Interview with Imhotep Simba, September 25, 2020

Partial Transcript: Hello, today is September 25, 2020.

Segment Synopsis: Imhotep Simba talks about his schooling and a career. The requirements for working at USAID are a master's degree, foreign language, and about 3 years of work experience. Peace Corps gives Simba an opportunity to start his career path.

Keywords: Baltimore, Maryland; Careers; Coppin State University; Global Studies; United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Subjects: Baltimore (Md.); Career conferences; Colleges; Foreign Service

Partial Transcript: Right before Peace Corps, after graduating from Coppin in 2015, I served as a program manager, uh, for a national non-profit at the time called Concerned Black Men National.

Segment Synopsis: Simba discusses his work as a program manager for the non-profit Concerned Black Men in 2016. He taught middle school children life skills through volunteer mentors. Weekend enrichment trips are used to gather experiences and development with special speakers.

Keywords: Concerned Black Men; Congressman Elijah Cummings

Subjects: Life skills; Program manager; Weekend enrichment trips

Partial Transcript: So you started in the youth and development, uh, uh, area even before you went in Peace Corps.

Segment Synopsis: Simba discusses the benefits and successes of caring, service-oriented individuals and youth development programs. He understood the issues with poverty, especially food needs and the struggles living in Baltimore. Simba and his mom needed assistance. He lost his childhood friend at a young age. From that experience, he participated and benefited from youth programs. Now, he has a desire to give back to youth development.

Keywords: Poverty; Youth Development Program

Subjects: Development program; Food needs; Poverty

Partial Transcript: Uh, this, um--or, you know, rekindled your desire to, to join Peace Corps after, after working...

Segment Synopsis: Simba talks about his decision to enter Peace Corps. In his youth, he never heard about the Peace Corps. During his Global Studies program, he read about the Peace Corps from time to time. At a youth development program at UMBC called the Choice Program, Simba heard about the Peace Corps for the first time from his fellow case workers. Sargent Shriver started the Choice Program.

Keywords: Choice Program; Peace Corps; Role models; Sergeant Shriver; University of Maryland Baltimore County

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.)

Partial Transcript: So tell me about your application process.

Segment Synopsis: Simba worked for the non-profit Concerned Black Men National from 2015 to 2017. He applied to Peace Corps four times before having an interview. One year had a very high number of applicants. He incorporated the feedback each time. Simba had a son. An agreement is needed by both parents for someone with a child to join Peace Corps. He did not have a specific country request during the application process. Simba thought that his work experience was not fully understood. He wanted to work in youth development as a volunteer. He got the interview after the fourth time.

Keywords: Concerned Black Men National; Foreign language; Non-profit; Peace Corps

Subjects: Application; Family; Interviews; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador; Youth Development

Partial Transcript: Well so you--were you, um, were you excited to go to Ecuador?

Segment Synopsis: Simba talks about his feelings of excitement and frustration to go to Ecuador after a four year wait.

Keywords: Acceptance to Peace Corps Ecuador; Ecuador; Excitement; Frustration

Subjects: Ecuador; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador

Partial Transcript: So, um, yeah, so tell me about, uh, when you, um, took off and entered the country.

Segment Synopsis: Simba discusses his thoughts about staging in Miami, Florida and first impressions of Ecuador. The cohort was diverse by race and age as well as sexual orientation. He talks about his struggles with the Spanish language.

Keywords: Baltimore (Md.); Cohorts; Diverse cohort; Diversity; Ecuador; Miami (Fla.); Omnibus 118; Sexual orientation; Spanish; Spanish (Language); Staging

Subjects: Ecuador; Language and languages; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador

Partial Transcript: Yeah, so, um, I, I don't know how much you traveled before but I'm sure Ecuador looked a lot different than Baltimore, huh?

Segment Synopsis: Prior to Peace Corps, Simba had never traveled abroad. His aspirations to work in youth development came from his domestic travels and working in Baltimore. He follows up with his first impressions of Ecuador, especially adjustments to the infrastructure and foods. He discusses the differences serving in Peace Corps then and now.

Keywords: Baltimore (Md.); Diversity; Ecuador; First impressions; Los Angeles (Calif.); Quito, Ecuador; Serving in Peace Corps

Subjects: Acculturation; Culture; Ecuador; Food; Housing; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador; Travel; Youth programs

Partial Transcript: In training, did you stay with a host family or were you guys in a dormitory or what?

