Interview with Sandy Girard, May 18, 2022
Project: Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Sandy Girard served in Ukraine from 2003-4 in a Community Economic Development program after working in business. She discusses her positive feelings about Ukrainians, especially since Russia invaded Ukraine and the broadening impact her experience has had on her life. However, she faults Peace Corps for inadequately briefing volunteers about political tensions in the country or adequately supporting volunteers to ensure their safety. She discusses her 2 medical separations; one after she and a fellow PCV were robbed and physically assaulted in Yalta, and the second after the Ukrainian Secret Policy re-traumatized her by making inquiries and turning people against her as a possible American spy. She discusses mostly friendly curiosity about her as an immigrant Korean American and her parents’ concern about her joining the Peace Corps and returning after being evacuated. She also talks about working in a nonprofit in Crimea to promote tourism and their expectation of her as a rainmaker.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview Keyword
Peace Corps (US) Ukraine(Country of Service) Community Economic Development (Peace Corps program) 2003-4 (years of service) Crimea ( semi-autonomous Republic in which she served) Kerch (town in which she served) Fond Bospor (name of nonprofit for which she worked) Orange Revolution in Ukraine (historical context) 9-11 attack on the US (historical context) Russian invasion of Ukraine (historical context) Peace Corps (U.S.)—Management Peace Corps (U.S.)—Staff Peace Corps Medical Issues First Generation Asian American.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.Restriction
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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.
Add this interview to your cart in order to begin the process of requesting access to a copy of and/or permission to reproduce interview(s).
Girard, Sandy Interview by Evelyn Ganzglass. 18 May. 2022. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Girard, S. (2022, May 18). Interview by E. Ganzglass. Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Girard, Sandy, interview by Evelyn Ganzglass. May 18, 2022, Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
Persistent Link for this Record: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt71md4g301cg