Interview with Jason Crislip, November 12, 2021

Interview Summary

As a senior in college, Crislip took a course in African history; the final exam for the course entailed writing a letter home from the perspective of a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in Ghana. He entered Peace Corps immediately after graduation. His group of 30+ Volunteers bonded easily as they learned Twi, the local language. In Osino, he taught drawing, sculpture, and computer science in a secondary school, as well as managing a self-sustaining batik center where fabric with colorful designs was made by students. The center served as a vocational center, as well as a business. Crislip extended his service another year, working at the national art museum in the curatorial department, cataloging Ghanian artwork. He was active in the resettlement of refugees from Liberia, work that he continued in Thailand, and upon his return to the US, fifteen years after he left for Peace Corps. Crislip says that he gained confidence; he learned perseverance; he learned that his career centered upon serving others.

Interview Keyword

Ghana (Country of service) Arts Education Letter Twi Osino, Ghana Drawing Sculpture Computer science Batik National Art Museum Curatorial department Cataloging Refugee resettlement Confidence Perseverance

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Interview Usage

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