Interview with David P. Dolson, May 4, 2021

Interview Summary

David P. Dolson was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia from 1968 to 1970. Dolson majored in history at the University of California Santa Barbara. President Kennedy’s speech inspired him to apply to Peace Corps in his junior year. He participated in a year-long training program that started in 1967. The training included Spanish and Aymara language, gardening, health, culture, and appropriate technology. He had 6 weeks of additional training in Bolivia before being assigned to his first site of Molino Cucho where he worked on a poultry project. He later transferred to La Paz to work on agriculture projects, training, and education. Some issues he faced were the marginalized socio-political status of the indigenous people and the rugged living conditions. The majority of indigenous children were Aymara- and Quechua-speaking, but only Spanish was allowed in schools. Peace Corps had a profound effect on Dolson’s career in education; he recently retired as the director of Bilingual Education for California. He married a Bolivian and returns there frequently to work and visit family

Interview Keyword

Bolivia (Country of service) 1968-1970 (Date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer job: Agriculture Peace Corps Volunteer job: Education Training Lake Titicaca (Peru and Bolivia) Chickens Bilingual education Aymara (Language) Quechua (Language) Vietnam War De-selection

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Bolivia Bolivia 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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