Interview with Kenney Tran, July 23, 2020

Partial Transcript: This is Evelyn Ganzglass. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Somalia from 1966 to 1968. Today is July 23, 2020. And I am interviewing Kenney Tran who was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia from July 2018 till when he was evacuated in March, uh, 2020.

Segment Synopsis: Tran had a summer internship in Washington, D.C. at a nonprofit organization focusing on financial development and education. As an undergraduate, Tran had studied political science, social justice, and communications. Tran wanted to see how government and politics worked overseas so joining the Peace Corps after college graduation seemed a logical step to him. Initially, Tran was accepted for an English teaching program in Malawi but 9 months later, he was switched to a community economic development program in Colombia. Tran is happy about his Peace Corps service and feels he learned a lot from it.

Keywords: Communication; Excited; Internships; Personal growth; Preparation; Undergraduate education

Subjects: Colombia; Emotions; Evacuation; Malawi; Nonprofit organizations; Peace Corps (U.S.)--2010-2020; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Colombia; Political science; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: Tell me a little bit about your background. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school?

Segment Synopsis: Tran grew up in Hudson, New Hampshire. Tran attended Merrimack College where he was involved in numerous community service activities. Tran believes that ethical, first-hand reporting is needed to balance what is portrayed about other countries by the media and on social media. Tran researched the Peace Corps after being influenced by one of the summer internship advisors who was a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.

Keywords: Influences; Internships; Media; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Social media; Third goal

Subjects: Hudson (N.H.); Merrimack College; Peace Corps (U.S.)

Partial Transcript: What did your parents think about all this?

Segment Synopsis: As Vietnamese refugees, Tran's parents were not enthusiastic about his joining Peace Corps. As recent immigrants to the U.S., they couldn't understand why a person would want to go to a developing country. However, Tran believed that Peace Corps service offered long-term benefits to the Volunteers. Tran's friends were surprised that he chose to graduate a year early to join Peace Corps. However, they were supportive. While he was overseas, Tran's friends and sent him care packages and remained in touch with him via social media.

Keywords: Care packages; Choices; College majors; First generation Americans; Friends; Skills; Social media; Support networks

Subjects: Emigration and immigration; Immigrants; Parents; Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, you applied for the Peace Corps. You were accepted. You were accepted into one program, um, and then they switched you and I assume that meant you had to learn Spanish?

Segment Synopsis: Although Tran had studied Spanish for about 3 years, his fluency was actually very poor. However, Tran feels it was better than nothing. At home, Tran speaks Vietnamese.

Keywords: Future plans; Home; Language skills; Spanish (Language); Vietnamese (Language)

Subjects: Language and languages

Partial Transcript: So, um, where did you meet up with your Peace Corps group?

Segment Synopsis: Tran's cohort had staging in Miami. The people in the cohort developed a feeling of solidarity. Tran's cohort started with 27 members, most of whom were recent college graduates. The members came from diverse parts of the U.S. and were approximately evenly divided between males and females. They were all in the community economic development program.

Keywords: Diversity; Miami (Fla.); Staging; Uncertainty; Understanding

Subjects: Emotions; Peace Corps (U.S.); Stress (Psychology); Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in community development; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: OK. So, you all got on a plane in Miami and you flew to--where did you fly to?

Segment Synopsis: Tran's cohort was flown into Barranquilla, where Peace Corps has its administrative offices in Colombia. The coastal areas of Colombia tended to be poorer economically. Tran states that there was discrimination in Colombia against people from coastal areas who tended to have darker skin. Because of his ethnicity, some Colombians challenged Tran's nationality. Peace Corps might be "color blind" but many communities in which the Volunteers serve envision the stereotypical American as white, blond, and rich. This misconception creates problems for Volunteers from ethnic minority groups. Tran feels the Peace Corps staff should be more aware of this problem and be more supportive of the Volunteers affected. Tran notes that people often divide themselves by race. But Tran sees many parallels between people of the same economic class.

