Interview with Eloise Hanner, April 4, 2022

Interview Summary

Afghanistan, 1971-1973, Education Paraguay, 1999-2000, Community Economic Development (CED) Eloise Hanner is from Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho. She read adventure stories growing up and had a desire to travel and see more! While attending the University of Idaho for a degree in drama, English and a teaching certificate, she met a Peace Corps recruiter … and applied immediately. Coincidentally, her future husband did the same. After attending a PRIST, a pre-service assessment of suitability, and requesting the South Pacific, they were invited to Afghanistan to teach English. Eloise was assigned to teach English to employees of the Ministry of Finance based in Kabul who were selected for a USAID funded program to study abroad for advanced degrees. She also integrated a cultural interactive orientation to the United States in her curriculum. It was difficult in a Muslim culture to develop many friends although she was invited to dinners at students’ homes. Eloise also served in Paraguay. A totally different experience. She authored: “Letters from Afghanistan” and “Posted in Paraguay”.

Interview Keyword

Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho adventure University of Idaho drama English teaching certificate recruiter application married PRIST Chicago Afghanistan Kabul Pre-Service Training Training Center Peace Corps office Pasto Farsi inoculations Muslim Ruba Ruba rol straight ahead dest a rast right dest a chap left harassment horaghee foreigner minority Carte Char district tolet to rent neighborhood Bokaree fire place Dad Ali house boy duties Shah teaching cultural orientation friends appreciation women’s restrictions Peace Corps staff gamma globulin vacations India Nepal, Afghanistan Bamiyan Valley interactive teaching middle class students coming home personal growth physical environment frustration constant illness confidance author Letters from Afghanistan Posted in Paraguay talks Paraguay General Artigas cooperative Spanish Guarani guitar kindergarten computers typing drama garden compost cultural differences friendships early termination illness book tour value of Peace Corps

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