Segment Synopsis: Simba talks about staying with a host family during training in Nayon, a suburb of Quito, Ecuador. The host family welcomed him and introduced him to Quito.

Keywords: Diversity; Host family; Living arrangements; Nayon, Ecuador; Quito, Ecuador; Training

Subjects: Acculturation; Culture; Ecuador; Intercultural communication; Interpersonal communication and culture; Interpersonal relations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador

Partial Transcript: Then what did your training consist of?

Segment Synopsis: Simba talks about his training at a high level. Simba discusses the effectiveness of Peace Corps training. He says he has a unique background and Peace Corps did a fair job during training in preparing him for his service. His experience living in the inner city helped him as well.

Keywords: Cross culture training; Cultural awareness; Diversity; Equity; Inclusion; Inner city; Language training; Medical training; Safety training; Security training; Spanish (Language); Technical training; Training; Urban Youth Development Volunteer

Subjects: Ecuador; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador; Training; Youth Development

Partial Transcript: Any memorable stories in, uh, uh--during training?

Segment Synopsis: Simba talks about not being able to read a note from his host family during training. He relates his feelings of not being literate in this particular situation to the plight of incarcerated people who cannot read letters from their family. Eventually, a fellow trainee assisted him in translating the note.

Keywords: Host family; Languages; Pichincha Mountain

Subjects: Training

Partial Transcript: So after training, um, where did you get assigned?

Segment Synopsis: Simba was disappointed about the location of his assignment in Quito, though he was excited about his job assignment.

Keywords: Country assignment; Quito, Ecuador; Rehabilitation centers; Valle de los Chillos; Youth

Subjects: Ecuador; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador

Partial Transcript: Did you eventually come to like living in Quito?

Segment Synopsis: Simba discusses the advantages and disadvantages of living in Quito. Having a diverse population in Quito, he was able to find vegetarian foods. He also talks about his favorite places to visit in Ecuador, an Afro-Ecuadorian community north of Quito called Valle de Chota, and Guayaquil.

Keywords: Afro-Ecuadorian community; Guayaquil, Ecuador; Living in Quito; Quito, Ecuador; Vegetarians

Subjects: Acculturation; Culture; Ecuador; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador

Partial Transcript: Tell me about your job.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Segment Synopsis: Simba's job involved working at the youth rehabilitation center through the Quito government. He taught life skills, teamwork, and leadership through sporting and art activities at the rehabilitation center. He also taught English as a foreign language. Simba gives his insight on the youth at the rehabilitation center. Most youth were involved with drugs, primarily cocaine derivatives. The juvenile system and parents referred the youth because they needed assistance. Simba talks about the number of volunteers at his work site. He was the only Peace Corps volunteer. There was a volunteer from a Japanese agency.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Keywords: Baltimore (Md.); Cocaine; Japanese agency; Job descriptions; Juvenile justice system; Leadership; Quito, Ecuador; Rehabilitation; Teamwork; Volunteers at site; Washington, D.C.; Youth

Subjects: Drug abuse; Ecuador; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: And did you live there?

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Segment Synopsis: Simba begins talking about his transportation to the rehabilitation center. Then he discusses another project teaching English as a foreign language in collaboration with Manna Project International.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Keywords: Bikes; Buses; Living arrangements; Manna Project International; Second Peace Corps project; Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL)

Subjects: Ecuador; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador; Transportation

Partial Transcript: Now did you work at these--did you work at these two locations at the same time?

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Segment Synopsis: Imhotep Simba talks about his working tenure during his service at Casa de las Ninas Numero Dos and Manna Project International. He explains he worked at Casa de las Ninas Numero Dos for a year and a half. He supported at Manna Project International for his last six months.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Keywords: Casa de las Ninas Numero Dos; Manna Project International

Subjects: Ecuador; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador

Partial Transcript: So, um, what was it like working with youths--youth?

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Segment Synopsis: Initially, Simba had difficulties working with the youth due to his lack of Spanish language skills, cultural differences, and racial identity. He understood that he needed time to adapt to a different culture.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Keywords: "Spanglish"; African Americans; Baltimore (Md.); Challenges; Cultural differences; Racial identity; Spanish (Language); Work; Working with youth; Youth

Subjects: Ecuador; Language and culture; Language and languages; Minorities; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador; Race relations

Partial Transcript: Do you think you made some impact?

