Interview with Virginia "Ginny" Fornillo, October 30, 2020

Interview Summary

Virginia “Ginny” Fornillo was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Sierra Leone from 1974-1976 teaching math to secondary students. She signed up for Peace Corps without telling her family or girlfriend (now wife) because didn’t assume she would be accepted. The idea of going to another country to help was always appealing to her. Training in 1974 was very short, and Fornillo, a New York City girl, ended up in a remote fishing village at the end of the road. There was also another Peace Corps volunteer, a volunteer from India, and missionaries in the village, and villagers were very grateful for the help they received. Fornillo enjoyed teaching and has maintained contact with some of her students. She talks about some challenges she encountered, such as malaria, Tumbu flies, and a long visit from the Poro devil to the village, but also of the richness of living in another culture and sharing meals and ceremonies with them. Her biggest challenge was missing her girlfriend and family – letters took about a month each way. She transitioned home fairly easily with a job in teaching waiting and talks about her post-service career path.

Interview Keyword

Sierra Leone (Country of service) 1974-1976 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Education Diversity in the Peace Corps Lesbians Poro Devil Medical issues Tumbu flies Malaria Secondary math education LGBTQ+ volunteers

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Sierra Leone Sierra Leone 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

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