Interview with William "Will" Arrington, August 3, 2020

Partial Transcript: Uh, this is Evelyn Ganzglass.

Segment Synopsis: William "Will" Arrington is introduced. He describes his reasons for joining Peace Corps.

Keywords: Former Soviet Union; Former USSR; Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Armenia

Subjects: Culture.; Peace Corps (U.S.); Teachers.; Teaching.; Travel.; Volunteer workers in education.; Volunteers.

Partial Transcript: Well, where did you, where did you grow up and where did you go to college?

Segment Synopsis: Arrington talks about his childhood and college education in North Carolina. He talks about his academic interest in the former Soviet Union.

Keywords: Former Soviet Union; Former USSR; Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); Interests; Soviet sphere; University of North Carolina; Utopian dream

Subjects: Childhood.; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; Culture.; Durham (N.C.); Education, Higher.; North Carolina.; Universities and colleges.

Partial Transcript: So, it--it's interesting, so you decided you really wanted to go back there.

Segment Synopsis: Arrington talks about his awareness of Peace Corps through popular media. He talks about his parents' reactions to him joining Peace Corps.

Keywords: Awareness; Friends; Life goals.; Plans; Reactions; Supportive; TEFL; Teaching English as a foreign language; Teaching English as a second language

Subjects: Culture.; Intercultural communication.; Language and languages.; Parents.; Peace Corps (U.S.); Teachers.; Teaching.; Travel.; Volunteer workers in education.; Volunteers.

Partial Transcript: But you had, you had applied specifically for Armenia, or were you--

Segment Synopsis: Arrington talks about why he chose Armenia as his site for his Peace Corps service. He describes his application process and his excitement over being accepted.

Keywords: Applications; Armenian Genocide; Former Soviet Union; Former USSR; Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); Interviews; Medical clearance; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Armenia

Subjects: Culture.; Jobs.; Peace Corps (U.S.); Travel.; Volunteers.; Work.

Partial Transcript: Okay, so you, um--where did you then meet your group?

Segment Synopsis: Arrington talks about his staging in Washington, D.C. and his cohort's flight to Qatar and then Armenia.

Keywords: Cohorts; Flights; National Mall; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Armenia; Staging; TEFL; Teaching English as a foreign language; Teaching English as a second language

Subjects: Language and languages.; Peace Corps (U.S.); Qatar.; Teachers.; Teaching; Travel.; Volunteer workers in education; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.); Washington, D.C.

Partial Transcript: And what, what was the reception like when you got to Armenia?

Segment Synopsis: Arrington talks about his first impressions of Armenia. He talks about his language and cultural training and how he feels the training prepared him for his assignment.

Keywords: Ages; Behaviors; Cohorts; Cultural training; Eastern Armenian (Language); Expectations; First impressions; Host families; Hovtashat (Armenia); Language skills; Language training; Media; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Armenia; Preparation; School systems; Towns; Training; Usefulness

Subjects: Acculturation.; Communication and culture.; Culture.; Intercultural communication.; Interpersonal communication and culture.; Interpersonal relations and culture.; Language and culture.; Language and languages.; Peace Corps (U.S.); Russian language.; Travel.; Volunteers.

Partial Transcript: What was--what was your host family like that you stayed with for training?

Segment Synopsis: Arrington talks about his relationship with his host family during training. He talks about topics they were told not to discuss due to cultural taboos.

Keywords: Customs; Eastern Armenian (Language); Host brothers; Host families; Host sisters; Hovtashat (Armenia); Patience; Patient; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Armenia; Reactions; Taboo; Topics; Training

Subjects: Acculturation.; Communication and culture.; Culture.; Homosexuality.; Intercultural communication.; Interpersonal communication and culture.; Interpersonal relations and culture.; Language and culture.; Language and languages.; Peace Corps (U.S.); Travel.; Volunteers.

Partial Transcript: So, um, you completed your training, um, and then where were you assigned after your training?

Segment Synopsis: Arrington talks about being assigned to Hrazdan, Armenia, a former industrial hub. He talks about his relationship with his host family during his assignment and his interest in improving his language skills to speak with them.

Keywords: Assignments; Characteristics; Communist Party; Decline; Eastern Armenian (Language); Former Soviet Union; Former USSR; Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); Grandchildren; Host families; Hrazdan (Armenia); Industrial hubs; Language barriers; Language skills; Language training; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Armenia; Placement; Sites

Subjects: Acculturation.; Communication and culture.; Culture.; Intercultural communication.; Interpersonal communication and culture.; Interpersonal relations and culture.; Language and culture.; Language and languages.; Peace Corps (U.S.); Travel.; Volunteers.

Partial Transcript: And where did you teach?

Segment Synopsis: Arrington talks about his experience teaching at a local primary school. He talks about his original counterpart, why he was given a new counterpart shortly after arriving, and how that led to him feeling like he wasn't making as big of a contribution to the school as he had hoped.

