I am excited to say that we have made it successfully to Hotel Chaco in Asuncion Though our Miami flight was delayed, it turns out all of our subsequent flights were as well (or they held them for us) so we made it through with no problem, and Domingo and Nelson were right there to pick us up!”
“Our group is settling into the hotel now, and then we’re off to explore Asuncion… Tomorrow we head off to Carapegua (where we should still have internet access, but perhaps a bit more limited) and will be back in Asuncion on Thursday.
During my 3-day pre-trip I drove down to Monze (2 ½ hours south of Zambia’s capitol, Lusaka) and met with the teachers of Malambo School. This picture has Mr. Mwetwee (the principal), Ms. Loveness Maambo and Audrey Chimbwe standing in front of their new School Kitchen built with donations from last years LSZ group.
For the past 3 days I have met with all of our counterparts here in Zambia, prepared rooms, gone grocery shopping, played with children and enjoyed meals with friends – all of whom are excited to welcome this year’s LearnServe Zambia Group.
After 24 hours on 2 airplanes making 4 stops, the group arrives this afternoon – 2:15 pm Zambian time – 8:15 am DC time. This year’s LSZ group represents 10 public, private and charter schools throughout DC. We are 15 students accompanied by 9 teachers, including myself. We will spend the next 18 days building bicycles with World Bicycle Relief, attending and teaching classes at a local high school, building a garden at a Play Pumps site, teaching classes to students at a farm school while camping on the farm, celebrating Malambo School’s 60th birthday with the school and doing 3-days of arts, crafts and sports with children from Chikumbuso.
Please join us over the next few weeks and read anecdotes from our experiences. We will be blogging regularly with hopes to share what we have learned.
Zambia and Paraugay teams at the reception (Photo: Christopher Barclay)
Fifty students and teachers departed on LearnServe’s Trips programs to Zambia and Paraguay today for 18 days. Representing twenty schools from the DC area Continue reading ‘LearnServe Trips Depart’
At the reception with the Ambassador to Paraguay (Photo: Christopher Barclay)
LearnServe Paraguay ‘09 has begun, despite a delay they all made their flight in Miami. We’ll post more information as we get it.
Please follow the team’s progress over the next two weeks. To be notified when the blog gets updated, use the subscription options in the sidebar to the right.
For three students, this was their first flight. Here’s what they texted Hugh as they were about to embark:
Wow, this is such an awesome experience. I have never been on a plane before, so I am fidgeting with the table, and tightening my belt. Very anxious. ~ Harry
…feeling a little nervous but excited…on the plane now and the reality of the trip has set in. ~ Tyler
i feel good not really nervoous. everything is fine bcan’t wait 2 take off!!! ~ Sam
LearnServe Zambia ‘09 has departed! For Rachel, a student at Hyde Public Charter School, this is her first plane flight. She sent this txt before they closed the cabin doors:
OMG! OMG! I am siked! I am nervouz! The butterfliez R tearing my stomach apart! ps. my head itches! Lo!!
LOv3 n H@Ppn!z
Please follow the team’s progress over the next two weeks. To be notified when the blog gets updated, use the subscription options in the sidebar to the right.
