Interview with Joshua Mayer, April 25, 2021

Partial Transcript: I'm Evelyn Ganzglass.

Segment Synopsis: As a high school student, Mayer read a book about Peace Corps Volunteers' experiences while in service, and, after graduating from college in Finland, attending school in Chile, and working for 2 years, he applied when he lost his job during an economic recession. He had prior professional experience in sustainable agriculture, as well as personal experience from working on a farm in Alaska. His pre-service training gave him additional skills that he used in Ecuador. During training, he learned to prune cacao trees and then led workshops for Ecuadorans, teaching them to do it.

Keywords: Alaska; Chile; Economic recessions; Ecuador; Finland; Pruning cacao trees; Sustainable agriculture

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

Partial Transcript: So had you applied to go into an agriculture program?

Segment Synopsis: Mayer expressed an interest in an agriculture program in Peace Corps; he wanted to serve in Latin America, too. Mayer was substitute teaching when he was accepted into Peace Corps. Staging was in Washington, D.C., followed by a flight to Quito, Ecuador. There were between 30-40 members of his group, with more women than men. Mayer had been to Chile and Bolivia prior to arriving in Ecuador. He spent 10 weeks in training center in Tumbaco, a suburb of Quito. He lived with a host family. The gender roles in Ecuador, in Mayer's estimation, made adjustment easier for him than for the women in his group.

Keywords: Agriculture programs; Bolivia; Gender roles; Host family; Interest in agriculture; Latin America; Quito (Ecuador); Staging; Substitute teaching; Tumbaco (Ecuador); Washington, D.C.

Subjects: Acculturation; Agriculture; Culture; Culture shock; Ecuador; Lifestyles; Manners and customs; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: So you said that it was good hands-on training in, in agriculture.

Segment Synopsis: During pre-service training, Mayer had access to a garden. He and his group members took field trips where they led workshops in places along the coast and along the Amazon River. They also learned to make organic fertilizers using local ingredients. He learned grafting of fruit trees. Mayer was conversant in Spanish when he arrived; still, he had language instruction from Ecuadoran instructors.

Keywords: Amazon River; Grafting trees; Language and languages; Lifestyles; Organic fertilizers; Spanish (Language)

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

Partial Transcript: So, um, what happened after training? Where were you assigned?

Segment Synopsis: Mayer was originally assigned to Bahia de Caraquez, along the Pacific coast, where he worked in an agricultural association of cattlemen. The men there didn't have a vision of using a Volunteer. Mayer was rather unexpectedly placed in a remote, one-street village where a Volunteer had been requested but not matched with one until Mayer appeared. People immediately took him in and he welcomed their embrace of him. He says that his host mother was an amazing community leader.

Keywords: Assignments; Bahia de Caraquez (Ecuador); Cattlemen; Climate; Finding his place in Ecuador; Host families; Host mothers; Opportunities; Remote villages; Rural areas; San Miguel de Piquigua (Ecuador); Villages

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

Partial Transcript: So what, what did you actually do in the village?

Segment Synopsis: Mayer taught community leaders to prune cacao trees and led workshops related to increasing production. Mayer also led workshops on community gardens and the merits of growing vegetables to eat. For his host mother, who became his counterpart, he created a spreadsheet to track expenses of the microbank in which she worked. Environmental education became another focus of Mayer's as he taught the topic in the local schools. In a youth group, the kids ran a juice stand while others competed in sports.

Keywords: Environmental education; Finding his place in Ecuador; Increasing production; Mayer's main activities; Microbanks; Projects; Remote villages; San Miguel de Piquigua (Ecuador)

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

Partial Transcript: Did you have any free time?

