Interview with Matthew Skros, August 12, 2020

Partial Transcript: Today is August 12, 2020. My name is Jay Sztuk. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji, uh, in 1974 and today I'm interviewing Matthew Skros who was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Albania from January 2020 through March 2020.

Segment Synopsis: Skros grew up in Philadelphia. Many of his family members have been in public service. Skros studied political science at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Because of a medical issue, Skros was unable to join the military as a commissioned officer. Skros then applied to the Peace Corps. Skros spent a year with AmeriCorps where he was involved with disaster relief work. Skros applied to the Peace Corps a second time and was accepted for Albania.

Keywords: AmeriCorps; Applications; Applying; Family; Philadelphia (Pa.); Undergraduate education; Volunteering; Waiting periods

Subjects: Albania; Natural disasters; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--2010-2020; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Albania; Political science; Universities and colleges; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, what did your, uh, family and friends think about you joining the Peace Corps?

Segment Synopsis: Skros' parents were supportive but a little wary. With his high school choir, Skros had traveled to Italy and France. As a college undergraduate, Skros had a summer internship in London. Skros was placed in an education program by Peace Corps.

Keywords: Distance; High schools; Home; Interests; Internships; London (England); Support; Traveling

Subjects: Albania; France; International travel; Italy; Parents; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Albania; Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in education; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: In your application process were there any, any surprises or glitches or anything or did it go pretty smoothly?

Segment Synopsis: Skros had the advantage of having previously applied to the Peace Corps which had included an interview for a posting in China. Skros' second application went smoothly, although getting medical clearance was laborious.

Keywords: Advantages; Applications; Applying; Medical clearance; Peace Corps interviews

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

Partial Transcript: OK. So, uh, you ended up in, uh, in Albania. What did you--what was your impression of the country when you got there?

Segment Synopsis: Skros found Albania more modern than he had expected although, of course, there was still poverty, especially outside of the capital. Skros found this similar to Puerto Rico where he had spent a month with AmeriCorps.

Keywords: AmeriCorps; Cell phones; Poverty; Tirana (Albania); Traveling

Subjects: Albania; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Albania; Puerto Rico; Travel; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Uh, did your--how did your AmeriCorps experience contrast with, uh, with your Peace Corps experience in Albania?

Segment Synopsis: In AmeriCorps, Skros learned the importance of interpersonal relationships. In Albania, this transferred into Skros' not looking down on others and to assuming his host family always was motivated by a desire to help him even if the family's actions seemed unusual to him.

Keywords: AmeriCorps; Host family; Motivation; Preparation

Subjects: Albania; Interpersonal relations and culture; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Albania; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: And then, how about your, your training in Albania? Where did you do that?

Segment Synopsis: Skros' pre-service training occurred in and around Lezhë. Skros' cohort was the first to have pre-service training there as Peace Corps was simultaneously using the city as the administrative site for a pilot program in Montenegro. About every 2 weeks, Volunteers from Montenegro would travel to Lezhë and have training with Skros' cohort on general subjects like health and safety. Members of Skros' cohort lived with host families. 6 days a week, Skros would walk 5 minutes to the local school for language and cultural training with the 6 other trainees from his cohort who were also housed in the village. Skros' 16-year old host sister spoke English well.

Keywords: Challenging; Cohorts; Cultural training; Daily routines; Gjadër (Albania); Host sisters; Language Proficiency Index; Language skills; Language training; Lezhë (Albania); Peace Corps directors; Peace Corps staff; Practicums; Safety; Schools; Technical training; Traveling; Villages

Subjects: Albania; Health; International travel; Montenegro; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Albania; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, uh, what was--what were the living conditions there with the host family?

Segment Synopsis: Skros' host family was in the process of building a new house out of concrete. The bottom floor was finished but the second floor was not. Skros felt comfortable living with his host family.

Keywords: Host family; Houses; Housing

Subjects: Albania; Emotions; Interpersonal relations; Lifestyles; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Albania; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Any memorable experiences from training? Stories that you like to tell your friends?

Segment Synopsis: On the second day in the village, there was a special greeting ceremony for the trainees. The school was the current work site of a Volunteer from an earlier cohort. Skros found the people very welcoming.

Keywords: Cohorts; Local people; Locals; Schools; Special occasions; Villages

Subjects: Emotions; Interpersonal relations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Albania; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, is there a big contrast between the, the urban areas and the rural areas?

