Interview with Robert Sarwark, March 3, 2023

Interview Summary

For Sarwark, applying to the Peace Corps simply “made sense,” as service to others was already ingrained in him. He lived and worked in Praia, on the island of Santiago, Cabo Verde, where he taught Introduction to Linguistics and the Sociology of Linguistics in English at the National University (Universidade de Cabo Verde). His additional work involved translating texts from Portuguese into English for the University’s website and other initiatives, serving as a language partner with students and colleagues interested in practicing informal English, and advising future secondary-school instructors during their teaching practicums. On World AIDS Day, he was instrumental in planning events for this day of activism. Sarwark also secured a grant to collect English-language books for the University library on conducting job searches and tourism-related topics. His Peace Corps experiences opened him up to new perspectives: he learned to say “Yes!” to opportunities that came his way, to take risks. After service, Sarwark returned to Cabo Verde on his own and worked for a ferry company in its marketing and sales department before returning to the US to enter graduate school in Portuguese and Brazilian Studies and, later, in Library and Information Science.

Interview Keyword

Pria, Cabo Verde Introduction to Linguistics Sociology of Linguistics Universidade de Cabo Verde Translating Portuguese Language Partner Secondary school instructors World AIDS Day Job Search Tourism Risks Sales and Marketing Portuguese and Brazilian Studies

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.