Interview with Ezra Casteel, November 22, 2022

Interview Summary

Abstract for Ezra Casteel Ukraine, 2006 - 2008, Youth Development Ezra Casteel was raised in Tillamook, Oregon. He was introduced to international volunteerism through his mother and grand aunt. Ezra graduated from Gonzaga University in journalism. He was invited to work with a youth development program at a school in Ukraine in the city of Dobrotvir. Ezra shared his living arrangement, the small city’s history and layout and the school’s operations. He described his work as freelance engaged within the school in support of the faculty organizing projects for the students, including a student newspaper; tree planting; English clubs; and summer camps. Ezra also participated in other Peace Corps activities including as an editor of the Peace Corps newsletter and an environment working group. Shurgik, a term used when Russian and Ukrainian languages are intermixed, provided a challenge in communicating for Volunteers taught only one of these languages. He learned that to deeply understand cultures is like exploring the layers of an onion. Ezra saw his role as that of a catalyst, providing alternative perspective and space for discussion and action.

Interview Keyword

Ukraine Youth Development Tillamook, Oregon mother Semester at Sea Papua New Guinea grand aunt traveler Gonzaga University Journalism application staging D.C. Pre-Service Training (PST) Prolisok training center Rokytne community based training (CBT) host family Ukrainian language cross-culture technical youth development local interests safety and security TB health issue security officer Dobrotvir work site host family apartment town layout school operations students teachers SPA grant tree planting engagement process projects English clubs Summer camps collaboration with city Peace Corps newsletter environment working group Surgik mixing of languages Russian Ukranian vacation blogging constraints Halloween party challenges culture language perspective catalyst relationships change process culture shock flexibility

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Interview Usage

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