Segment Synopsis: In the larger Albanian cities, there are more people who can speak a foreign language. The transportation infrastructure is better in the urban areas. The coastal towns attract a lot of summer tourists and are more economically developed. Foreigners are still rare in Albania's mountain regions. Initially, the first Volunteer assigned to Gjadër had been considered by many of the locals as a spy. Near the village is a communist-era military airfield which led the locals to be suspicious of foreigners. Eventually, the Volunteer became accepted by the villagers.

Keywords: Acceptance; Airports; Attitudes; Differences; Foreigners; Gjadër (Albania); Local people; Locals; Tourism; Tourists; Transportation

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

Partial Transcript: So, um, after training, where was, uh, your, uh, assignment? Did you, did you actually make it to your assignment?

Segment Synopsis: Skros' cohort was evacuated about 2 weeks before their pre-service training was due to end. Schools were being closed. So, Peace Corps was shortening the training for Skros' cohort. Work sites for Skros' cohort were never announced. Skros' cohort was sworn in at the hotel shortly before they were evacuated from the country.

Keywords: Cohorts; Pre-service training; Swearing in

Subjects: Emotions; Evacuation; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Albania; Schools; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, uh, had you, had you heard much news about the COVID-19 pandemic before you guys were evacuated? Were you getting news about it and were there any cases there?

Segment Synopsis: Skros had been receiving a daily news update from the New York Times which made references to COVID-19. Skros was aware of the COVID spike in Italy. Around March 8th or 9th, the first cases were identified in Albania and the country started shutting down. The schools and main roads in Albania were closed. Many migrant workers from Albania went to Italy or Greece.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Disease transmission; Schools; Travel bans; Traveling

Subjects: Albania; COVID-19 (Disease); Emigration and immigration; Evacuation; Greece; Immigrants; International travel; Italy; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Albania; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, that must have been pretty disappointing that, uh, you didn't actually get to begin your, uh, your service, your, your actual work at, at a site.

Segment Synopsis: Skros says it was strange to come home unexpectedly after only having been away for a short time.

Keywords: Acceptance; Adjustment; Coming home; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Returning; Unprepared

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

Partial Transcript: So in the time that you were there, obviously you, you didn't get to travel much or see much of the country. Did you, did you get any sense of, um, how, how Peace Corps was, was viewed in the country?

Segment Synopsis: Skros believes that Albanians hold Americans and Peace Corps Volunteers in high regard. The Albanian government is making a big push to expand English fluency and is anxious to have Peace Corps teachers return. English teachers made up the largest group of Volunteers in Albania.

Keywords: Accent; Americans; Attitudes; English teachers; Local people; Locals; Perceptions; Teaching English as a foreign language; Volunteer workers in community development; Volunteer workers in community health services; Volunteer workers in education

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

Partial Transcript: Now, have you, uh, re-applied? Would you go back if you had a chance?

Segment Synopsis: Skros, like most of his cohort, wants to return to Peace Corps service. Skros is now living at home in Philadelphia and volunteering with AmeriCorps working with the local government on the homelessness issue.

Keywords: AmeriCorps; Anxious; Applications; Applying; Cohorts; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Home; Philadelphia (Pa.); Returning

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

Partial Transcript: So even as short as it was, do you think that your experience there has taught you anything or changed you in any way?

Segment Synopsis: Skros now has a broader world view. He says that poverty is widespread. One needs to disregard stereotypes and realize that basically, people are people.

Keywords: Attitudes; Awareness; Changes; Poverty; Stereotypes

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

Partial Transcript: So when you got home, did you apply for AmeriCorps immediately or did you, uh, look at any of the resources the Peace Corps had to offer as far as job training, resume, uh, writing, or mentoring?

Segment Synopsis: Skros took advantage of the many workshops that were available to the evacuated Volunteers. Skros found it encouraging that so many agencies and organizations were opening their doors to Volunteers.

Keywords: AmeriCorps; Choices; Cohorts; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Schedules; Support; Workshops

Subjects: Emotions

Partial Transcript: OK. So, what are your plans for the future now?

Segment Synopsis: Skros would like a career in foreign affairs and to do more international travel. Skros would like to continue his Peace Corps service. Skros is interested in doing diplomatic or development work possibly with the State Department or with U.S.A.I.D. Skros would like to work to make the world better.

Keywords: Altruism; Career paths; Goals; International development; Traveling

Subjects: International travel; Peace Corps (U.S.); United States Agency for International Development; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Any other reflections on your service?

Segment Synopsis: Skros says that joining the Peace Corps was one of the best decisions he has ever made. Skros recommends the Peace Corps to others.

Keywords: Advice; Decisions

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