Interview with Shauneille "Shaun" Blair, December 8, 2020

Interview Summary

Shauneille "Shaun" Blair served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji from 2016 to 2018 in the Community Youth Development Program. Blair is a Black Indigenous American. Her parents taught her the importance of understanding people of different backgrounds. She joined Peace Corps in her early 40s. Her decision was influenced by her sister and two friends who are RPCVs. Blair’s language and culture training was conducted in a village near Nausori, after which she was posted to Waya Island in the Yasawa Group. Her accomplishments include creation of a Youth Akro Skills Program in her village that was subsequently spread to other parts of Fiji. The interview discusses her reasons for joining; living with her host family during training; job assignment; living and working at her post; differential treatment of females and volunteers of color by Host Country Nationals, including Peace Corps Staff; and returning to the U.S.

Interview Keyword

Fiji (Country of service) 2016-2018 (Date of service) Peace Corps Job: Community Youth Development Community Youth Development Program Older volunteers Youth Akro Skills Acrobatics Nausori, Fiji Waya Island, Fiji Black Indigenous Americans People of color Diversity in the Peace Corps Female volunteers Women volunteers Women of color

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Fiji 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 Minorities Misogyny Race discrimination Race relations Racism Sexism

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Interview Usage

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