Interview with Zsolt Olah, November 17, 2020

Interview Summary

Zsolt Olah was a Peace Corps staff language instructor in Hungary from 1994-1998. He talks about his enthusiasm for the Peace Corps when he first heard about it as an 18-year old and then later when he applied for this position. He talks about Peace Corps’ immersive language instruction, volunteers’ enthusiasm for learning, and cultural orientation approach tailored to stages of volunteers’ introduction to an unfamiliar culture. He talks about the early role of Peace Corps in post-Communist Hungary representing what America stands for, cross-cultural communication, and how Peace Corps broadens the perspective of volunteers and host country nationals, like himself.

Interview Keyword

Hungary (Country of service) Peace Corps language instructors 1994-1998 (Date of service) Peace Corps training Cross-cultural communication Impact of Peace Corps Host country nationals Peace Corps staff

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Hungary Hungary 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 Peace Corps (U.S.)--Management

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Interview Usage

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