Interview with Madeline Kellner, June 17, 2020

Partial Transcript: Today is June 17, 2020. This is Candice Wiggum, RC--RPCV from Macedonia. And I am interviewing Madeline Kellner who was a--who is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Guatemala. She served there from 2016 to 2018 and, uh, Evacuated Peace Corps Response Volunteer from Peru, um. And she was there from January 2020 to March 2020 as a community development and leadership volunteer.

Segment Synopsis: Kellner served in Guatemala with her husband, Clint. After returning to the U.S. from Guatemala, Kellner and her husband applied to Peace Corps Response and accepted a posting to Peru. In Peru, Kellner focused on women's leadership issues and her husband was involved with ecotourism. They both worked in conjunction with a nonprofit organization called Minga Peru.

Keywords: Coming home; Minga Peru; Peace Corps Response Volunteers; Returning; Tourism; Traveling

Subjects: Evacuation; International travel; Nonprofit organizations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.) --2010-2020; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Guatemala; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Peru; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: What did you and Clint do in, uh, Guatemala?

Segment Synopsis: In Guatemala, Kellner focused on creating elementary school gardens to address the issues of food security and malnutrition. Kellner's husband worked at 2 middle schools on leadership development of youth. Kellner and her husband were located in a Mayan community. Except for other Volunteers, there were no other foreigners living nearby.

Keywords: Ethnic minority regions; Foreigners; Transportation; Youth development

Subjects: Food security; Guatemala; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Guatemala; Schools; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: What, what did you do before you joined Peace Corps?

Segment Synopsis: Before joining Peace Corps, Kellner had a career related to healthcare. Kellner had worked as a dietician, a hospital administrator, and a county public health official. Kellner had had her own consulting business for 7 years. For 8 years, Kellner worked for an agency that matched elderly people with caregivers. Kellner also served 2 terms on the Novato city council.

Keywords: Career; Healthcare; Hospitals; Master's degrees; Novato (Calif.); Older people

Subjects: Nonprofit organizations; Public health

Partial Transcript: How soon after you came back from Guatemala did you decide to, to go for a, a Response Volunteer position?

Segment Synopsis: Kellner had been examining Peace Corps Response openings online but found it frustrating. In June 2019, Kellner and her husband attended the annual meeting of the National Peace Corps Association in Austin, Texas. There, Kellner talked directly to a Peace Corps recruiter who was able to match Kellner and her husband up with opportunities in the Amazon region so they subsequently applied.

Keywords: Amazon region; Austin (Tex.); National Peace Corps Association; Peace Corps Response Volunteers; Peace Corps recruiters; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

Subjects: Emotions; Guatemala; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Guatemala; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: How long were you guys home before you left again?

Segment Synopsis: During the year after Kellner returned from overseas, she and her husband gave a dozen talks about their experience to encourage others, especially older people, to join the Peace Corps. Kellner and her husband also were on discussion panels at local Peace Corps recruiting events. Kellner also joined the board of the local Returned Peace Corps Volunteers group.

Keywords: Encouragement; Lectures; Older Americans; Peace Corps recruiters; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Third Goal; University of California, Berkeley

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Universities and colleges; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: What did your family think or your friends think when you were considering re-applying and, and leaving again?

Segment Synopsis: Kellner's children and friends were more accepting and not as surprised as when Kellner had first joined the Peace Corps. Kellner's son is in the military and was worried about security in Guatemala. But in Guatemala, Kellner's son visited her twice and her daughter visited 3 times. They realized that the Peace Corps Response posting was only for a year. Kellner's friends were understanding.

Keywords: Children; Mid-career; Peace Corps Response Volunteers; Safety; Traveling; Understanding

Subjects: Families; Guatemala; International travel; Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: How did you just handle what you were going to do with the house? Because that would also be impacted by your being evacuated and coming back.

Segment Synopsis: Kellner and her husband had decided to leave their house vacant while they were overseas. In January 2018, Kellner had returned to the U.S. from Guatemala for a month because of a medical issue. So, Kellner was able to stay in her house then. Kellner and her husband made arrangements for their property to be looked after while they were away.

Keywords: Arrangements; Coming home; Housing; Leaving; Returning; Traveling

Subjects: Guatemala; Health; International travel; Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: What was the application process like for being a Response Volunteer?

Segment Synopsis: Kellner describes the application process. Initially, Kellner's application was denied on medical grounds. On appeal, Kellner was accepted but this left only a month before their departure date. Kellner and her husband did not need to be re-tested in Spanish. Kellner believes that her medical situation will make it more difficult for her to be re-instated as a Volunteer following the COVID-19 evacuation.

Keywords: Applying; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Difficult; Examinations; Exams; Language skills; Medical clearance; Peace Corps Response Volunteers; Peace Corps interviews; Peace Corps staff; Spanish (Language); Support; Waiting periods

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); Emotions; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Peru; Peru; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: What was your training like for the Response position?

Segment Synopsis: There were 8 people in Kellner's cohort. Training lasted only about a week. They had presentations on sexual harassment, safety and security, and medical subjects. All the Volunteers already had their assignments.

Keywords: Cohorts; Lectures; Nonprofit organizations; Peace Corps Response Volunteers; Peace Corps staff; Pre-service training; Swearing in

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Peru; Peru; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: What was your site like? Is it a city? Is it a village?

