Interview with William Reed, March 17, 2022

Interview Summary

Lesotho, 1967-1969, Education/primary school upgrader William Reed was raised on Long Island, New York. His Catholic schooling, emphasizing community service, and JFK’s call to serve led him to the Peace Corps. He was assigned to Lesotho to a rural primary school project improving teaching methods. Bill and a Basotho guide and translator, Gerard Mpela, visited remote schools to reinforce moving from rote teaching to interactive activities teaching. Schools had one to three or four teachers, all teaching at the same time in one room schools. Bill stayed away from the Lesotho’s Capital, Maseru, preferring to spend more time with Basotho in Mafeteng. He also became ill and was hospitalized. Bill vacationed in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. He found it hard to return to the U.S. breaking connections with his friends, their simpler way of life, and the impatience back home. Bill’s daughter in-law summarized his service in a book about his Peace Corps experience: “Never, Have to Start Sentences with I Should’ve….,”

Interview Keyword

Bronx Long Island New York Catholic schooling service Vietnam war Iona College history Notre Dame masters theology FBI check South Pacific Gabon Lesotho San Diego San Isidro Pre-service Training language Sesotho horseback training Johannesburg diversity men selected draft Maseru Capital Mafeteng district Mafeteng town central hub dirt roads water cistern critical advice Minister of Education neighbor housing town Boitsokola café remote schools horse transportation rote learning interactive activities Durham University independence religion Anglican Catholic illness Reiter’s syndrome hit chicken In-Service Training vacation pitso political rallies friends diet challenge cultural differences commonality racism Ba ea khoeling saying relationships celebrations Friends of Lesotho return difficult indelible mark John Wayne movies returning home post Peace Corps

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