Interview with Emily Villanueva, October 7, 2021

Interview Summary

Emily Villanueva served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Jamaica, from 2015 through 2017, in the Education Program. Emily grew up in a Filipino-American family with a strong history of military service. When an RPCV spoke to her 5th grade class, Emily decided that she would be a Peace Corps Volunteer. She studied Journalism at U.C. Irvine, and completed an internship before applying. Emily’s cohort, Jamaica 86, trained in Hellshire, and Guys Hill. Training included Jamaican Patois language, and culture. Her first assignment was as a Literacy Advisor and English Teacher in Salt Marsh, Trelawny Province. After three months she was moved to Lodge, Saint Ann Province, due to safety and security concerns. Emily’s second assignment was very positive. She became very close to her host family and others in the community. She remains in contact with them, and fellow RPCVs. The interview discusses motivation for joining Peace Corps; training and work experiences; life in rural Jamican communities; experience as a Filipino-American volunteer; and Peace Corps influence on her life.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Jamaica (country of service) Jamaica 2015-2017 (date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Education Peace Corps (U.S.)--2010-2020 Many Faces 0f Peace Corps #manyfacesofpeacecorps Filipino-American Asian-Americans first generation Americans Jamaica 86 training cohort Hellshire (training site) Guys Hill (training site) Jamaican Patois (language) Literacy Advisor Salt Marsh, Trelawny Province (assignment site) Lodge, Saint Ann Province (assignment site)

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.