Interview with Jeff Heimerman, May 31, 2022

Interview Summary

Jeff Heimerman served as a Peace Corps Volunteer from 1984 through 1985 in Fiji, in the Freshwater Fisheries Program. While at Lawrence University Jeff studied abroad in London for some time, and became interested in seeing more of the world. After college he lived in Australia for a year, returned to complete grad school, and then applied to Peace Corps with a goal of serving in the South Pacific. The first part of Jeff’s training was specific to fisheries, and was conducted in Ft. Pierce Florida. He then traveled to Fiji and attended training in an Indian community in Navua, and in a Fijian village. Training included both Hindi and Fijian language. Jeff was placed in Lomaivuna at an agriculture station in the interior of Viti Levu, Fiji’s main Island. Jeff traveled through the interior of Naitasiri Province, to Vunidawa and other villages, working with local villagers to establish fish ponds. He talks about village life, travels in Fiji, and ongoing friendships made with locals and fellow PCVs.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) 1984-1985 (date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Fisheries Freshwater Fisheries Peace Corps (U.S.)--1980-1990 Lawrence University Ft Pierce FL training Navua, Fiji Hindi (language) Hindustani (language) Fijian (language) Viti Levu, Fiji Naitasiri, Fiji Vunidawa, Fiji fish farms Peace Corps-related medical issues USAID grant

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