Interview with Lyn Kawai, October 25, 2021

Interview Summary

Lyn Kawaii served in Sana’a, the ancient walled city and capital of North Yemen, 1986-1988. As of 1990, North and South Yemen unified into one country. Lyn taught horticulture at the local College of Agriculture, and English to women and girls through the Ministry of Youth and Sports. North Yemen was a democracy. The language spoken was Aramaic. Government, dispute resolution and commerce systems were centuries old. Sana’a sported ancient multi-storied stone “skyscrapers”. It was like entering a 1000-year-old world, Lyn said. Because she was “from the book” (first 5 books of the Old Testament), she was accepted by her Muslim neighbors. Lyn joined the Peace Corps wanting to do something beyond herself. She called the Peace Corps a beloved experience, which led her to working abroad for many years. She values Yemeni traditions and the relationships she made, and encourages future volunteers to learn to see through others’ eyes.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) North Yemen (Country of service) 1986-1988 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Agriculture Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Education North Yemen South Yemen Peace Corps (U.S.)--1980-1990 Regional conflict English Aramaic

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