Interview with Chris Hyslop, June 9, 2021

Partial Transcript: My name is Katherine Weist and I'm a, uh, Peace Corps Volunteer. Went to South Africa in 2001 to 2003 and then I was on the Peace Corps Response to, to Republic of Georgia in 2014. And I am interviewing Chris Hyslop. Did I pronounce your last name correctly?

Segment Synopsis: Before he joined the Peace Corps, Hyslop had been teaching for 2 years at a small, rural high school near where he grew up in Minnesota. Hyslop's motivation for joining the Peace Corps included having a worldly family, which included a brother and uncle who were Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, dissatisfaction with his job, and a desire to travel.

Keywords: Childhood; Difficult; Family; High schools; Influences; Interests; Jobs; Minnesota; Motivation; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Rural areas; Traveling

Subjects: Costa Rica; International travel; Kyrgyzstan; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--1990-2000; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kyrgyzstan; Teaching; Thailand; Volunteer workers in education

Partial Transcript: Uh, did you have any idea or conception of where you wanted to go?

Segment Synopsis: On his application, Hyslop stated a preference for serving in Eastern Europe or the former Soviet Union. After receiving his posting, Hyslop went to the public library to do research on Kyrgyzstan. Hyslop was able to exchange email with a Volunteer in the first cohort sent to Kyrgyzstan. Hyslop's cohort was the third sent to Kyrgyzstan.

Keywords: Applications; Applying; Books; Cohorts; Emails; History; Moscow (Russia); Peace Corps interviews; Peace Corps recruiters; St. Petersburg (Russia)

Subjects: Bulgaria; Eastern Europe; Hungary; Kyrgyzstan; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kyrgyzstan; Poland; Research; Soviet Union; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: OK. So, you get sent to Kyrgyzstan.

Segment Synopsis: Hyslop had pre-service training in Bishkek where the cohort members stayed with host families. 38 trainees started in Hyslop's group, of which 26 completed the 2 years of service. Because Hyslop had teaching experience, he was encouraged by the Peace Corps staff to accept an assignment at a university rather than a high school. Hyslop agreed and, accordingly, chose to study Russian during pre-service training. Hyslop has a high opinion of his pre-service training.

Keywords: Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan); Choices; Cultural training; High schools; Host families; Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan); Karakol (Kyrgyzstan); Kyrgyz (Language); Language training; Peace Corps staff; Russian (Language); Technical training; Tian Shan; Traveling

Subjects: Kyrgyzstan; Language and languages; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kyrgyzstan; Teachers; Teaching

Partial Transcript: And then, you went to the university to teach.

Segment Synopsis: Hyslop was assigned to Karakol State University. Hyslop lived alone in a small apartment by the university. Hyslop was happy with his living arrangement.

Keywords: Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan); Changes; History; Host families; Karakol (Kyrgyzstan); Karakol State University; Living alone; Safety; Traveling

Subjects: Kyrgyzstan; Lifestyles; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kyrgyzstan; Teachers; Teaching; Universities and colleges

Partial Transcript: In a matter of a week's time, um, classes started at the university. I got my schedule and my students and I just began teaching.

Segment Synopsis: Hyslop was assigned to teach 3 sections of English at the university. In addition, Hyslop had an English class for his colleagues in the department of foreign language. Hyslop was involved with various other English related activities in the community. Hyslop also coached a local baseball team and was involved with a local hockey team.

Keywords: Activities; Community involvement; Media; Secondary projects; Sports; Teaching English as a foreign language

Subjects: Canada; Kyrgyzstan; Lifestyles; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kyrgyzstan; Teachers; Teaching; Universities and colleges

Partial Transcript: So, how many Volunteers were in the town?

Segment Synopsis: Hyslop was the third Volunteer assigned to his town which had a population of 20,000 to 30,000 people. Hyslop comments that arriving at an acquaintance's house, uninvited, was an accepted sign of friendship. There were only a few other foreigners in Hyslop's town and Hyslop rarely met with them.

Keywords: Alcohol; Amenities; Cohorts; Conversations; Cultural differences; Drinking; Food culture; Foreigners; Holidays; Invitations; Karakol (Kyrgyzstan); Questions; Running water; Second Goal; Site mates; Socializing; Telephone calls; Third Goal

Subjects: Canada; Kyrgyzstan; Lifestyles; Manners and customs; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kyrgyzstan; Soviet Union; United States. Agency for International Development; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: So, tell me about teaching in the high schools.