Segment Synopsis: Mayer enjoyed his autonomy in Ecuador which capitalized on his flexibility. He learned with the community people as they learned from him. He had his own garden. He says that life was simpler there. Learning to care for one's community was an important lesson to convey, in Mayer's opinion. He had a host family that made him feel as if he were a part of it. They built a separate cabin on their land for him yet he ate his meals with the family. Mayer feels that he was truly connected with the people in his village. Mayer also hosted "couch surfers." One of them asked if Mayer was lonely at his site. Actually, he didn't feel loneliness. Mayer appreciated that "it takes a village" to raise kids. Mayer continues to ponder intergenerational living and the value of community and family connectedness.

Keywords: "Couch surfers"; Care for one's community; Gardens; Intergenerational living; Loneliness; Value of community

Subjects: Acculturation; Culture; Ecuador; Intercultural communication; Interpersonal relations; Lifestyles; Manners and customs; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So you spent two years there. Did you travel coming back?

Segment Synopsis: During service, Mayer went to the beach to surf and he also attended Peace Corps events in Quito. The closest Volunteer to him lived 2 hours away, and Mayer visited him periodically. He hiked in the Sierra, too, taking a 5-day trek in the Andes. He saw an Andean spectacled bear which is rare, as well as a wolf on another hike. Hiking in the Andes "upped his game" as a hiker.

Keywords: Andean spectacled bear; Andes Mountains; Hikes; Hiking; Recreation; Surfing; Travel in Ecuador; Vacations; Wolf; Wolves

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

Partial Transcript: Sounds like you had a, a wonderful time.

Segment Synopsis: Mayer shared knowledge that was well received by people in the community. He saw them implement of some of the ideas which was gratifying, especially when kids embraced them. He thinks that he learned more from people there than he contributed. He'd like to live on a farm at some point. Mayer learned to make furniture -- his bed, his table -- which he left in his cabin. He actually sent home a coffee table that he made in Ecuador. He talks about his experiences explaining his service to other Americans. Mayer was not the first Volunteer to serve in his community.

Keywords: Furniture making; Implementation of ideas; Interpersonal relations; Lifestyles; Manners and customs

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

Partial Transcript: So, I'm out of my questions. But, uh, is there something you wanted to talk about, uh, that I didn't ask you about?

Segment Synopsis: Mayer is glad to have been interviewed as he's remembering many fond recollections. He'd encourage anyone with a slight interest in Peace Corps to apply. He thinks that Volunteers who fulfill the 2 year commitment are proud of their accomplishment. "It's worth rolling the dice to see what experience you'll have."

Keywords: Advice; Commitments; Memories; Prospective volunteers; Recommendations

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

Partial Transcript: And I'm fortunate that, you know, as I said, that host family that I had I think was really critical.

Segment Synopsis: Mayer feels very fortunate for his host family and his connections with them. He tries to return every 2-3 years. Mayer feels closer to his host family than to his own blood relatives in some ways.

Keywords: Cisterns; Communication; Contact; Development; Host families; Internet; Progress; Quinceañera; Relationships; Return

Subjects: Culture; Ecuador; Intercultural communication; Interpersonal relations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador; Voluntarism; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Um, I think it taught me a lot of humility.

Segment Synopsis: He learned humility. He learned how little he really needs to be happy and fulfilled. He learned to be resourceful. He learned the value of doing work that he believes in. Peace Corps helped him learn to be passionate about his professional work. Peace Corps also confirmed that he'd like to have a small farm of his own due to his formative farm experience in Ecuador. He learned compassion and empathy for others and about political issues.

Keywords: Careers; Compassion; Farms; Humility; Impact; Lessons learned; Material possessions; Relationships; Solar energy

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

Partial Transcript: I did actually travel after the Peace Corps for about four and a half months.

Segment Synopsis: After service, he traveled for 4 months with a friend, often visiting other Volunteers in their sites. Mayer also learned to be thankful. To Mayer, Peace Corps is good for people who can thrive without much structure and use the freedom to use their own resources.

Keywords: Motivation; Peace Corps Volunteers; Peru; Skills; Teaching; Travel; Villages; Visiting

Subjects: Culture; Ecuador; Intercultural communication; Interpersonal relations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ecuador; Voluntarism; Volunteers