Interview with Moulaye Indrissa Barry, March 27, 2014

Interview Summary

Moulaye Barry (Senegal) describes the Senegal/French school system, the importance of exams, the value his un(school)educated mother placed on education and why he lived with a brother in the village. He discusses jobs and university education before coming to the U.S. Loss of a good job, political issues in Senegal, and marriage to an American lead him to Lexington. He describes difficulty learning American English, getting a M.A. at UK in French literature, and his teaching certificate. He talks about adjusting to Americans asking personal questions which would not happen in his culture. He speaks five local African languages and three western languages and has 34 brothers and sisters.

Interview Keyword

Childhood French French Literature Goudomp Jobs Kolda Secondary school Teaching Teaching certificates Families. Culture and customs of North America Identity.

Interview LC Subject

Africa Africa--Politics and government Senegal Higher education Dakar (Senegal) Emigration and immigration. University of Kentucky Employment--Kentucky Teachers--Kentucky

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.