Segment Synopsis: Hyslop had about 10 students per class. Hyslop's co-teachers were rather unmotivated as their pay was low and sporadic. University students were generally allowed to pass, as to fail a student was rare. Interactions with his students gave Hyslop a window into the local culture.

Keywords: Awareness; Class sizes; Co-teachers; Cultural training; Differences; Language training; Learning; Marriage; Motivation; Pre-service training; Technical training; Treatment of women

Subjects: Culture; Finance; Kyrgyzstan; Lifestyles; Manners and customs; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kyrgyzstan; Teachers; Teaching; Universities and colleges

Partial Transcript: So, how did you find the, the Peace Corps headquarters in Kyrgyzstan?

Segment Synopsis: Hyslop found the Peace Corps staff supportive. Hyslop feels there's a relationship between a Volunteer being autonomous and thus having a more enriching cultural experience and a Volunteer being more reliant on support from the Peace Corps.

Keywords: Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan); Distance; Peace Corps staff; Support

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

Partial Transcript: How similar or different was teaching there as opposed to the United States?

Segment Synopsis: Hyslop contrasts the educational systems in the U.S. and in Kyrgyzstan. Hyslop describes some of the techniques he used which were interactive and incorporated elements of American culture. Hyslop touches on the history of Russia and its influence on some of the surrounding areas. After Hyslop completed his Peace Corps service, he remained in Kyrgyzstan for a year working for a non-governmental organization.

Keywords: Autonomy; Career paths; Changes; Class sizes; Cultural exchange; Ethnicity; Goals; High schools; History; Jobs; Karakol (Kyrgyzstan); Language learning; Manners and customs; Politics and government; Siberia; Social media; Teaching English as a foreign language; Techniques; Tourism; Traveling; Young people

Subjects: Azerbaijan; Caucasus; Central Asia; Eastern Europe; Emigration and immigration; Georgia; Immigrants; International travel; Kyrgyzstan; Lifestyles; Non-governmental organizations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kyrgyzstan; Russia; School systems; Student activities; Tajikistan; Teachers; Teaching; Turkey; Universities and colleges

Partial Transcript: What do you think was helpful for you to be a quote, unquote "success" or where did you have problems as a Peace Corps Volunteer?

Segment Synopsis: Hyslop feels he was successful in having an amazing experience as a Volunteer. Hyslop used his time in the Peace Corps to try new things and, as a result, his time as a Volunteer was personally life changing. Hyslop found his Peace Corps service a positive release from his previous job. Through his Peace Corps service, Hyslop "found" himself. Because of his Peace Corps service, Hyslop went on to have a long career as a United Nations official. Serving in the Peace Corps forces one out of one's comfort zone and forces one to re-evaluate one's values.

Keywords: Advice; Career paths; Comfort zones; Differences; Difficult; First Goal; Illness; Isak Dinesen; Jobs; Personal growth; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Second Goal; Sickness; Third Goal; Traveling

Subjects: International travel; Kyrgyzstan; Lifestyles; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kyrgyzstan; United Nations

Partial Transcript: Why did some people leave?

Segment Synopsis: People in Hyslop's cohort terminated early for a variety of reasons including illness and inability to adjust to the foreign culture.

Keywords: Acclimation; Illness; Pre-service training; Sickness; Traveling

Subjects: Acculturation; Culture shock; International travel; Kyrgyzstan; Lifestyles; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kyrgyzstan

Partial Transcript: What have you brought back from your experience and how has that influenced your, your life?

Segment Synopsis: Having served successfully as a Volunteer gave Hyslop a feeling of self-confidence. The reality of the universality of human needs was brought home to Hyslop by his Peace Corps service. Because of his Peace Corps service, Hyslop is better able to relate to people from other cultures. Hyslop is still in contact with some of his former students and cohort members.

Keywords: Accomplishments; Conflicts; Contact; Emails; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Self-confidence; Students; Traveling

Subjects: Emotions; International travel; Interpersonal relations; Interpersonal relations and culture; Kyrgyzstan; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Kyrgyzstan