Fall 2010 - National Peace Corps Association

Maria KarlyaThe author and members of the local Red Cross chapter.she tells me. I nod, not knowing whereshe is going with this.“I have had a few Peace Corps teachersin training school.” Really?“Yes, in the 60s.” These had to havebeen sone of the first Peace CorpsVolunteers, ever.“Ms. Amos. She was my literatureteacher. She had us translateShakespeare. She loved me. And Ms.Humpherson, she was a geographyteacher. None of our teachers tookus seriously in the North. Can youimagine, when I was in teacherstraining college, I had never seen amap! I told Ms. Humpherson this,and she took an interest in me. Shetaught me everything she knew aboutgeography, and now I’ve been tomany of those places.”“If it weren’t for Ms. Amos,” shecontinued, “I wouldn’t have fallen inlove with languages. That’s what I wasfor years, a language teacher. They bothtold me I could be something. Andnow look at me. I am something. I havebeen trying to reach them for years.Even if they have passed on, a familymember at least. They need to knowI made something of myself, becausethey told me I could.” She gave me thateye-creased smile again. I thanked heronce more for lunch and for the adviceon the shea butter group.As I traveled home, all I could thinkwas, there is no American or city-bredGhanaian that could have given me theinsight that Adisa has. Her knowledgeand experience is a gift to not only girlsand women throughout the northernregion of Ghana, whom she has servedher whole life, but to Volunteerslike me with whom she has workedthroughout her career. In her opinion,this can be traced back directly to Ms.Humpherson and Ms. Amos, a coupleof Peace Corps Volunteers who taughther English and Geography, and toldher if she worked at it, she could reallybe something.I have had some rough days inGhana. I could tell you a numberof times I was ready to pack upmy bags and head home, to theland of sushi, espressos and reliableelectricity. I know Ms. Amos and Ms.Humpherson had those days. I knowthey looked at the students beforethem, many of whom had never seena map in their lives, or had even heardof Shakespeare, and thought “Whatam I doing here? This is such a lostcause President Kennedy! You don’teven know!” They may have no ideathe woman Adisa is, because of them,the number of lives she has touched,in her own corner of the globe and allover the world.Ms. Humpherson and Ms. Amos,I have a message for you from Adisa:Thank you.Maria Karlya is a health sector PeaceCorps Volunteer currently serving inGhana.38 WorldView Fall 2010 National Peace Corps Association