Monday, July 2 – “It is not about the destination; it is about the journey.” This quote sheds light on the various experiences that myself, along with my fellow travel peers and leaders, have encountered over this past week. From visiting the students of David Kaunda and Chikumbuso, to walking the neighborhoods of Ngombe, our eyes have been opened to a culture that allows us to not only value the many opportunities we are awarded in our own lives but to meditate on the journey and opportunities we are given to share some of our knowledge and education with others. Volunteering at Daughters Vision has taught me that this trip is not only about educating the minds of young Zambian females but also about experiencing the journey with them.
It was the morning of Monday July 2nd, 2018, our second day teaching at Daughters Vision. Everyone, including myself, was extremely tired from the previous night’s events, but we were eager to continue working with the young Zambian girls on their math, reading, writing and artistic skills. When we arrived, the classroom numbers had 
doubled in size; word had spread that the Americans were there to teach at the school, so children made it a mission to come and sit in on the lessons we provided. I admit, when seeing my first class for the second time, I was anxious and a bit terrified. Given their circumstances, I understood that some might not have been able to return for the second class period due to chores and family obligations and if they did, they might not have recalled all the information we covered. Additionally, I was SUPER exhausted, so I did not feel up to par. Those feelings of exhaustion and apathy came to a quick pause as my first group of students arrived for the day. As they came in and sat down with quirky smiles and grins and eyes widened like those of an owl, greeting my fellow peers and me, my demeanor shifted and I realized that today was not about me; it was about the students. From learning their ABC’s and numbers 1-10, learning how to recognize and spell everyday objects, and reading “The Cat and the Hat”, the day became filled with extraordinary memories. The day was filled with smiles, joy, laughter, and hugs and kisses of appreciation from us to our students, and vise versa.
At the end of the day, we returned to our lodging and waited for the David Kahunda students to arrive to Juls–we’d invited them to have dinner with us earlier in the week. Throughout the night, we battled in the game of soccer, laughed in amusement as we devoured pizza, and danced our hearts out as we participated in a cultural dance off. As we partook in creating memorable moments with our newfound friends and came together in the end for one final goodbye, I realized in those moments that this experience is not just about me traveling to Zambia; it is about the cultural journey that I have experienced, and will take home with me to share with others. I can not wait to expand my knowledge of this country, and continue to make exciting, memorable moments with people of Zambia.
Treazure W., Paul Public Charter School