Zambia 2015, Day 1 – “We went, we saw, we learned – and became friends”

 June 25, 2015 – Upon visiting the David Kuanda Technical High School, all assumptions and fears were gone. DK is one of the best high schools in the country and entrance to the school is very competitive. Being a foreigner in a foreign land would startle anyone and would make people quiet. Seeing their students and the way the school is structured shows how impressive and extraordinary the students are. A community is formed out of the students, holding each other accountable through the use of student leaders, such as captains and prefects. I grew to admire and love the student body in less than six hours for their curiosity about America and their warmth. For being with fellow scholars, halfway across the world who made me feel accepted and by seeing their drive for education, it made me see the hope in the world, made me see how change is possible. Two countries, two cultures, but we are the same – people who want to change the world. Once the barriers of difference were removed in a simple conversation about who we are as individuals, we began learning about one another. We were put into groups by the Zambian teacher Mr. Chungu and in these groups we asked each other questions and learned a lot like the similar professions we want to have and differences between schools in the US and Zambia (at DK students stand up and greet their teacher when he/she arrives; when class is over they willingly study more without being asked.) They are very proud to be DK students and this love for their school and education in general was very inspiring to me.

Seeing the Zambian students so determined, studious, and disciplined, really stuck out to me as American students have this tendency to be ungrateful for their rights. Knowing that their quest for education is long and rigorous and not something that has to be endured through in order to leave quickly as possible (they seemed to genuinely LOVE school and the process of learning) the Zambian students were that epitome of scholarliness and dedication, something you can say American students seems to forget about representing.

I heard more Zambian students say that they want to be doctors, lawyers, and engineers, than I heard in the overall student body in my school. They know how to achieve their goals, by having persistence, confidence, and the want to make a difference. They know it is in their grasp. Seeing that astonished me as I rarely see that confidence and ambition in America. I wasn’t insecure as an American by seeing students excelling in the same fields that I want to be in, but I became immersed and honored that they let me observe them learn. I learned from their culture and they learned from mine. How each culture and country is perceived by the world was something of discussion as it creates assumptions and stereotypes, but by seeing both American and Zambian students interact with each other, I saw how willing scholars are to shed those assumptions and become friends so rapidly, sharing interests and stories. As quickly as the cultural shock came and went, the quicker we began to learn and admire one another. That all Americans aren’t racist, rude, and judgmental people and that all Zambians or even Africans in that matter are not needy, oppressed, or living in terrible conditions. We went, we saw, and we learned and by the end of the day, we became friends exchanging email addresses and taking photos. As they were waving goodbye and were upset to see us leave, I knew that we removed the boundaries of culture and assumptions.

Luis Hernadez, Bell Multicultural Columbia Heights Education Campus