Interview with Gail Arnold Coburn, July 14, 2021

Partial Transcript: Today is Wednesday, uh, July 14, uh, 2021. My name is Marya Nowakowski and I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic from 1987 to 1990. And I am interviewing Gail Arnold Coburn who was a Volunteer in Zaire from 1974 to 1976.

Segment Synopsis: Coburn attended Humboldt State University and earned a degree in zoology. During her senior year, Coburn met with Peace Corps recruiters on campus and applied. Coburn was invited to join the Peace Corps. Coburn had no other career plans at the time, in part because of the isolation of her university. While studying nursing, Coburn had spent the summer of 1970 in India which increased her interest in altruism and desire to travel. In high school, Coburn had studied French and accordingly was posted to Zaire. Coburn's family supported her joining the Peace Corps.

Keywords: Activities; Altruism; Application process; Applications; Applying; Cell phones; College majors; College students; French (Language); High schools; Humboldt State University; Isolation; Mothers; Motivation; Peace Corps recruiters; Perspectives; Plans; Support; Technology; Traveling; Undergraduate education

Subjects: Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Emotions; India; International travel; Language and languages; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--1970-1980; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Zaire; Universities and colleges; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Zaire

Partial Transcript: And was your training in Zaire or did you start training in the United States?

Segment Synopsis: Coburn had a staging in Philadelphia. After a couple of days, the cohort flew from New York to Zaire for 10 weeks of pre-service training. Coburn gives a description of the training center and activities.

Keywords: Advice; Cultural training; Examinations; Exams; French (Language); Housing; Inoculations; Language training; Living conditions; New York City (N.Y.); Paperwork; Philadelphia (Pa.); Practice teaching; Questions; Staging; Struggles; Traveling; Vaccinations

Subjects: Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; International travel; Language and languages; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; Teachers; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Zaire

Partial Transcript: So, where was the school where you, where you, where you taught?

Segment Synopsis: During her first year, Coburn taught in a small town called Bolenge on the Zaire River. Coburn lived in teacher housing at a former mission school.

Keywords: Bolenge (Democratic Republic of the Congo); Bolenge (Zaire); Congo River; Equateur (Democratic Republic of the Congo); Equateur (Zaire); Housing; Mbandaka (Democratic Republic of the Congo); Mbandaka (Zaire); Zaire River

Subjects: Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Lifestyles; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; Teachers; Teaching; Voluntarism; Volunteer workers in education; Volunteers; Zaire

Partial Transcript: And the second place you were?

Segment Synopsis: During her second year, Coburn taught at a nursing school in Kisantu. Coburn shared a house with another female Volunteer teacher.

Keywords: Housing; Kisantu (Democratic Republic of the Congo); Kisantu (Zaire); Roommates; Site mates; Teaching English as a foreign language

Subjects: Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Lifestyles; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; Teachers; Teaching; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Zaire

Partial Transcript: Teaching the science, the--Zaire--the first year, Zaire had a program of what the students needed to learn. And the first year, I taught microbiology. And there was a set program on that of what they were supposed to learn. So, I taught and followed that.

Segment Synopsis: Coburn describes teaching English and microbiology during her first year. During her second year, Coburn followed a set curriculum.

Keywords: Books; Co-teachers; French (Language); Friends; George Foreman; Malaria; Muhammad Ali; Questions; Teaching English as a foreign language; Techniques

Subjects: Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Jamaica; Language and languages; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; Teachers; Teaching; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Zaire

Partial Transcript: And so, kind of, um--(clears throat)--what was the, um--excuse me--(clears throat)--first few months like, um, in settling in and kind of getting adjusted to how things were there? What was that like?

Segment Synopsis: Even though the local people were friendly, Coburn had difficulty settling in at her work site. Coburn didn't like living alone and lacked confidence in herself and her teaching ability. Coburn's fluency in French was limited and few people nearby spoke English. There were no other Americans living there. Coburn got a lot of professional support from neighboring instructors. Coburn was also bothered by the tropical weather and mosquitoes.

Keywords: Acclimation; Americans; California; Co-teachers; Difficult; English (Language); Fluency; French (Language); Language barriers; Learning; Living alone; Local people; Locals; Mosquito nets; Support; Weather

Subjects: Acculturation; Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Haiti; Intercultural communication; Interpersonal relations; Language and languages; Lifestyles; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; Teachers; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Zaire

Partial Transcript: What was the food like?

Segment Synopsis: Coburn describes some of the traditional foods and her eating habits while in Zaire.

Keywords: Acclimation; Culture; Food habits; Intercultural communication; Manners and customs; Roommates

Subjects: Acculturation; Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Zaire

Partial Transcript: So, what was transportation like?

Segment Synopsis: At her first work site, Coburn could get rides with other teachers to the capital to buy groceries. During her second year, Coburn would walk to the market and botanical garden with her roommate. Coburn recounts a visit to other Volunteers in-country which involved travel by pickup truck, walking, and canoeing.

