Interview with Urvi Mehta, August 10, 2022

Interview Summary

Ukraine, 2004 – 2006, Education/TEFL - Urvi Mehta graduated from the London School of Economics (LSE) with an MSc in International Relations. While a Volunteer friend helped her consider joining years before, she decided to apply at 28 years old when she realized she wasn’t ready to settle back in the US. Urvi accepted an invitation to teach English in Ukraine. Her pre-service training focused on learning Russian and understanding safety and security. Urvi was assigned to Dnipro National University in Dnipro to teach International Relations in English. In exchange for residence at a language school, International House (IH), she also taught English in the evening to adults. IH also allowed Urvi to host English clubs and helped finance an infotainment magazine which she created through a camp promoting intercultural exchange. This magazine, which featured intercultural stories including about race and sexuality, was then distributed across Ukraine to other schools and universities.

Interview Keyword

Dirty Dancing GWU International Affairs London School of Economics PCV friend influence Ukraine TEFL youth development Kyiv Pre-service training Sanatorium Borispol, Kyiv training site cluster training host family language training kinesthetic movement safety training protection Dnipropetrovsk work site Dnipro National University curriculum development international relations Novomoskovsk Volunteer site host family International House apartment Orange Revolution politics Inter-cultural Camp U Magazine Babusya’s cook book grandmother’s Labrynth Night Club Jazz performance metrics diversity tested leaving relationships critical exchanges

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