Interview with Veronica Corsaro, March 26, 2021

Interview Summary

Veronica Corsaro had traveled abroad prior to her Peace Corps service, including a study abroad service-oriented semester in Cairo, Egypt. She got an undergraduate degree in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies from NYU and a J.D. from Indiana University. Corsaro was invited to serve in Peace Corps in Mongolia on a teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) project. Her pre-service training in the Mongolian language changed the way she thought. Corsaro taught in Murun 14 hours from the capital, Ulaanbaatar, in the Aviyas (talent) school of 400 students as the first Volunteer at the school. While Corsaro worked as a teacher trainer, she was constantly having changes of times and rooms to add unpredictability to her schedule. She also taught English to employees of a bank, among others. Corsaro taught an English club for children, however, adults would sometimes attend. She also attended many cultural festivals: Shin jil (around Christmas), Tsaagaan sar (lunar New Year), and Naadam (summer holiday) with sports: archery, horseback riding, and wrestling.

Interview Keyword

Mongolia (Country of service) 2015-2017 (Date of service) Middle Eastern studies Islamic studies Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Education Darkhan (Mongolia) Shagai (Ankle bone game) Khuushuur (Flat bread) Buuuz (Round dumpling) Mongolian (Language) Soviet rote teaching Interactive learning Khashaa (Yard of house) Murun (Mongolia) Khovsgol (Mongolia) Aimag (Province) Soum (Village) Ger (or yurt) (Style of house) Erdenet (Mongolia) Shin jil (Holiday) Tsaagaan sar (Lunar New Year) Naadam (Holiday) Aviyasschool (School of performing arts) Guanz (Restaurant) Meeker (Micro bus) Hair cut ceremony Sukhbaaear (Mongolia) Diversity Education sector Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia)

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Mongolia Mongolia 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 Volunteers

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