, you know, where can I live? And let me think here again. I go over this one because I think that, yes, I probably found the first place that I lived from another volunteer who said, you know, they're renting this house. It was right there, downtown, on the public square. So after a period of time, I moved there.

[Assistant] Alone?

[User] Yes, alone. And we took our meals. The other volunteers were accustomed to taking their meals with right there, up from where I lived, a woman who had a dining room for the public. It was her house, but she had tables set up and you could pay her by the month. And so volunteers, we got to know her very well, Dona Julia, and we took our meals there. But I also had a stove, you know, of my own and I could cook some.

[Assistant] Just in sending you out to this village. You knew that the men had assignments under the community development ministry or department, whatever it was. What did Peace Corps say to you was your mission, since you were not going to be, would not have the cover of a ministry or department? Good luck?


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

[User] Yes, alone. And we took our meals. The other volunteers were accustomed to taking their meals with right there, up from where I lived, a woman who had a dining room for the public. It was her house, but she had tables set up and you could pay her by the month. And so volunteers, we got to know her very well, Dona Julia, and we took our meals there. But I also had a stove, you know, of my own and I could cook some.

[Assistant] Just in sending you out to this village. You knew that the men had assignments under the community development ministry or department, whatever it was. What did Peace Corps say to you was your mission, since you were not going to be, would not have the cover of a ministry or department? Good luck?

[User] If they said that much, they might have said that. But, you know, it was certainly a time of, um, insecurity is not the right word, but lack of direction I would say. Certainly it lacked, of course that's true in community development, right? I mean, you have to live with some of that. And of course, that had been my background. I mean, sociology is pretty nebulous too, right?

[Assistant] Right.

[User] Although I, that was not my background in terms of how I was raised, in terms of being from a farm and very, very concrete. Let's accomplish this and get this done. So but still, my sense was that I was supposed to see what was happening in the community. And eventually there was a Dominican woman who was assigned, probably to replace this woman that had gone to work with schools. And try to develop schools and try to do. Another big thing that I just remembered I worked on were anti-parasite campaigns, you know, because there were a lot of worms there and because of no shoes and poor water and all that.

[Assistant] But you have no training in public health?


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

[User] If they said that much, they might have said that. But, you know, it was certainly a time of, um, insecurity is not the right word, but lack of direction I would say. Certainly it lacked, of course that's true in community development, right? I mean, you have to live with some of that. And of course, that had been my background. I mean, sociology is pretty nebulous too, right?

[Assistant] Right.

[User] Although I, that was not my background in terms of how I was raised, in terms of being from a farm and very, very concrete. Let's accomplish this and get this done. So but still, my sense was that I was supposed to see what was happening in the community. And eventually there was a Dominican woman who was assigned, probably to replace this woman that had gone to work with schools. And try to develop schools and try to do. Another big thing that I just remembered I worked on were anti-parasite campaigns, you know, because there were a lot of worms there and because of no shoes and poor water and all that.

[Assistant] But you have no training in public health?

[User] No, not as such.

[Assistant] Or in particular diseases?


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

[User] Although I, that was not my background in terms of how I was raised, in terms of being from a farm and very, very concrete. Let's accomplish this and get this done. So but still, my sense was that I was supposed to see what was happening in the community. And eventually there was a Dominican woman who was assigned, probably to replace this woman that had gone to work with schools. And try to develop schools and try to do. Another big thing that I just remembered I worked on were anti-parasite campaigns, you know, because there were a lot of worms there and because of no shoes and poor water and all that.

[Assistant] But you have no training in public health?

[User] No, not as such.

[Assistant] Or in particular diseases?

[User] No, I certainly couldn't. We had a lot of training in Puerto Rico, but not the diseases. About what to expect about the food, about families, that sort of thing. But no, I couldn't give shots, and I'm glad I couldn't, of course, and wouldn't have, obviously. But this promotora, that's what they call the Dominican counterpart of the men, promoter, promatora, did. Could give shots, and so it wasn't an immunization campaign as such, now that I think about it. It was we would give the liquid anti-parasite medicine. Piperazine, it seems to me, was the name of that. And I think we got that, you know, got that through the CARE program, through the Catholic fathers that were there in town. There were two Belgium fathers there and great contacts for me. I could go up there and speak English and talk to them and read their Time magazine, etcetera. So anyway.

[Assistant] Now the woman with whom you were working?


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

[User] No, not as such.

[Assistant] Or in particular diseases?

