Interview with William "Bill" Baird, May 23, 2021

Interview Summary

Bill Baird served with his wife Samera in the Peace Corps in the Marshall Islands in Micronesia teaching English as a Second Language from 1968-1970. They were married two years before they served. Their group, Micronesia 7, had an initial language training and psychological evaluation in Escondido, California, before leaving for Micronesia by way of Guam for the rest of their pre-service training. He and his wife intentionally served in sites on Namorik Atoll and Ebon Atoll; both were remote locations, though he could have taught science topics in a centrally-located high school. Their accommodations and diet were simple, and he learned local fishing techniques to augment their diet and to participate in the reciprocal life of their sites. Returning to the US was challenging, particularly during the Vietnam War era, but he went on to earn his MA and PhD and taught science at the high school and college level for the rest of his career.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) University of Tennessee Micronesia Marshall Islands Namorik Atoll Ebon Atoll Majuro Atoll Ratak Chain, Marshall Islands Ralik Chain, Marshall Islands Guam Escondido, California Peace Corps training Teaching English as a Second Language Gloria Tate (TESL method) Breadfruit Fishing Cultural notions of time Technology Boating Bikini Atoll Atomic testing Imperialism Intercultural understanding Pacific Islands Marshallese culture Marshallese immigration to US Marshallese language survival cultural artifacts birth control hobbies reciprocity monetary value FM radio US military bases

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