Keywords: Appearance; Asian Americans; Assumptions; Awareness; Colorism; Criticism; Discrimination; Diversity in the Peace Corps; Empowerment; History; LGBTQ+; Misconceptions; Peace Corps staff; People of color; Stereotypes; Xenophobia

Subjects: Emigration and immigration; Minorities; Peace Corps (U.S.); Race discrimination; Race relations; Racism; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, so let's just move back on to, to training.

Segment Synopsis: Tran feels that the technical training was more theoretical than practical. He feels there was too much classroom learning. Tran suggests more interaction with current Volunteers and visits to schools and government offices. His cohort was only the third in community economic development in Colombia. Tran was favorably impressed by the local Peace Corps staff.

Keywords: Cohorts; Community economic development; Criticism; Language Proficiency Index; Language skills; Language training; Peace Corps staff; Support; Technical training

Subjects: Colombia; Peace Corps (U.S.); Schools; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: OK. So, you did training. And then, where were you assigned?

Segment Synopsis: Tran was assigned to a small town called Salamina, Magdalena. Over time, Tran came to like his town very much and felt welcome there, too. Previously, a Peace Corps English teacher had served in this town. Tran was replacing a second Volunteer in town who was the first Volunteer assigned there in the community economic development program. This Volunteer introduced Tran to many local contacts. Tran spent time learning about his community and explaining about community economic development.

Keywords: Acclimation; Community involvement; Conversations; Empowerment; Excited; Funding; History; Invitations; Learning; Salamina (Magdalena, Colombia); Site mates; Teaching English as a foreign language; Towns; Transportation; Understanding

Subjects: Emotions; Nonprofit organizations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in community development; Volunteer workers in education; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: And, and how, how was your living arrangement?

Segment Synopsis: All Peace Corps Volunteers in Tran's time in Colombia live with a family. Tran was very happy with his host family. Tran is still in contact with them and hopes to visit them soon. The family had Wi-Fi since one of Tran's host brothers worked for the town internet company. This made it easier for Tran to connect conveniently with others and to stream Netflix.

Keywords: Host brothers; Host family; Remote work; Understanding

Subjects: Colombia; Interpersonal relations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: How did you use the internet as part of your job and, and connecting to--

Segment Synopsis: The Peace Corps provided all the Volunteers with cell phones. Tran used the various technology to create flyers and charts. The Volunteers were better able to collaborate with each other. Tran was one of 6 Volunteers who developed curriculum over the internet for high school students. Their curriculum was adopted by the government. One highlight of this collaboration was an entrepreneurship fair in Barranquilla where the students presented their business ideas. Tran feels this is one way to empower students. The town proper where Tran worked had a population of about 7,000.

Keywords: Career paths; Cell phones; Empowerment; High schools; Host brothers; Leaving; Rural areas; Skills; Telephone calls; Travel; Traveling

Subjects: Education, Higher; Emigration and immigration; Interpersonal relations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Student activities; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, so your work was with, um, the high school students. You were developing the curriculum. You were working with small businesses. Talk about some of that work. What kind of things did you do?

Segment Synopsis: In Colombia, the community economic development Volunteers were given 4 objectives. First was to encourage the formation of small savings groups. Second, to work with the local institutions to teach the entrepreneurship curriculum. Third, to encourage the local people to take vocational classes offered by the national training service. Fourth, developing and advising small businesses.

Keywords: Advice; Community economic development; Education programs; Encouragement; Funding; Goals; Local people; Locals

Subjects: Finance; Peace Corps (U.S.); Small business; Teaching; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Did you get to travel around Colombia?

Segment Synopsis: Because of the pandemic, Tran was unable to travel to other countries during his service. Tran did travel within Colombia to visit with other Volunteers, mostly at their work sites. Tran was the first Asian person with whom many Colombians came in direct contact. Tran had also planned to visit a meditation center in Medellín.

Keywords: Asian Americans; Bogota (Colombia); Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Friends; Medellín (Colombia); Pandemic; Second goal; Support; Traveling

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

Partial Transcript: How did you even hear about the pandemic?

