Interview with Trisha Pitts, June 5, 2021

Interview Summary

Trisha Pitts served in Peace Corps in Armenia as a Small Enterprise Development (SED) Volunteer from 1992-1994. She was part of the first team of volunteers to open the Armenia Peace Corps program where she served in Gyumri (north), the site of a major earthquake in 1988. Her experiences included working side by side with the locals conducting feasibility studies on local factories and businesses on behalf of the World Bank to determine the viability of their organizations utilizing non-soviet business practices. She started a junior achievement group at the Lord Byron School and microfinance projects utilizing Trickle Up protocols. Discussion includes the Peace Corps application process, orientation, living with a host family during training, as well as Armenian history and culture, life post-Peace Corps, and the second generation of service (her daughter Heidi). Cities mentioned: Yerevan, Gyumri, Sochi (Black Sea), Vanadzor.

Interview Keyword

Armenia (Country of service) 1992-1994 (Date of service) Gyumri (Armenia) Orientation Junior Achievement Trickle Up Program Post-soviet business practices Life post-Peace Corps Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Small Enterprise Development Microfinance projects

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Armenia Armenia 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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Interview Usage

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