The Unheard: A Memoir of Deafness and Africa

I was pretty jazzed to read this book, as the author is deaf and my sister has been teaching the deaf for years (I love chatting with her about the books I read and with the added plus the context would be of interest to her made me stoked!).   The Unheard: A Memoir of Deafness and Africa by Josh Swiller chronicles his true life story as a Peace Corps member serving in Zambia in the 1990s as the first PC member to be placed in the region.  Being deaf, being alone and in a relatively unsafe area, not knowing what you are doing… spells disaster.  Well, I have to say, Josh did fairly well.  He challenged the status quo and the way the PC asks people to work.  I would say that his experience and how the PC works really made them look… silly.  The protocol, the lack of training that members receive, and finally the rules that the PC has seems counter to what they are attempting to create at sites that need creativity, thinking outside the box, and support provided to the volunteers placed in remote areas.  The book is less about his relationship with the PC and more about leaving the comforts of home and being placed in a country ravaged by AIDS, malnutrition, lack of worldly perspective, and corruption of community by the leaders of the area.  Swiller meets Jere, a doctor from another tribe assigned to the area where Swiller is stationed and serves as a role model in helping to navigate the pitfalls of the “un-PC” Swiller who wants to make change but not play the game.  Swiller is an interesting character who weaves his personal story of deafness with the experiences throughout his time in Africa. He shares pre-Peace Corps days at Yale and Gallaudet (at the same time I was in DC!).  The story is compelling for anyone interested in the Peace Corps, helping other nations with poverty and other national difficulties.  Trying to do the right thing is never easy, but Swiller’s convictions to helping others brings a smile to the face!  A good read, though not the prototypical “change the world story” where good wins over evil.  A good book to add to the list.