Allison Quady headed for service in Senegal after learning about Peace Corps from Philippines RPCV Michael Blaylock
Maderan heading for Africa service
Friday, March 14, 2003
By Milagros Delgado - Staff Writer - The Madera Tribune
Jeremy Rue-Staff Photographer
Allison Quady is leaving Saturday for a trip to Africa, where she will work in the Peace Corps.
A Madera native is packing up her belongings to move to Senegal, Africa, for two years and three months.
Allison Quady, 23, is a self proclaimed curious and adventurous kind of woman. She signed up for the Peace Corps around this time last year and will be leaving on Saturday.
“I’m scared and nervous and excited,” she said.
Quady said she has always been interested in traveling and has always been very curious. A foreign exchange student from Germany lived with Quady and her family when she was a sophomore in high school.
“I saw what she was doing and I thought, I can do that too,” she said.
The following school year Quady moved to France as a foreign exchange student.
After high school she moved to Vermont and attended Middlebury College. She studied literary studies, theater, French and Spanish.
During college she spent a semester in Chile as part of a study abroad program. She said Middlebury is a small school in a small town.
“They sort of push you to go out and explore,” she said.
She said she enjoyed her time in Chile and had fun meeting new friends while exploring a new place.
While in college, Quady wrote a grant proposal to bring what she learned in school back to Madera. She was one of 10 students selected to receive the grant. In the summer of 2002 she spearheaded a play with the Madera Arts Council and the Madera High School Drama Department.
Ginger Latimer, performing arts chair and drama teacher, said she enjoyed working with Quady.
“I knew Allison when she was in elementary school,” Latimer said. She went on to describe Quady as a creative and bold young woman.
“The successful people in life are generally risk takers and she is definitely that,” Latimer said.
After college, Quady moved back home to Madera to help Quady Winery, her family’s business. After working for a while, she decided she needed a little change.
Last summer she worked in Missoula, Mont. for the Montana Conservation Corps. She described it as a non-profit organization which teaches leadership. She said she had a chance to go out in the forest and build trails, restore fish habitat and learn about the problems Montana is facing between industry and politics.
“I’m very curious,” she said. “I like to help people and I like to go to new places.”
Quady said she first learned about the Peace Corps from a family friend, Michael Blaylock.
“When Mike was in the Peace Corps he went to the Philippines,” she said. “I liked to hear all his stories and that’s how I became interested in joining.”
Blaylock said Quady is a good kid. “She is the kind of girl you hope your daughter to be,” he said.
Blaylock urges Quady to keep an open mind and to remember three key functions of the Peace Corps. “The first is to help the culture you visit understand that there is more to Americans than what they see on TV,” he said. “We are people who care and have a common goal. The second key is to bring home experiences from your journey and teach them to your neighbors and home community. The third is to share the knowledge you have.”
Quady has been reading the material sent to her by the Peace Corps. The material is on Senegal and its community. Through reading, she learned the country has gone through many changes. “The women there do not have the same equal rights American women have here,” she said. “But they are the ones who work in the orchards and they are the backbone of their community.”
She said she will enjoy working with such women.
Time at home is running out for Quady. She is feeling every emotion as she gets ready for her new adventure. She said she is going to miss everything about home. She is taking few mementos. Among them is a photo album filled with pictures of her family and friends. She is also taking her pillow and blanket. She said if there is enough room she plans to take her stuffed animal.
She has spent the past few days visiting friends and family. She also she went to San Diego to visit her grandmother.
“I’ll miss my parents,” she said. “They’re being supportive, but they’re not jumping for joy.”
Quady’s father, Andy Quady, said he and his wife are a bit apprehensive about their daughter leaving. “In general we are very proud of what she is doing,” Andy said.
Quady said she will also miss her brother, Herb, along with his wife and three-year-old daughter.
“Madera is a beautiful place, but I didn’t know that until I left and came back,” Quady said.
“I hope to bring back an understanding of working in an undeveloped country,” she said. “I’m sure I’ll learn more than I could ever teach.”
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