July 6, 2003 - The Sun Chronicle: Amanda Little will teach at the secondary school level in The Gambia

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Gambia: Peace Corps The Gambia : The Peace Corps in the Gambia: July 6, 2003 - The Sun Chronicle: Amanda Little will teach at the secondary school level in The Gambia

By Admin1 (admin) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 11:23 am: Edit Post

Amanda Little will teach at the secondary school level in The Gambia



Amanda Little will teach at the secondary school level in The Gambia

NA woman starts peace corps tour

BY AMY DEMELIA / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

NORTH ATTLEBORO -- A North Attleboro woman is flying out to west Africa today, where she will spend the next two years teaching math and science as a member of the Peace Corps.

Amanda Little, 23, will teach at the secondary school level and work on other extracurricular activities on the community and regional levels in The Gambia, a small country on the west coast of Africa.

`` It's the service aspect that really appealed to me -- I wanted to be involved in something bigger than myself and I like the idea of experiencing a completely different culture. I haven't really traveled outside of the United States,'' Little said of her decision to join the Peace Corps.

Although she is sad to be leaving her family for the next two years, Little said she is mostly excited about beginning her Peace Corps service.

`` I'm far more excited than nervous, though I'm not sure what to expect,'' she said in an interview before she left.

Little is a 1997 North Attleboro High School graduate and the daughter of Linda Little and Bruce Little of North Attleboro and Auburn, Maine. She also attended Clark University in Worcester, earning a bachelor's degree in biology in 2001.

Little has spent the past two years working at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and is a member of the South Attleboro Village Lions Club.

Inspired by career fair

A career fair at North Attleboro High School played a role in Little's decision to become a Peace Corps volunteer.

`` I'd have to say there wasn't just one moment where I decided I wanted to join the Peace Corps. In high school, I attended a career fair and was instantly drawn to the table. I read up on it then and kind of let it sit on the back burner for a while. But I had this bug sitting inside me and I knew it was something I really wanted to do.''

When filling out the Peace Corps application, Little said selected Africa as her first choice destination. However, she said the Peace Corps sends volunteers where they are needed most, so luck played a part in her assignment to The Gambia.

Little has been reading up on the country for the last month and said she is most often asked what she will eat and what the bathrooms will be like.

`` Not terribly much,'' she said of her knowledge of the country. `` I know they grow peanuts and rice is a staple. They also have fish and poultry so it won't be completely different from what we have here. It will definitely be roughing it though.''

English is the official language of the country; however, it is not necessarily spoken in the rural areas where Little will likely be stationed.

Training in the regional language, culture and customs will be provided by the Peace Corps for three months before Little begins teaching.

In exchange for her two years of service with the Peace Corps, Little will receive other benefits including medical and dental care, a monthly stipend, 24 vacation days a year and a readjustment allowance upon completion of service.

Little said her experiences teaching will help her decide between three different career paths -- becoming a teacher, a veterinarian or a physical therapist.

`` I'm very happy that I'll be able to get my feet wet so I can see if teaching is what I want to do,'' she said. `` I think it's going to be a great experience.''

AMY DEMELIA can be reached at the North Attleboro office at 508-695-7541 or by e-mail at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.



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Story Source: The Sun Chronicle

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - The Gambia

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