[User] No, I certainly couldn't. We had a lot of training in Puerto Rico, but not the diseases. About what to expect about the food, about families, that sort of thing. But no, I couldn't give shots, and I'm glad I couldn't, of course, and wouldn't have, obviously. But this promotora, that's what they call the Dominican counterpart of the men, promoter, promatora, did. Could give shots, and so it wasn't an immunization campaign as such, now that I think about it. It was we would give the liquid anti-parasite medicine. Piperazine, it seems to me, was the name of that. And I think we got that, you know, got that through the CARE program, through the Catholic fathers that were there in town. There were two Belgium fathers there and great contacts for me. I could go up there and speak English and talk to them and read their Time magazine, etcetera. So anyway.

[Assistant] Now the woman with whom you were working?

[User] Mm hmm.

[Assistant] What was her perception of who you are?


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

[User] No, I certainly couldn't. We had a lot of training in Puerto Rico, but not the diseases. About what to expect about the food, about families, that sort of thing. But no, I couldn't give shots, and I'm glad I couldn't, of course, and wouldn't have, obviously. But this promotora, that's what they call the Dominican counterpart of the men, promoter, promatora, did. Could give shots, and so it wasn't an immunization campaign as such, now that I think about it. It was we would give the liquid anti-parasite medicine. Piperazine, it seems to me, was the name of that. And I think we got that, you know, got that through the CARE program, through the Catholic fathers that were there in town. There were two Belgium fathers there and great contacts for me. I could go up there and speak English and talk to them and read their Time magazine, etcetera. So anyway.

[Assistant] Now the woman with whom you were working?

[User] Mm hmm.

[Assistant] What was her perception of who you are?

[User] God only knows.

[Assistant] OK. Did you become friends?


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

[User] Mm hmm.

[Assistant] What was her perception of who you are?

[User] God only knows.

[Assistant] OK. Did you become friends?

[User] Yes, as much as I could with my limited. You know, to be a friend to somebody, you've got to be able to communicate at some level besides the very.

[Assistant] Joke and tell stories.


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

[User] God only knows.

[Assistant] OK. Did you become friends?

[User] Yes, as much as I could with my limited. You know, to be a friend to somebody, you've got to be able to communicate at some level besides the very.

[Assistant] Joke and tell stories.

[User] Yes, exactly. But we did go out into the neighborhoods together and visited the different neighborhoods, and I spent a lot of time again walking. You know, there were like little barrios outside of this provincial capital, very poor areas, but somehow people were very open, you know, they'd invite you in for something to drink or whatever. So I spent a fair amount of time visiting this area and then I'd go over here and I'd establish some contacts and listen and.

[Assistant] So just open ended, though, at that point.


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

[User] Yes, as much as I could with my limited. You know, to be a friend to somebody, you've got to be able to communicate at some level besides the very.

[Assistant] Joke and tell stories.

[User] Yes, exactly. But we did go out into the neighborhoods together and visited the different neighborhoods, and I spent a lot of time again walking. You know, there were like little barrios outside of this provincial capital, very poor areas, but somehow people were very open, you know, they'd invite you in for something to drink or whatever. So I spent a fair amount of time visiting this area and then I'd go over here and I'd establish some contacts and listen and.

[Assistant] So just open ended, though, at that point.

[User] Yeah, pretty open ended. Eventually, I taught literacy in one of these poorer areas. The children were not in school.

[Assistant] So let's take this first six months you're in the village. How often did you go back to the capital?


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

[User] Yes, exactly. But we did go out into the neighborhoods together and visited the different neighborhoods, and I spent a lot of time again walking. You know, there were like little barrios outside of this provincial capital, very poor areas, but somehow people were very open, you know, they'd invite you in for something to drink or whatever. So I spent a fair amount of time visiting this area and then I'd go over here and I'd establish some contacts and listen and.

[Assistant] So just open ended, though, at that point.

[User] Yeah, pretty open ended. Eventually, I taught literacy in one of these poorer areas. The children were not in school.

[Assistant] So let's take this first six months you're in the village. How often did you go back to the capital?

[User] Not very often. I don't remember.

[Assistant] How did you, what did you do about the first Thanksgiving and Christmas and all?


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

[User] Yeah, pretty open ended. Eventually, I taught literacy in one of these poorer areas. The children were not in school.

[Assistant] So let's take this first six months you're in the village. How often did you go back to the capital?

[User] Not very often. I don't remember.

[Assistant] How did you, what did you do about the first Thanksgiving and Christmas and all?

[User] Well, let's see. I went in the middle of the year.

[Assistant] Some homesickness in there somewhere.


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

[User] Not very often. I don't remember.

[Assistant] How did you, what did you do about the first Thanksgiving and Christmas and all?

[User] Well, let's see. I went in the middle of the year.

