Interview with Joe O'Connor, September 7, 2021

Project: Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project

Interview Summary

Joe O’Connor served in Albania, 2011-13, in Education. Joe flew in to the capitol Tirana and left immediately for his training site in the mountainous city of Elbasan. He grew close to his host family, now living in Michigan. Even though Joe says at first he spoke Albanian “like a 5-year-old who got hit in the head with a rock”, it was his attempt to speak the language that led to integration and language proficiency. At his permanent site, Ersekë, Joe’s job was to help two Albanian teachers teach English to grades 9-11. Joe describes the region as poor, snowy for half the year and lacking in opportunity, all of which, Joe believes, contributed to depression among the populace, including himself. One highlight was holding a model UN. Joe said his students learned a great deal and showed a lot of commitment. Joe plans to rejoin Peace Corps upon retirement.

Interview Accession

2021oh0808_pcrv0378

Interviewee Name

Joe O'Connor

Interviewer Name

Joyce L. Jenkins

Interview Date

2021-09-07

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OߐConnor, Joe Interview by Joyce L. Jenkins. 07 Sep. 2021. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.

OߐConnor, J. (2021, September 07). Interview by J. L. Jenkins. Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.

OߐConnor, Joe, interview by Joyce L. Jenkins. September 07, 2021, Peace Corps: The Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.





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