Interview with Michael Kirwin, January 29, 2021

Interview Summary

Michael Kirwin served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Brazil from 1967 through 1969, in the education program. Kirwin’s motivation to join Peace Corps was partly due to his older brother, who was a PCV in Colombia, and also to avoid the draft. His training group was Brazil 35. They received language and culture training in Madison, Wisconsin. Kirwin’s assignment was in Quixadá, State of Ceará, in northern Brazil. Receiving very little guidance or structure from Peace Corps, Kirwin had to find his own housing and define his own job. After two weeks in Quixadá he moved to a neighboring settlement called Gorgodama, and began working with locals to address some of their needs. Noting the lack of healthcare, he started a medical co-op, giving locals access to basic medicines. The interview discusses training, living and working in a remote area, travel in South America, and Peace Corps’ influence on Kirwin’s life after service.

Interview Keyword

Brazil (Country of service) 1967-1969 (Date of service) Brazil 35 (Training cohort) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Education Madison (Wis.) Portuguese (Language) Quixada, Ceara (Brazil) Gorgodama (Brazil) Medical co-ops Medical care Medicine

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Brazil Brazil Peace Corps (U.S.)--1960-1970 Acculturation Communication and culture Culture Culture shock Intercultural communication Interpersonal communication and culture Interpersonal relations Interpersonal relations and culture Language and culture Language and languages Lifestyles Manners and customs Voluntarism Volunteers Volunteer workers in community health services

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.