Keywords: Co-teachers; Lifestyles; Roommates; Site visits; Traveling

Subjects: Cameroon; Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; International travel; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Zaire

Partial Transcript: So, what, um, kind of cultural challenges for you, kind of, you know, stick in your memory?

Segment Synopsis: Because she was a young, white woman, Coburn felt she was de-humanized and treated as a commodity by men from many nationalities while she was overseas. Coburn found the local people welcoming to her.

Keywords: Acclimation; Adaptation; Attitudes; Awareness; Clothing; Gender roles; Local people; Locals; Post-colonial; Prejudice; Sex discrimination; Social norms; Support; Treatment of women

Subjects: Acculturation; Belgium; Culture; Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Haiti; Interpersonal relations; Interpersonal relations and culture; Italy; Jamaica; Manners and customs; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; Racism; South Africa; Sweden; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Zaire

Partial Transcript: Uh, l-let me tell you a little bit about my house.

Segment Synopsis: Coburn describes the house where she lived during her first year. Coburn hired someone to help with the household chores. Coburn did some renovation of the house.

Keywords: Amenities; Changes; Georgia; Habitat for Humanity; Problems; Site visits

Subjects: Charities; Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Lifestyles; Non-governmental organizations; Nonprofit organizations; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Zaire

Partial Transcript: How did you interact with the Peace Corps staff?

Segment Synopsis: During her first year, Coburn was relatively isolated. She appreciated receiving newsletters from the Peace Corps country director. During her second year, Coburn was less physically isolated but still had little contact with the Peace Corps staff.

Keywords: Autonomy; Contact; Distance; Interpersonal relations; Isolated; Letters; News; Peace Corps directors; Peace Corps offices; Peace Corps staff; Traveling

Subjects: Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Zaire; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Zaire

Partial Transcript: What do you think, uh, your accomplishments were?

Segment Synopsis: During her second year when she was teaching nursing students, Coburn taught physics, chemistry, biology, and hygiene. Coburn feels this helped the students understand their surrounding environment. The local people got a better idea of what Americans are like. Coburn has shared her foreign experiences with her family and friends.

Keywords: Conversations; Cultural exchange; Disease transmission; Family; First Goal; Friends; Personal growth; Second Goal; Students; Third Goal; Traveling; Understanding

Subjects: Africa; Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Ethiopia; Hygiene; Intercultural communication; International travel; Interpersonal communication and culture; Interpersonal relations; Interpersonal relations and culture; Lebanon; Norway; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; Teaching; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Zaire

Partial Transcript: So, what was, um, re-entry like for you?

Segment Synopsis: During her summer visit to India, Coburn experienced serious culture shock and needed time to re-enter life in the U.S. Accordingly, after her Peace Corps service, Coburn traveled for 6 months. Coburn stopped in West Africa, France, Amsterdam, and visited relatives in the U.S. This gave Coburn time to readjust. After an involved job search, Coburn was hired as a wildlife biologist by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife agency in Sacramento, California. Coburn later transferred to a research facility in Seattle, Washington. Coburn left to work for the Army Corps of Engineers and finished her career working for the city of Seattle as an environmental biologist for 28 years. Coburn also held a position with the Coast Guard.

Keywords: Acculturation; Amsterdam (Netherlands); Application process; Applications; Applying; Coming home; Culture shock; Differences; Family; Friends; Future plans; Interviews; Jobs; Noncompetitive Eligibility; Readjustment; Sacramento (Calif.); Seattle (Wash.); Transition periods; Traveling

Subjects: Cameroon; Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Finance; France; India; International travel; Mental health; Morocco; Parents; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; Research; Voluntarism; Volunteers; West Africa; Zaire

Partial Transcript: And I'm retired now.

Segment Synopsis: Coburn continues to do volunteer work in her community. Coburn has maintained some contact with the Peace Corps community.

Keywords: Activities; Books; Community involvement; Community service; Contributions; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Funding; News; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Social media

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Finance; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; People with disabilities; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Zaire

Partial Transcript: A couple little stories.

Segment Synopsis: Shortly after Coburn arrived at her first work site, another Volunteer who lived far away arrived by moped with 2 live chickens. This Volunteer taught Coburn how to kill, pluck, and cook chickens. Coburn recounts buying a baby monkey, which she gave to another Volunteer. Coburn also started an insect collection. Coburn recommends the Peace Corps to others.

Keywords: Acclimation; Advice; Chickens; Food; Learning; Monkeys; Site visits; Skills; Support; Transportation

Subjects: Acculturation; Democratic Republic of Zaire; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Emotions; Peace Corps (U.S.); Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of Zaire; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Democratic Republic of the Congo; Voluntarism; Volunteers; Zaire