[Assistant] Some homesickness in there somewhere.

[User] Gosh, I guess so. I can't remember. But the fact that there were other volunteers there, so we got together. Sometimes they came in and they could come to my house, for example. I don't remember, but by that time I was probably teaching English as a second language because somebody else, a previous volunteer, there.

[Assistant] In one of the barrios?


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

[User] Well, let's see. I went in the middle of the year.

[Assistant] Some homesickness in there somewhere.

[User] Gosh, I guess so. I can't remember. But the fact that there were other volunteers there, so we got together. Sometimes they came in and they could come to my house, for example. I don't remember, but by that time I was probably teaching English as a second language because somebody else, a previous volunteer, there.

[Assistant] In one of the barrios?

[User] Yeah, actually, that was in the main part of town. See, I was able to get to know some people at both ends of the economic scale. And the teacher of English in the high school and her daughter and a daughter of the restaurant owners and several other people that were in high school age. And the teacher, another teacher, were part of my first English as a Second Language group, and it was right there across the plaza from where I was. And they'd already learned some English.

[Assistant] And so there was a structure there and they came to you.


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

[User] Gosh, I guess so. I can't remember. But the fact that there were other volunteers there, so we got together. Sometimes they came in and they could come to my house, for example. I don't remember, but by that time I was probably teaching English as a second language because somebody else, a previous volunteer, there.

[Assistant] In one of the barrios?

[User] Yeah, actually, that was in the main part of town. See, I was able to get to know some people at both ends of the economic scale. And the teacher of English in the high school and her daughter and a daughter of the restaurant owners and several other people that were in high school age. And the teacher, another teacher, were part of my first English as a Second Language group, and it was right there across the plaza from where I was. And they'd already learned some English.

[Assistant] And so there was a structure there and they came to you.

[User] They came to me and I had, I remember saying and thinking, saying probably to myself, I will not, you know, I'm not going there to teach English. That's not why I'm going there. But it was a great entree into the community. It was a great way to get to know people and for them to get to know me.

[Assistant] But you didn't know anything about teaching English as a second language.


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

[User] Yeah, actually, that was in the main part of town. See, I was able to get to know some people at both ends of the economic scale. And the teacher of English in the high school and her daughter and a daughter of the restaurant owners and several other people that were in high school age. And the teacher, another teacher, were part of my first English as a Second Language group, and it was right there across the plaza from where I was. And they'd already learned some English.

[Assistant] And so there was a structure there and they came to you.

[User] They came to me and I had, I remember saying and thinking, saying probably to myself, I will not, you know, I'm not going there to teach English. That's not why I'm going there. But it was a great entree into the community. It was a great way to get to know people and for them to get to know me.

[Assistant] But you didn't know anything about teaching English as a second language.

[User] Probably not. I've done it since that time. And but there was a series of books that one could get from either USAID or the embassy. I got them in the capital city. And you just followed from one book to the next and there was a teacher's manual.

[Assistant] How often would you meet with the group?


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

[User] They came to me and I had, I remember saying and thinking, saying probably to myself, I will not, you know, I'm not going there to teach English. That's not why I'm going there. But it was a great entree into the community. It was a great way to get to know people and for them to get to know me.

[Assistant] But you didn't know anything about teaching English as a second language.

[User] Probably not. I've done it since that time. And but there was a series of books that one could get from either USAID or the embassy. I got them in the capital city. And you just followed from one book to the next and there was a teacher's manual.

[Assistant] How often would you meet with the group?

[User] Often. That group, we met. I don't know.

[Assistant] This was still within the first six months?


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

[User] Often. That group, we met. I don't know.

[Assistant] This was still within the first six months?

[User] Well, the reason I'm relating back to this, it seems to me that part of that group and I got together like first Thanksgiving and so.

[Assistant] Oh, OK.

[User] Our first Christmas or something during that latter part of that year. I remember the pictures that were taken, and I remember this one student that was in my class. So they didn't, they had some sense that they didn't want me to be alone, either, you know, so that we would get them to come together and share food or whatever. But I think it was within that first six weeks. So, you know, I had to, I must have gone to the capital to pick up those books, but I don't remember.

[Assistant] Yeah. All right.


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

[User] Well, the reason I'm relating back to this, it seems to me that part of that group and I got together like first Thanksgiving and so.

[Assistant] Oh, OK.

[User] Our first Christmas or something during that latter part of that year. I remember the pictures that were taken, and I remember this one student that was in my class. So they didn't, they had some sense that they didn't want me to be alone, either, you know, so that we would get them to come together and share food or whatever. But I think it was within that first six weeks. So, you know, I had to, I must have gone to the capital to pick up those books, but I don't remember.

