Interview with Susan D. Samuel, Thomas W. Samuel, February 19, 1993
Project: Peace Corps: The C. Edward Wardle Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Susan Samuel and Thomas Samuel are introduced, two Peace Corps volunteers who served together in Liberia and got married. They discuss their journeys in joining the Corps, with Susan being inspired by a gentleman she met in a bar and Samuel being inspired by wanting to support Kennedy, as well as fears over the draft. Susan and Thomas discuss their meeting and their marriage whilst in Liberia in the Peace Corps. They discuss their experiences with travel whilst in the capital of Liberia. Susan and Thomas discuss the history of Liberia and the cultural makeup of the country. They talk about how heavily inspired Liberia is by American culture and its desire to be a "51st state" due to its history. Susan discusses the impact the Peace Corps had on her life. Thomas discusses the fact that both he and Susan missed the cultural shift of civil rights, and more broadly the cultural shift of the American 1960s, due to their service in Liberia. Susan discusses their lack of cultural immersion in Liberia. Susan and Thomas discuss the personal relationship they had with a Liberian Catholic priest, Father Patrick Juele. They explain how they were out of touch with what the Liberians needed, and how what they got out of the experience was personal rather than helping the Liberians.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Thomas W. Samuel
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview LC Subject
Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Liberia Liberia 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 VolunteersInterview 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 be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.Restriction
Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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.
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Samuel, Susan D. Interview by C. Edward Wardle. 19 Feb. 1993. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Samuel, S.D. (1993, February 19). Interview by C. E. Wardle. Peace Corps: The C. Edward Wardle Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Samuel, Susan D., interview by C. Edward Wardle. February 19, 1993, Peace Corps: The C. Edward Wardle Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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