Interview with Virginia Carol Hesel, March 8, 2022
Project: Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Virginia Hesel served in Liberia, 1967-1969, teaching all subjects to 4th and 5th graders on Bushrod Island, Monrovia. Stateside training was in San Francisco and Key West. Landing in Liberia, Virginia was struck by the humidity and aroma of wood fires. Textbooks didn't exist. Virginia became creative, seeking out lesson planning materials. Many students were older as they needed to help support their families. Some were employed by PCVs helping to pay school fees needed to attend school. In addition to school teaching, Virginia taught literacy to brewery workers, enabling them to improve their English. Vacation meant traveling widely in Liberia and East Africa. While camping she was serenaded by the roar of lions. Virginia's interest in Liberia extended later to the continent through Crossroads Africa, US Department of State, and Friends of Liberia. She said Peace Corps prepares you to “enter the real world as it is.”Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
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).
Hesel, Virginia Carol Interview by Joyce L. Jenkins. 08 Mar. 2022. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Hesel, V.C. (2022, March 08). Interview by J. L. Jenkins. Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Hesel, Virginia Carol, interview by Joyce L. Jenkins. March 08, 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/xt76994kn2qtj