Interview with Ron Block, November 2, 2023

Interview Summary

Ron Block served in Ghana, 1981-1983, in education, and in the Dominican Republic (DR), 1983- 1986, at an agricultural research/weather center and teaching at a university. Ron’s group endured “weeding out” stateside. Psychiatrists observed volunteers, eventually deeming some 5% of the group ineligible for Ghana service. In Ghana, Ron taught at the University of Cape Coast outside the capital, Accra. He also taught high school students part-time; he is proud that his high school received the highest national exam scores in the nation. In the DR, Ron worked at an agricultural research/weather center in the San Cristobal area. About 1 ½ years thereafter he married and moved to the capital Santo Domingo where he again taught at the university level. When he returned to the US, he said he felt like he was moving in slow motion. Ron said PC enhances your life and he supports a national volunteer service.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Ghana (Country of service) 1981-1983 (Date of service) Dominican Republic (Country of service) 1983-1986 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Education (Ghana) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: agricultural research/weather center/education (Dominican Republic) Ghana Dominican Republic Peace Corps (U.S.)--1980-1990 Peace Corps (U.S.)– Recruitment and intake Regional conflict English Spanish French

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.