Zambia 2014, Day 1 - New Friends, New Memories

Today was my first full day in Lusaka, Zambia. It was the best day of my life! I had a chance to visit one of Zambia’s finest schools named David Kaunda’s Boarding School. To be honest, I was nervous considering the fact that I was going to be with my partner, Aka, all day and we knew nothing about each other. This all changed once we had the chance to have a one-on-one session, where we could ask any questions about Zambia, the school and each other’s personal life. Next thing I knew, our conversations started to go smoother and this stranger felt like more of a friend.

Another part of our visit involved taking a tour of two of Aka’s favorite classes. Though I did not get to experience what the Zambian
classroom environment was like (the teachers were not there), I had a chance to meet a lot of new people. My favorite part about visiting the class would have to be the feeling of all the students crowding around me with numerous questions. In that moment I truly felt like a movie star!

When they were asking me the questions, I realized that their educational system is very different to the educational system in the US. For example, one thing I found very interesting was that instead of the students moving from class to class the teachers move from class to class.

Overall, I really enjoyed seeing everyone in the group go through a transition of relationships with the Zambian students. It went from
people giving one-word responses to hearing laughs and giggles every minute. Not only did I make new friends, but also created new memories that will last a lifetime.

Chanel, 17, Central High School