[Assistant] Yeah. All right.

[User] But I didn't make a point of going to the capital.

[Assistant] Let's turn it around. Did any of the Peace Corps staff come out to visit you?


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

[User] Our first Christmas or something during that latter part of that year. I remember the pictures that were taken, and I remember this one student that was in my class. So they didn't, they had some sense that they didn't want me to be alone, either, you know, so that we would get them to come together and share food or whatever. But I think it was within that first six weeks. So, you know, I had to, I must have gone to the capital to pick up those books, but I don't remember.

[Assistant] Yeah. All right.

[User] But I didn't make a point of going to the capital.

[Assistant] Let's turn it around. Did any of the Peace Corps staff come out to visit you?

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] During the first six months?


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

[User] But I didn't make a point of going to the capital.

[Assistant] Let's turn it around. Did any of the Peace Corps staff come out to visit you?

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] During the first six months?

[User] Um, I'll say yes. They came several times and I don't.

[Assistant] What was the nature of their visits?


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

[User] Yes.

[Assistant] During the first six months?

[User] Um, I'll say yes. They came several times and I don't.

[Assistant] What was the nature of their visits?

[User] Oh, it was just some sense that they were seeing how we were doing personally, how we had adjusted. Because obviously one could get very detached from reality if you weren't careful. You've been there. You know, and you get isolated and you're beginning to wonder after a while, what am I doing here? And who cares? And so some of it was just to touch base with us.

[Assistant] Did you go through that kind of, I mean?


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

[User] Um, I'll say yes. They came several times and I don't.

[Assistant] What was the nature of their visits?

[User] Oh, it was just some sense that they were seeing how we were doing personally, how we had adjusted. Because obviously one could get very detached from reality if you weren't careful. You've been there. You know, and you get isolated and you're beginning to wonder after a while, what am I doing here? And who cares? And so some of it was just to touch base with us.

[Assistant] Did you go through that kind of, I mean?

[User] Yes, I'm sure. I mean, I did.

[Assistant] At some point.


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

[User] Oh, it was just some sense that they were seeing how we were doing personally, how we had adjusted. Because obviously one could get very detached from reality if you weren't careful. You've been there. You know, and you get isolated and you're beginning to wonder after a while, what am I doing here? And who cares? And so some of it was just to touch base with us.

[Assistant] Did you go through that kind of, I mean?

[User] Yes, I'm sure. I mean, I did.

[Assistant] At some point.

[User] Right. Yeah.

[Assistant] But was there a point within the first maybe half year where you said to yourself, oh my goodness, I'm a Peace Corps volunteer and I'm here and I'm doing this. In other words, was there any kind of joy or?


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

[User] Yes, I'm sure. I mean, I did.

[Assistant] At some point.

[User] Right. Yeah.

[Assistant] But was there a point within the first maybe half year where you said to yourself, oh my goodness, I'm a Peace Corps volunteer and I'm here and I'm doing this. In other words, was there any kind of joy or?

[User] Oh yeah, yeah, I think so. It seems to me that there was enough joy that, oh yeah, I was having a great time.

[Assistant] And how was your health during the first year?


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

[User] Right. Yeah.

[Assistant] But was there a point within the first maybe half year where you said to yourself, oh my goodness, I'm a Peace Corps volunteer and I'm here and I'm doing this. In other words, was there any kind of joy or?

[User] Oh yeah, yeah, I think so. It seems to me that there was enough joy that, oh yeah, I was having a great time.

[Assistant] And how was your health during the first year?

[User] Good, good. In fact, I never really never got that sick. I didn't get, I didn't have any major problems.

[Assistant] Now for the village you were in, that whole area. Politically, was it stable?


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

[User] Oh yeah, yeah, I think so. It seems to me that there was enough joy that, oh yeah, I was having a great time.

[Assistant] And how was your health during the first year?

[User] Good, good. In fact, I never really never got that sick. I didn't get, I didn't have any major problems.

[Assistant] Now for the village you were in, that whole area. Politically, was it stable?

[User] For the most part, there was a.

[Assistant] Other than the American soldiers with the helicopter.


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

[User] For the most part, there was a.

[Assistant] Other than the American soldiers with the helicopter.

[User] Right. Yeah, I would say yes, it was. There was a, I keep saying fort. There was a military establishment there because that was very common in the provincial capitals.

[Assistant] Dominican?

[User] Yes, where you saw men with uniforms and guns and things of that nature. But yes, it was quiet.

[Assistant] And did anyone make political comments in your presence? Do you recall if you were, did people know you were an American?