Interview with Edward Rowley, April 16, 2021

Partial Transcript: Hello. Today is April 16th, 2021. My name is Jay Sztuk. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji, 1974 through 1976. And today, I'm going to interview Ed Rowley who was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia, 1966 through 1968, in the applied nutrition program. And, uh, was also Peace Corps staff in Swaziland, uh, 1981 through 1986.

Segment Synopsis: Rowley grew up in rural Minnesota. When Rowley was 9 years old, Haile Selassie visited Rowley's neighbor to observe the cattle. Rowley was inspired by John F. Kennedy and attended a rally for Kennedy in 1960 in the Twin Cities. While a college student, Rowley applied to the Peace Corps and was offered a posting as an agriculture Volunteer in Colombia. Rowley accepted the invitation.

Keywords: Applications; Applying; Excited; Haile Selassie; Invitations; John F. Kennedy; Minnesota; Minnesota State College; Peace Corps staff; Rochester (Minn.); Rural areas; Twin Cities (Minn.)

Subjects: Emotions; Ethiopia; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--1960-1970; Peace Corps (U.S.)--1980-1990; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Colombia; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Swaziland; Universities and colleges; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: And went to training in June of 1966.

Segment Synopsis: Pre-service training included 17 days in San Pedro Totoltepec, Mexico where Rowley observed a lot of poverty. Rowley's cohort began with 61 members, of whom 39 became Volunteers. Rowley had trouble passing the water survival part of training.

Keywords: Cohorts; Examinations; Exams; Mexico City (Mexico); Population; Poverty; Problems; San Pedro Totoltepec (Mexico); Toluca (Mexico); Transportation; Traveling

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

Partial Transcript: We, we went from there to, to, uh, we went to Colombia.

Segment Synopsis: Rowley's group was flown from New York City to Bogota, Colombia. Rowley was the second Volunteer to be assigned to Barrio Especial Del Salado. One of the key people in the town was the Catholic priest. Rowley rented his house from the priest. Rowley touches on the violent history of the region shortly before his arrival. Although he was harassed by the security authorities at times, Rowley never felt in any personal danger. Rowley found the local Peace Corps staff to be supportive. Rowley's work involved giving various presentations, including making broadcasts from the local radio station.

Keywords: Activities; Adjustment; Barrio Especial Del Salado (Colombia); Bogota (Colombia); Conflicts; Deaths; Fluency; History; Holidays; Housing; Influences; Language skills; New York City (N.Y.); Peace Corps directors; Peace Corps staff; Radio stations; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Returning; Safety; Speaking; Support; Traveling

Subjects: Acculturation; Colombia; Culture; International travel; Interpersonal relations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Colombia; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: I want to go back to your, your, your training. We kind of skipped ahead, uh, to, to Colombia.

Segment Synopsis: For Rowley's cohort, most of pre-service training occurred at New Mexico State University. Rowley was already familiar with the material covered in the technical training but found the language training and cultural training useful. Rowley bonded with others in his cohort, especially those with similar farming backgrounds.

Keywords: Cultural training; Friends; Influences; Language training; New Mexico State University; New York City (N.Y.); Ohio; Rochester (Minn.); Socializing; Spanish (Language); Technical training; Traveling

Subjects: Colombia; Costa Rica; Interpersonal relations; Language and languages; Mexico; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Colombia; Spain; Teachers; Universities and colleges; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, do you remember, um, when, when you, uh, finished training and you flew into, uh, Co--uh, Colombia, was this the first time you'd been in a foreign country?

Segment Synopsis: Before arriving in Colombia, Rowley had done little traveling. Most of Rowley's family had supported his joining the Peace Corps and he was excited to arrive in Colombia.

Keywords: Excited; Family; Iowa; Montana; South Dakota; Support; Traveling

Subjects: Colombia; Emotions; Families.; Health; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Colombia; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: And, uh, how, how did you find the, um, the people in, uh, Colombia? Was it a pretty easy transition there?

Segment Synopsis: Rowley describes moving into his house at his work site. Generally, the people where he lived were welcoming and spoke positively of the previous Volunteer. Overall, Peace Corps had a good reputation in Colombia except that college students tended to be anti-American. Rowley purposely avoided socializing with local people in the upper class to maintain better relations with the common people with whom he normally worked.

