Interview with Mercy Hernandez, September 2, 2020

Interview Summary

Mercy Grace Hernandez, of Mexican and European heritage, from a young age was interested in international cultures. She graduated from California State University, San Bernardino in anthropology. As a freshman, she studied the Peace Corps website for required qualifications and experience, which guided her studies and civic activities. Assigned to the Republic of Georgia, she felt that her pre-service training was rigorous in language, challenged personal biases, and prepared her to teach Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL). She was assigned to Kurdghelauri where she lived with a host family throughout her service. She had good relationships with both students and colleagues. Hernandez learned how important personal relationships were in making someone feel important and loved when she hugged a student who had become suicidal and depressed because of her mother’s death. While she appreciates being an American, she began to understand issues of entitlement. She now talks about Georgia to her classes in the U.S.

Interview Keyword

Republic of Georgia (Country of service) 2017-2018 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Education California State University, San Bernardino Anthropology Volunteerism Kurdghelauri, Republic of Georgia Telavi, Republic of Georgia Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) Relationships Diversity in the Peace Corps Americans Mexican Americans

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Republic of Georgia Republic of Georgia Peace Corps (U.S.)--Georgia Georgia 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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