Interview with Ellis Owens, September 9, 2020

Partial Transcript: This is Evelyn Ganzglass. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Somalia from 1966 to 1968.

Segment Synopsis: Owens talks about his options after college. He talks about visiting the Peace Corps website and looking at possible assignments. He talks about how a Peace Corps assignment could meet his expectations after college.

Keywords: Applying; Career paths; College majors; Education; Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs); Interests; Senegal

Subjects: Careers; Education, Higher; Peace Corps (U.S.); Senegal; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: And can you tell me a little bit about your background?

Segment Synopsis: Owens talks about growing up in Houston, Texas. He talks about traveling to China and other places with non-profit organizations. Owens talks about selecting Senegal as his Peace Corps site and his interest in agroforestry.

Keywords: Agroforestry; Childhood; Decisions; English teachers; Extracurricular activities; Houston (Tex.); Parents; Senegal

Subjects: Childhood; International travel; Nonprofit organizations; Parents; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Senegal; Senegal; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: You applied, you got in. Where did you meet your group?

Segment Synopsis: Owens talks about the application process for Peace Corps. He talks about the flight from JFK Airport to Dakar, Senegal. Owens talks about the size and diversity of the group. He talks about arriving in Thies, his training site.

Keywords: Airplanes; Application process; Challenges; Dakar (Senegal); Diversity in the Peace Corps; Evacuations; First impressions; Illness; Senegal; Thies (Senegal)

Subjects: Air travel; Emotions; Evacuation; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Senegal; Senegal; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: okay. So, talk a little about the--about Thies, the training center, and, and what training was like.

Segment Synopsis: Owens talks about Thies, his training site, where he studied agroforestry. He talks about learning an indigenous language, Jakhanke, and culture. He talks about his host family in Thies. Owens talks about how African Americans are perceived in Senegal.

Keywords: African Americans; Cultural training; Dialects; Host family; Language training; On-site training; Perceptions; Senegal; “Non-stereotypical American”

Subjects: Communication and culture; Culture; Families; Interpersonal relations; Language and languages; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Senegal; Race relations; Senegal; Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in environmental protection; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So you, you finished training and where were you then assigned?

Segment Synopsis: Owens talks about his village. He talks about the people who lived there and his host family. He talks about increasing agricultural output through knowledge of agroforestry. Owens talks about working with a master farmer. He talks about his daily routine and adjusting to the rural environment.

Keywords: Agroforestry; Assignments; Community; Counterparts; Daily routines; Host families; Language skills; Rural areas; Senegal; Villages

Subjects: Acculturation; Communication and culture; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Senegal; Peace Corps (U.S.). Forestry/Natural Resource Sector; Senegal; Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in horticulture; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Good. Did you interact with other volunteers while you were in this village?

Segment Synopsis: Owens talks about meetings he had with other volunteers during his service. Owens talks about learning about COVID-19. He talks about receiving an order to go to his training site and leave Senegal. He describes his departure from Senegal due to the COVID-19 outbreak and his feelings about leaving.

Keywords: Americans; Belongings; Cell phones; Close of Service; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Evacuations; Host fathers; Senegal

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); Emotions; Evacuations; Friendship; Interpersonal relations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Senegal; Senegal; Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in horticulture; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, you, you went to the training center.

Segment Synopsis: Owens talks about returning to the United States. He talks about future possibilities. Owens talks about keeping in touch with his host country father and with other volunteers. He talks about his appreciation of the difficulties of language learning.

Keywords: Borders; Coming home; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Cultural differences; Family; Friends; Language skills; Returning; Senegal

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); Careers; Culture shock; Families; Friendship; Interpersonal relations; Language and languages; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Senegal; Senegal; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Do, do you have any thoughts about how your experience relates to the three goals of Peace Corps?

Segment Synopsis: Owens talks about his experience in Peace Corps and how it affected Senegal and people in the U.S. Owens talks about the Peace Corps’ role in a host country, recruiting diverse talent and choosing a country director. He talks about being a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer in the COVID-19 environment.

Keywords: Career paths; Coming home; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Cultural exchange; Diversity in the Peace Corps; First Goal; Future plans; Regrets; Senegal

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