Interview with Seokmin "Saki" Kim, April 2, 2021

Interview Summary

Seokmin “Saki” Kim served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji from 2014 to 2016 in the Community Health Empowerment Program (CHEP). Kim was born in the Republic of Korea and immigrated to the U.S. as a child. The idea of Peace Corps service was planted by a high school teacher who had served. After graduating from Princeton University, he decided to volunteer. Language and culture training for his group, Fiji 91, were conducted in Nakaile Village on Viti Levu. Kim was assigned as a primary school health teacher in Nadala Village near Nadarivatu in the interior of Viti Levu. In addition, he occasionally lectured at the high school and tutored in English and math. Secondary projects included issues identified through assessment of local needs, such as water infrastructure improvement. In his second year, Kim’s work was focused on cyclone damage recovery. The interview discusses motivation for joining Peace Corps, training, life as a volunteer in a remote village, relationships with community members, and lessons learned through Peace Corps service.

Interview Keyword

Fiji (Country of service) 2014-2016 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Community Health Empowerment Peace Corps (U.S.)--2010-2020 Diversity in the Peace Corps Asian Americans Korean Americans Princeton University Nadi (Fiji) Suva (Fiji) Nakaile (Fiji) Kava Nadarivatu (Fiji) Nadala (Fiji) Tropical Cyclone Winston

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Fiji Fiji 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

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Interview Usage

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