Keywords: Arrangements; Cooperation; Deaths; Housing; Ibague (Colombia); Invitations; Local people; Locals; Problems; Relationships; Reputations; Socializing

Subjects: Anti-Americanism; College students--Attitudes; Colombia; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Colombia; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Tell, tell me about this, uh, the town you lived in.

Segment Synopsis: Rowley last visited his work site in 1998. Rowley found that since his previous visit in 1983 - 1984, it had developed into a thriving, urban area. In 1998, the standard of living of his friends there was much improved. Rowley gives a brief description of living conditions of his work site upon his first arrival.

Keywords: Amenities; Changes; Contact; Illness; Letters; Living conditions; Returning; Sickness; Social media

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

Partial Transcript: So you talked about working with a priest and with another person. So was there a, a local like department or organization that you were assigned to? Or did you just have to go down and kind of make your own way?

Segment Synopsis: Rowley was loosely associated with a local office of P.I.N.A. (Integrated Program of Applied Nutrition) which was supervised by a doctor. Rowley touches on some of the local health challenges.

Keywords: Deaths; Doctors; Integrated Program of Applied Nutrition (PINA); P.I.N.A. (Integrated Program of Applied Nutrition); Sanitation

Subjects: Colombia; Health; Mexico; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Colombia; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: What was your, your typical work day like?

Segment Synopsis: Rowley had a pig breeding station outside his house. So, people would show up anytime during the day with their sow in heat to have it mate with Rowley's animal. Rowley was active with the local 4-H club. Rowley developed a community garden and helped people with individual home gardens.

Keywords: Activities; Animal husbandry; Community service; Leaving; Poverty; Problems

Subjects: Colombia; Lifestyles; Manners and customs; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Colombia; Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in horticulture; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Now, you know, when you first moved into that community, what'd you do to kind of integrate and, and, uh, be accepted by the people?

Segment Synopsis: Rowley found the common people's lifestyle to be very basic. Rowley was willing to work with people of all ages and never asked people to do anything which he was unwilling to help with. Rowley was able to demonstrate that he cared about the people and gained their trust. Generally, Rowley found the local priest to be supportive of him, as well.

Keywords: Acceptance; Ages; Challenges; Local people; Locals; Support

Subjects: Colombia; Interpersonal relations; Lifestyles; Manners and customs; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Colombia; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Do you have any memorable experiences there of living in the community?

Segment Synopsis: Rowley recounts being invited to a celebration dinner by a local friend, after the friend had survived some extreme economic hardship. During his time of service, Rowley was excited to see the improvements in the common people's diet in his community.

Keywords: Accomplishments; Changes; Cultural differences; Excited; Food; Friends; Ibague (Colombia); Improvements; Invitations; Traveling

Subjects: Colombia; Emotions; Food habits; Interpersonal relations; Lifestyles; Manners and customs; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Colombia; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, did you, um, did you have any time off where you got to see more of the country?

Segment Synopsis: Rowley did some in-country traveling mostly to support other Volunteers or to attend meetings. Rowley thought that the other Volunteers were also doing well on their projects. Rowley did make one trip to Cali that was not work related. Mostly, Rowley was happy to stay at his work site.

Keywords: Animal husbandry; Cali (Colombia); Community involvement; Holidays; Site visits; Support; Traveling

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

Partial Transcript: After two years there, uh, you were, you were feeling pretty, pretty much at home. Did you think about staying longer?

Segment Synopsis: While serving in Colombia, Rowley was offered a temporary job there with the Rockefeller Foundation. Rowley also got a letter from his draft board saying he was eligible to be drafted. However, in the draft lottery, Rowley ended up with a high number. Ultimately, Rowley chose to return to the U.S. at the end of his service and became a teacher.

Keywords: Advice; Career paths; Decisions; Jobs; Leaving; Letters; Military drafts; Peace Corps directors; Returning; Richard Nixon; Traveling; Vietnam War

Subjects: Colombia; Emotions; International travel; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Colombia; Teaching; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Okay, but then, um, oh, 12, 12 years or so later, you decided to get involved with Peace Corps again. How did that happen?

Segment Synopsis: A Peace Corps staff member who knew Rowley from Colombia asked if Rowley was interested in a position in Burkina Faso. Rowley declined because he didn't know French. However, Rowley subsequently accepted a staff position in Swaziland.

