Interview with Daniel Poppelreiter, November 3, 2021

Interview Summary

Daniel Poppelreiter served as a Peace Corps volunteer in a Community Economic Development program in the Solomon Islands from 1977-79, when the islands were still a British Protectorate. He ran a wholesale store in Gizo as part of a cooperative scheme supplying small stores in outlying areas with imported goods, including food, building supplies and other necessities in exchange for dried coconut, which he sold to the government for export. He discusses making friends with these merchants and traveling to small islands where these stores were located. He also talks about the colonial atmosphere, positive attitudes towards Americans at least partially because of people’s vivid memories of World War II. He concludes talking about how much he loved his experience, the positive impact it had on his career in international business, the termination of Peace Corps in the Solomon Islands, and that Americans would benefit by knowing the world a little better.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (US) Solomon Islands (Country of Service) Community Economic Development (Peace Corps program) 1977-79 (years of service) Gizo British colonialism (political context) World War II memories and attitudes towards Americans independence (political context) violence in Solomon Islands and termination of Peace Corps program Guantanamo Bay Honiara (capital).

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Interview Usage

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