Interview with Forrest Walker, September 17, 2022

Interview Summary

Philippines, 1985 – 1987, Fisheries Forrest heard of the Peace Corps through his 3rd grade RPCV teacher. Later went to a recruiting session at Indiana University, where Forrest received a degree in finance. Willing to go anywhere, Forrest was assigned to a fisheries project in the Philippines. Forrest talked about the application process, staging, and Pre-Service Training (PST). In training he learned Ilokano, managing fishponds, and cross-cultural orientation. Forrest’s home base was Tabuk, Kalinga assisting farmers in managing fishpond aquaculture. He also engaged in many secondary community service projects to include - micro loans to women’s groups, curated books for donation, an eye clinic, and a dental extraction clinic – the latter two as one day free offerings for the community. Forrest describes fishpond development in detail. He also taught fishpond management at a local school and at the Bureau of Fisheries. Forrest noted similarities of Filipino and Black-American cultures and issues of diversity.

Interview Keyword

Philippines fisheries BFAR New Albany, IN RPCV teacher Indiana University finance recruiter application process background checks debt health Ferdinand Marcos martial law staging Luzon training Ilokano language Bayongbong university host families Barangay district Tagalog language Kalinga Apayao province Tabuk site boarding house New People’s Army Dagupan hospital agriculture fish ponds Tuguegarao Bureau of Fisheries Jeepney transport relationships Tilapia diversity foreigner open-mindedness culture sari sari store commitment grassroots Three goals

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.