JEFFREYExceptional Education Graduate |
JEFFREYExceptional Education Graduate |
We all drank the coffee or tea this morning, forgetting about the possible dangers of drinking water from a new country and how we are not supposed to drink any of it. Thankfully, after a few hours no one had noticed any issues from the consumption, however we all vowed to be significantly more careful with what we ate or drank.
We visited the Museum of Zambia shown in the first image below, and as we were wandering around an employee asked to give us a tour. He gave a two hour tour, and the man was so knowledgeable about the exhibits, Zambian history, and the culture. I felt so grateful to be given a tour by a guide who is so well versed in the history and customs of this country which is so new to me. Shockingly, during the end of his tour as we thanked him, he told us he was not a tour guide but simply a cleaner who volunteered to give our group a tour. He simply stated “I am just a cleaner, but I learned”, and this dedication and kindness from a complete stranger touched my heart in a very memorable way; this man saw a group of foreigners exploring the museum and had such a dedication to his country and its history that he sacrificed his lunch break in order to guide us throughout the museum. It was such a wonderful experience, and whatever reservations or feelings I may have had dissolved with this seemingly small welcoming gesture. The museum hosts children classes and the second and third images below are projects that students have created. Utilizing recycled materials, students recreated their neighborhood and local shops. I am in awe of this work created by young students, because the talent showcased here is far pasts my own. The drawings were those of various instruments and implements utilized within their culture, and as we look for universals amidst cultures, we all seek inspiration from the arts or music; art is how we decorate space, yet music is how we decorate time.
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Everything I see reminds me of where I live or have already visited. Either I am identifying cultural universals or I am trying to find familiar things in an unfamiliar place. I see fences like those surrounding the Seneca white deer, I see anti drunk driving advertisements, I see billboards displaying mobile phone brands and various companies selling their products.
Zambia is a developed nation and has buildings, schools, universities, and nearly everything seen at home. I am continually searching for the "Africa" image that I grew up being fed by television depictions and the descriptions I was told. The Africa image I was raised with was solely deserted and destitute villages surrounded by empty land, with nothing but hungry and shoeless children crowded in huts; I knew this imagined creation of Africa was a crafted specifically to create the image described above,specifically to move people to donate to whatever cause was purported to be alleviating these issues at the time, yet I was unable to shake the feeling that it existed somewhere amidst all of these developed buildings, paved roads, and houses that look nicer than most in my own neighborhood within the united states. I am surprised at the amount of trash in the ditches, but thinking of home, I have seen the exact same thing in sections of Buffalo that do not have municipal waste removal and accessible trash cans. I am curious what possible solutions could be implemented that would benefit the country and people as a whole, because even after having encountered a small number of Zambians I know these individuals love their country and dearly want it to thrive. I'm filled with excitement and anticipation as I prepare to travel to Africa for the first time. Having never been there before, I'm filled with a sense of curiosity about what the continent has to offer. We have spent a decent amount of time researching and discussing Zambia, and it feels like a country rich in culture and history.
I'm looking forward to experiencing Zambia's diverse wildlife, stunning landscapes, and vibrant cities. I'm also hoping to gain a better understanding of the schools, charities, and people and their customs during my stay. With this journey, I hope to gain insight into this new region of the world that I have yet to explore and obtain a firsthand view of what Africa is like. |
AuthorI am a passionate teacher with a diverse set of skills used to engage students. My teaching style is unique in that I incorporate civic engagement, martial arts, and empathy into my lessons. These strategies have enabled me to create meaningful connections with my students and help them develop their own unique skill sets. I am excited to travel to Zambia and explore the culture there. This trip will give me the opportunity to learn more about different teaching methods, gain new perspectives on education, and broaden my horizon as an educator.
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