Segment Synopsis: Tran was aware of COVID-19 because he maintained contact with friends in the U.S. COVID started showing up in Colombia because of tourists. For Tran, the closing of airports was a sign that Peace Corps evacuation was likely. Through social media, Tran had links to other groups of Volunteers globally and was aware of rumors related to COVID. The Colombia country director had offered the Volunteers the option to terminate early without any loss of post-service benefits. A couple days later, the Colombia Volunteers were told they were being evacuated in 48 hours.

Keywords: Airports; Awareness; Close of Service; Closing borders; Coming home; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Disease transmission; Friends; Leaving; Peace Corps directors; Returning; Social media; Tourism; Tourists; Travel bans; Traveling

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

Partial Transcript: So, so you were told, you know, you have to evacuate in 48 hours. How did your community deal with that?

Segment Synopsis: Tran packed and said goodbye to his host family. Tran said farewell in general via social media. Tran returned to the city and was put up in a hotel. COVID cases first started appearing around Bogota. Additional cases appeared in Cartegena, where cruise ships docked. Tran is still in contact with his host family and friends in Colombia. Tran's work site seems COVID-free.

Keywords: Bogota (Colombia); Cartegena (Colombia); Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Disease transmission; Friends; Host family; Housing; Social media; Tourism; Tourists; Travel; Traveling

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

Partial Transcript: Are there any thoughts about how well Peace Corps handled this whole situation? Do you think you should have been evacuated--

Segment Synopsis: Tran feels the evacuation was justified. Tran would have appreciated more time to say goodbye and more clarification of the close of service procedures. Some Volunteers were booked on flights which got canceled. So, Tran thinks chartered flights might have been better.

Keywords: Close of Service; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

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

Partial Transcript: What were your plans, um, for post-Peace Corps before you were evacuated?

Segment Synopsis: Because of the time Tran was due to complete his service, attending graduate school was untimely. Tran was looking into a trip around Latin America. Tran was considering finding a job through friends or with the federal government, taking advantage of his noncompetitive eligibility status.

Keywords: Changes; Close of Service; Friends; Graduate schools; Jobs; Noncompetitive Eligibility; Traveling

Subjects: Emotions; International travel; Latin America; Peace Corps (U.S.); Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: That's right. So, what, what was it like when you--I guess--so you flew from Columbia to Miami--

Segment Synopsis: Returning to the U.S. and going into quarantine caused Tran some stress and shock. Tran has been staying with his parents. Because of the break in his service, Tran is disinclined to return to Peace Corps service in the short term. Tran has accepted a position as a graduate student at the University of Washington.

Keywords: Career paths; Coming home; Decisions; Difficult; Graduate schools; Leaving; Master's degrees; New Hampshire; Quarantines; Readjustment; Returning; Traveling; University of Washington

Subjects: Colombia; Culture shock; International travel; Mental health; Panama; Parents; Peace Corps (U.S.); Stress (Psychology); Universities and colleges; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: So, it's a good time to talk about reflecting on the 3 goals of Peace Corps.

Segment Synopsis: Tran feels that the first goal, to provide technical assistance, serves as a vehicle for the second and third goals: for others to find out about Americans and vice versa. With regards to the third goal, Tran has given presentations to the Spanish class at the local high school and at his former college. Tran has applied to become the Peace Corps recruiter at the University of Washington.

Keywords: Activities; Americans; Applications; Applying; Cultural exchange; First Goal; High schools; Jobs; Lectures; Peace Corps recruiters; Second Goal; Spanish (Language); Teachers; Third Goal; University of Washington

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

Partial Transcript: There's one really cool thing I would like to share is that a couple days, literally like probably 48 hours right before we got evacuated--got the news about evacuation, an idea spurred upon myself and my friends...

Segment Synopsis: While in Colombia, Tran had the Peace Corps logo tattooed on his ankle to demonstrate his commitment to life-long service to the general public. Tran feels Returned Peace Corps Volunteers should continue to work for social justice in the U.S.

Keywords: Barriers; Challenging; Changes; Commitments; Conversations; Difficult; Empowerment; Personal growth; Perspectives; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

Subjects: Colombia; Lifestyles; Peace Corps (U.S.); Social service; Voluntarism; Volunteers