Segment Synopsis: After training, Kellner and her husband flew to their assignment in the city of Iquitos which had a population of half a million people. Iquitos was tropical, noisy, and had congested traffic. It's located near the head of the Amazon River. In Guatemala, Kellner's housing had no heat, no running water, and no gas. In Peru, Kellner had a large bedroom, a kitchen, air conditioning, running water, stove, and a refrigerator. All the people were friendly and helpful.

Keywords: Amazon River; Amenities; Differences; Iquitos (Peru); Lima (Peru); Living conditions; Local people; Locals; Running water; Transportation; Travel; Traveling

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Guatemala; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Peru; Peru; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: What, what did you do there?

Segment Synopsis: Kellner worked at Minga Peru on 3 programs. The first involved the contents of programs that were broadcast on the radio or distributed on compact disc. Topics included health, domestic violence, how to interact with tourists, and environmental issues. The second program involved the training of female lay workers to reinforce these ideas, especially in the Minga Peru offices upriver. The third program involved economic development.

Keywords: Community health services; Education programs; Healthcare; Iquitos (Peru); Minga Peru; Radio stations; Tourism; Tourists

Subjects: Health; Nonprofit organizations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Peru; Peru; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: What was your typical day like?

Segment Synopsis: Kellner would walk to the Minga Peru office where there was internet access. Kellner tried to act as a liaison to connect the staff at Minga Peru to other interested parties. Kellner and her husband also visited the Minga Peru training center for a week while training was given to the female tour guides.

Keywords: Counterparts; Dengue fever; Family; Liaison; Medicine; Minga Peru; Sickness; Training centers; Villages

Subjects: Nonprofit organizations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Peru; Peru; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: When did, when did you first hear about COVID?

Segment Synopsis: Kellner had heard about COVID before leaving for overseas. In Peru, Kellner got news of Peace Corps evacuating Volunteers from China and of things starting to shut down in the U.S. COVID first was detected in Peru in early March 2020. Kellner received emails from the Peruvian Peace Corps staff saying that the situation was being monitored. In mid-March, there was an email from the Peace Corps director recalling all the Volunteers worldwide. Kellner only had a few hours' notice before she was due to be evacuated from her work site.

Keywords: Anxiety; Arrangements; Belongings; Closing borders; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Counterparts; Disease transmission; Emails; Peace Corps directors; Peace Corps staff

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); Emotions; Evacuation; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--China; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Peru; Peru; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So noon on Monday, is that when your plane left from the airport, or?

Segment Synopsis: Kellner and her husband had been instructed to be at the airport by 1:00 to leave for Lima on a Peruvian Air Force plane. When Kellner and her husband finally got to the gate, they were told they were too late. The plane left without them. Kellner phoned the Peace Corps staff and the next day Kellner and her husband were flown out on a private plane. In Lima, the Volunteers were put up in a hotel. Kellner had to remain inside the hotel as the Peace Corps staff worked to bring back all 200 Volunteers in Peru. Kellner says the Peace Corps and embassy staffs did a terrific job supporting the Volunteers.

Keywords: Airports; Arrangements; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Emails; Housing; Lima (Peru); Peace Corps directors; Peace Corps staff; Problems; Telephone calls; Transportation; Traveling; Uncertainty

Subjects: Air travel; COVID-19 (Disease); Evacuation; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Peru; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: How did you get from Lima back to San Francisco?

Segment Synopsis: The Peru Peace Corps Volunteers, along with others, were flown out of Lima on 2 chartered flights. Kellner and her husband returned home after changing planes in Washington, D.C. Kellner says it was strange to see the empty airports and freeways. Once home, Kellner needed to shelter-in-place. Kellner followed the news from Peru whose population had serious health problems from COVID and dengue fever. Kellner comments on how COVID has unevenly affected different socioeconomic groups.

Keywords: Airports; Coming home; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Dengue fever; Differences; Disease transmission; Doctors; Hispanic Americans; Malaria; Medication; News; Peace Corps staff; Readjustment; San Francisco (Calif.); Sickness; Social distancing; Traveling

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); International travel; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Peru; Peru; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Washington, D.C.

Partial Transcript: What's it been like for you since you've been home?

Segment Synopsis: Following local guidelines, Kellner has not been socializing much. Kellner has been fundraising for Minga Peru which experienced a funding cut related to reduced tourism. Kellner helped Minga Peru get a small grant from the local Returned Peace Corps Volunteers' group. Kellner is looking into her options to continue working overseas.

Keywords: Applications; Applying; Budgets; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Funding; Graduate schools; Grants; Minga Peru; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Socializing; Tourism; Tourists

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); Finance; Nonprofit organizations; Parents; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Peru; Peru; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: What do you think about how the Peace Corps responded to this since--both in the evacuation and since the evacuation?

Segment Synopsis: Kellner feels that the Peace Corps and the National Peace Corps Association have been very supportive of the evacuated Volunteers. Unemployment insurance for evacuated Volunteers is confusing since it varies from state to state. Kellner has been able to use the local media to publicize the Volunteers' experience.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Media; National Peace Corps Association; Peace Corps staff; Press; Radio stations; Telephone calls

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Peru; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Returned Volunteer Services; Peru; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Well that was going to be one of the questions. What do you think the role--or do you think there's a place for Peace Corps in the post-COVID world?

Segment Synopsis: Kellner believes Peace Corps is still relevant, especially so foreigners can see directly what Americans are like and not just what is seen in mass media.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); First Goal; Foreigners; Future plans; Learning; Media; Personal growth; Perspectives; Second Goal; Skills; Third Goal; Understanding

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); Peace Corps (U.S.); Peru; Voluntarism; Volunteers