Keywords: Career paths; Decisions; French (Language); Jobs; Language barriers; Peace Corps directors; Peace Corps staff; Spanish (Language); Telephone calls

Subjects: Burkina Faso; Colombia; Kingdom of Eswatini; Language and languages; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kingdom of Eswatini; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Management; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Swaziland; Swaziland; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: And, what was your position there?

Segment Synopsis: Rowley became the associate director of agriculture and rural development of the Peace Corps staff in Swaziland. Throughout his service in Swaziland, Rowley felt supported by his wife and children, who all moved there with him.

Keywords: Bogota (Colombia); Children; Criticism; Family; Ibague (Colombia); Peace Corps director; Peace Corps staff; Support; Traveling; Understanding

Subjects: Colombia; Health; International travel; Kingdom of Eswatini; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kingdom of Eswatini; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Management; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Swaziland; Swaziland; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: Okay, so, now you've got a different position there as staff and, and you have to deal with, with these Volunteers.

Segment Synopsis: There were about 90 Volunteers in Swaziland, about half of whom were in agriculture and the rest were in math/science education. Rowley relates how unpleasant encounters with the South African police reminded him of Colombia.

Keywords: Acclimation; Ages; Borders; Children; Conflicts; Deaths; Fernanda Castillo; Florida; Minnesota; News; Peace Corps staff; Politics and government; Problems; Ronald Reagan; Telephone calls; Traveling; Twin Cities (Minn.)

Subjects: Acculturation; Colombia; International travel; Kingdom of Eswatini; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kingdom of Eswatini; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Management; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Swaziland; South Africa; Swaziland; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Tell me about some of the headaches that the Volunteers gave you.

Segment Synopsis: Rowley relates that many of the problems that he dealt with concerned the health and safety of the Volunteers.

Keywords: Dangerous; Dangers; Florida; Problems; Safety

Subjects: Health; Kingdom of Eswatini; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kingdom of Eswatini; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Swaziland; Site visits; Swaziland; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So when you lived there, um--of course, you have a different living standard as staff than, than you did as a Volunteer.

Segment Synopsis: Rowley describes his children's local schooling and their resulting attitudes regarding race. Rowley enjoyed his time as Peace Corps staff and still has contact with some of the Volunteers he supervised.

Keywords: Attitudes; Changes; Children; Dancing; Louisiana; Marriage; Older volunteers; Peace Corps staff

Subjects: Emotions; Hurricanes; Interpersonal relations; Kingdom of Eswatini; Language and languages; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kingdom of Eswatini; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Management; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Swaziland; Racism; Schools; Swaziland; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: And do you think, uh, Peace Corps was making a, a good impact there in Swaziland?

Segment Synopsis: Rowley feels that the Peace Corps programs in Swaziland were making a positive contribution. After returning to the U.S. in 1968, Rowley never turned down an invitation to talk about the Peace Corps. Rowley addressed one first and second grade class. 16 years later, one of the second graders ended up as a Volunteer in Swaziland with Rowley.

Keywords: Cultural differences; Doctors; Fulton (Mo.); Invitations; Michigan State University; Speaking; Third Goal

Subjects: Kingdom of Eswatini; Language and languages; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kingdom of Eswatini; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Swaziland; South America; Swaziland; Universities and colleges; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Alright. So, so then, after Swaziland, uh, you no longer worked for Peace Corps, huh?

Segment Synopsis: It was emotionally difficult for Rowley's children to move back to the U.S. Rowley went to work for a food bank and got involved with community gardening.

Keywords: Activities; Anxiety; Anxious; Behavior; Career paths; Children; Community involvement; Family; Gender roles; Jobs; Leaving; Returning; Siblings; Site visits; Traveling

Subjects: Acculturation; Emotions; Families.; Finance; Food habits; Health; International travel; Kingdom of Eswatini; Language and languages; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kingdom of Eswatini; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Swaziland; Stress (Psychology); Swaziland; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Well, um, I think that, that, uh, exhausts all of my questions.

Segment Synopsis: Rowley recounts an anecdote of a female forestry Volunteer in Swaziland. By being sensitive to the local culture, she was able to gain the people's trust and make her project a success.

Keywords: Impact; Returning; Site visits; Sustainability

Subjects: Interpersonal relations; Kingdom of Eswatini; Language and languages; Manners and customs; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kingdom of Eswatini; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Swaziland; Swaziland; Voluntarism; Volunteers