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Segment Synopsis: Simba thinks he had an impact on a small scale but not overall. He recognizes that he was a guest in the country who could leave at any time while the youth must live there and cope with their problems.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Keywords: Ecuadorians; Impact on youth; Life skills; Youth

Subjects: Ecuador; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador

Partial Transcript: And then there's the aspect of just you as an individual.

Segment Synopsis: Simba opens up about his personal experiences and then discusses stereotypes for Afro-Ecuadorians. He says anti-Blackness is prevalent in the United States as well as Ecuador.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Keywords: Activism; Afro-Ecuadorian; Anti-Blackness; Athletes; Black Americans; Colorism; Musicians; Quito, Ecuador; Stereotypes; Vegans

Subjects: Acculturation; Culture; Ecuador; Intercultural communication; Interpersonal communication and culture; Interpersonal relations; Minorities; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador; Race relations

Partial Transcript: Outside of, um, outside of work then and your community--

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Segment Synopsis: Simba talks about his experiences of integration in his community. He says by the end of his service, he felt fully integrated. That occurred through his interactions with the people.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Keywords: Conocoto; Culture; Guayaquil, Ecuador; Integration

Subjects: Acculturation; Culture; Ecuador; Intercultural communication; Interpersonal communication and culture; Interpersonal relations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador

Partial Transcript: Well, I'm just, uh, wondering, uh, you know, so your being there probably taught them something about diversity, but also what did you learn from living in a, a, um--

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Segment Synopsis: Simba recounts a story about helping the kids learn English, through which he learned about a cultural difference in helping. He would teach the kids but not do the work. The kids expected him to do the work because he is the expert. The community looks upon the experts to do or lead the efforts for the task. If the expert refuses, the community considers the expert as “bad.”

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Keywords: Cultural differences; English; Helping with English; Ideology; Lessons learned from cultural differences; Peace Corps

Subjects: Acculturation; Culture; Ecuador; Intercultural communication; Interpersonal communication and culture; Interpersonal relations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador

Partial Transcript: Um, during your, your time there, di--w, w, were there any times when you just, um, felt so isolated or discouraged that you--

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Segment Synopsis: Simba talks about his personal aspirations to complete his service. He had challenges, but never wanted to early terminate. During his service, he had twenty visitors from the United States.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Keywords: Early termination; Family investment; Georgetown University; Graduate schools; Isolation; Personal aspirations; Poverty; Travel; Visitors

Subjects: Ecuador; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador; Travel

Partial Transcript: You know, and people--the perception of Peace Corps is you go off in the, the bush--

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Segment Synopsis: Outside of the major cities, Simba talks about the need of Peace Corps in Ecuador, especially to overcome poverty in the rural communities and highlands.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Keywords: Ecuador; Esmeraldas; Guayaquil, Ecuador; Ideology; Need of Peace Corps; Peace Corps; Poverty; Venezuela

Subjects: Ecuador; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador; Poverty

Partial Transcript: And, I mean, in addition to, to fighting poverty and improving education, do you think it, um, it helps to improve--

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Segment Synopsis: Simba discusses the idea of stereotypes of the United States and how he is different from that image. From that, diversity is essential to show the world. He says the greatest strength about America is family. America is a melting pot of different families and America has to work to show the importance of diversity.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Keywords: "Melting pot"; Americans; Diversity; Family

Subjects: Culture; Diversity; Peace Corps (U.S.)

Partial Transcript: So you, you haven't been back very long, um, uh, but do you think your life, uh, or your attitudes towards, uh, toward--

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Segment Synopsis: Simba is thankful for his life right now. Without Peace Corps, he would not be in his current situation. He highly recommends Peace Corps.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Keywords: Peace Corps; Recommendation for Peace Corps; Recommendations

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.)

Partial Transcript: And even privilege.

Segment Synopsis: Simba gives his thoughts about being privileged to do Peace Corps. He provides his perspective about being an able-bodied male.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Keywords: Disability; Male; Peace Corps; Privilege

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.); Privileges

Partial Transcript: Alright, uh, well I don't have any other questions.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Segment Synopsis: Imhotep Simba gives his final thoughts, recommending Peace Corps and the need for diversity.

[Technical Issue: The TheirStory recording platform experienced a technical glitch resulting in a timecode shift that results in moments in this interview that are out of sequence.]  

Keywords: Diversity; Need for diversity; Peace Corps; Recommend Peace Corps

Subjects: Intercultural communication; Interpersonal communication and culture; Interpersonal relations; Minorities; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador; Race relations