Keywords: Age ranges; Classes; Contributions; Counterparts; Grades; Hrazdan (Armenia); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Armenia; Primary School #5; TEFL; Teaching English as a foreign language; Teaching English as a second language; Teaching assistants

Subjects: Acculturation.; Communication and culture.; Culture.; English language.; Friendship.; Intercultural communication.; Interpersonal communication and culture.; Interpersonal relations and culture.; Language and culture.; Language and languages.; Peace Corps (U.S.); Students.; Teachers.; Teaching.; Travel.; Volunteer workers in education.; Volunteers.

Partial Transcript: And, um, did you get to travel around at all while you were, uh, there for a year?

Segment Synopsis: Arrington talks about some of the travel he did during his service and why he is grateful for being able to take these trips.

Keywords: Borders; Former Soviet Union; Former USSR; Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); Girlfriends; Iranian border; Lake Sevan (Armenia); Mountains; Oppression; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Armenia; Relationships; Southern Armenia

Subjects: Culture.; Georgia.; Germany.; Iran.; Parents.; Peace Corps (U.S.); Poland.; Travel.; Vienna (Austria); Volunteers.

Partial Transcript: So how did you first hear about, um, COVID?

Segment Synopsis: Arrington talks about when he first became aware of COVID-19 and his initial reactions. He talks about when he became aware that they would likely have to leave Armenia and when Peace Corps began evacuating the volunteers. He talks about an unexpected conversation with one of his students as he was leaving. He mentions other volunteers' feelings regarding the evacuation.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Counterparts; Diseases; Early close of service (COS); Economy; Evacuations; Expectations; Flights; Healthcare; Illnesses; Land borders; News; Panic; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Armenia; Peace Corps directors; Reactions; Schools

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); China.; Communication and culture.; Culture.; Georgia.; Germany.; Intercultural communication.; Interpersonal relations and culture.; Peace Corps (U.S.); Students.; Teachers.; Travel.; United States.; Volunteer workers in education.; Volunteers.

Partial Transcript: So would, would you go, would you go back if Armenia opened up again?

Segment Synopsis: Arrington talks about his desire to continue his Peace Corps service, but in a new location. He talks about currently applying to serve in Ukraine.

Keywords: Applications; Assignments; Contributions; Counterparts; Former Peace Corps volunteers; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Armenia; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ukraine; Phased reopening; Placement; Planning; Plans; Reapplying; Schools; Sites; Visits

Subjects: Armenia.; Peace Corps (U.S.); Teachers.; Teaching.; Travel.; Ukraine.; Volunteer workers in education.; Volunteers.

Partial Transcript: So what was it like coming home?

Segment Synopsis: Arrington talks about his flight home, including his incredulity that the health form they were required to fill out at the airport was only offered in English despite its importance. He talks about the surreal experience of returning to the airport where most businesses were shut down and seeing no cars on the New York City streets. He talks about quarantining upon returning home, processing his Peace Corps service and evacuation, his current work, and his plans for the future.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Future; Hydroponic lettuce farms; JFK Airport; Masks; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Armenia; Plans; Quarantines; Returning; Teaching English as a foreign language; Teaching certificates; Temperature checks

Subjects: Acculturation.; Books.; COVID-19 (Disease); Communication and culture.; Culture shock; Culture.; Intercultural communication.; International travel.; Interpersonal communication and culture; Interpersonal relations and culture; Language and culture.; Language and languages.; New York (N.Y.); North Carolina.; Parents.; Peace Corps (U.S.); Telephone calls.; United States.; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So as, as you reflect back on Peace Corps, you, you talked about, you know, you didn't a--you don't think you added much value to the school you were in because of the circumstances.

Segment Synopsis: Arrington talks about the impact he made in Armenia despite not being able to contribute as much official teaching at the school as he would have liked. He talks about the conversations he had with Armenians about America and how he tried to correct their misconceptions. He talks about how he has discussed his experience upon returning to the United States.

Keywords: America; Contributions; Cultural exchanges; Evacuations; Exposure; Goals; Host fathers; Impact; Misconceptions; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Armenia; Perspectives; Questions; Radio stations; Reality; Third Goal; Values

Subjects: Acculturation.; America.; Communication and culture.; Culture.; Intercultural communication.; Interpersonal relations and culture.; Peace Corps (U.S.); Students.; Teachers.; Teaching.; Travel.; United States.; Volunteer workers in education; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Are there any other things you want to talk about your Peace Corps experience?

Segment Synopsis: Arrington talks about how his Peace Corps experience has impacted him personally. He talks about the challenges and negative experiences he faced, but says he would do it again if he could. He talks about how his experience gave him more self-confidence and made him realize that he could build friendships no matter what the barriers. He talks about how being a person on the autism spectrum may have given him an advantage in being an outsider in a new country because he is used to feeling like "a stranger in a strange land." He talks about his advice for anyone thinking of joining Peace Corps.

Keywords: Adjustments; Advantages; Advice; Barriers; Challenges; Counterparts; Former Soviet Union; Former USSR; Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR); Learning; Outsiders; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Armenia; Personal growth; Prospective volunteers; Relationships; Self-confidence

Subjects: Acculturation.; Americans.; Autism spectrum.; Communication and culture.; Culture.; Friendship.; Intercultural communication.; International travel.; Interpersonal communication and culture.; Interpersonal relations and culture.; Peace Corps (U.S.); Volunteers.