Today was a very exciting day here in Malawi. It was our first day in the schools. Our school is called Malemia and is located in Domasi. When we arrived the children chased the bus and were chanting and singing. Everyone on the bus was filled with tears of joy and amazement. After getting off the bus, we went into the office to meet the Assistant Head Director, Innocent. Innocent welcomed us and then gave us a tour of the school. We went around to each classroom and met the students and teachers. The classes are not called grades but instead called standards. After introducing ourselves and meeting each class, we went back around and read our book that we created on Shutterfly. The book we created had pictures of our homes and our families so the children could see where we were from. The students struggled saying some of our names but they really like Emily because it is a common name in their culture. Students began to break for lunch, so we did not make it to a couple of the classrooms. When the students left we went out into the "yard" and played with the students who stayed. We played games, sang, and danced. The children's faces were lit up with excitement and joy. Eventually, we brought out our cameras to take pictures with them. We were immediately swarmed by the students because they were fascinated with our cameras. They loved to get their picture taken and then see the picture on the screen. After taking many pictures, we decided to put our cameras up and enjoyed more singing, dancing, and playing. Around 1 o'clock, we left and headed to Domasi Demonstration School where our friends from North Carolina are working. At Domasi Deomonstration, we listened to a lecture that a North Carolina Professor was given the teachers on using the mother tongue. We also were able to get in some planning time for tomorrow. This evening we went into town and got supplies for school. We are enjoying our evening with dinner at Annie's and finishing up some planning for tomorrow.
Monday, May 30, 2016
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Sunday Adventures!
5-29-16
Today was a wonderful day! We woke up in Zomba, where we had a delicious breakfast on the patio of the lodge. During this breakfast, we encountered several monkeys who absolutely love bananas. One monkey even stole a banana off of Abby's plate! After eating we walked down the hill and attended the local Church. It was all in English so we were able to understand everything as well. It was a gorgeous and large church. The people were dressed beautifully and sang magnificently. After church we got to walk into the heart of Zomba, and explore our new home for the next couple of weeks! We visited a place they call "The Wall", which is a little market that contain several vendors. We were able to see the local grocery stores and learn about many of the buildings in the town! We even ran into a group of boys who were thrilled to pose for some pictures for us! We then grabbed some food from local restaurant and headed back up the hill to our rooms!
We then freshened up and headed to Annie's (who owns the lodge we are staying at) house for a little gathering! We were able to socialize with the North Carolina group who is also staying here and working in a school close by to us. They were so fun to get to know. We had a beautiful view of the town and mountains while we ate a home cooked meal! We finished the night off by dancing with not only our new North Carolina friends but also a new friend name Hastings, who I am sure we will see again! We currently lost some power in our rooms, but flashlights and candles are very handy! Tomorrow we get to visit the school for the first time and I know we are all so excited to meet the teachers and the students!
Goodnight for now!!
Today was a wonderful day! We woke up in Zomba, where we had a delicious breakfast on the patio of the lodge. During this breakfast, we encountered several monkeys who absolutely love bananas. One monkey even stole a banana off of Abby's plate! After eating we walked down the hill and attended the local Church. It was all in English so we were able to understand everything as well. It was a gorgeous and large church. The people were dressed beautifully and sang magnificently. After church we got to walk into the heart of Zomba, and explore our new home for the next couple of weeks! We visited a place they call "The Wall", which is a little market that contain several vendors. We were able to see the local grocery stores and learn about many of the buildings in the town! We even ran into a group of boys who were thrilled to pose for some pictures for us! We then grabbed some food from local restaurant and headed back up the hill to our rooms!
We then freshened up and headed to Annie's (who owns the lodge we are staying at) house for a little gathering! We were able to socialize with the North Carolina group who is also staying here and working in a school close by to us. They were so fun to get to know. We had a beautiful view of the town and mountains while we ate a home cooked meal! We finished the night off by dancing with not only our new North Carolina friends but also a new friend name Hastings, who I am sure we will see again! We currently lost some power in our rooms, but flashlights and candles are very handy! Tomorrow we get to visit the school for the first time and I know we are all so excited to meet the teachers and the students!
Goodnight for now!!
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Hello from Zomba
5-28-16
Hello again friends and Happy 20th Birthday to our fellow traveler Rebecca! Another day of travels is behind us and it was just as amazing of an experience as yesterday. This morning we left Annie's Lodge in Lilongwe to travel to our more permanent home in Zomba, Malawi. This 6 hour bus ride was filled with amazing new sights and questioned to be answered by our wonderful bus driver and friend, Andrew. We made multiple stops along the way, but our first was at Dedza Pottery and Shop at the end of a dirt road right off the main road. Here we had a chance to purchase beautiful hand sculpted and painted pottery of all sizes and styles. We all stocked up on gifts for family and ourselves. I personally purchased items that I am excited to use in my new apartment next year. While we were here we ate a small lunch at the local restaurant attached to pottery shop. It was a wonderful meal with a beautiful flowers and view. We then walked down the road to a small art shop run by a man and his wife in their home. We learned that the husband had taken the majority of his paintings to Lilongwe to sell this weekend, but we were still able to view and purchase some of the remaining. These paintings are beautifully painted with some much attention to detail and color. The wife showed us their process of making paper in their back yard out of scrap paper. This process was not only amazing just in its self, but it made us realize and appreciate how innovative Malawian people are and how they are able to do so much, with so little.
We then hit the road again with our next stop being the largest open air market in the area. This market was spilt down the middle with half being across the border in the county of Mozambique and the other being in Malawi. This was a very amazing and slightly overwhelming experience as we were surrounded by friendly, but persistent venders trying to sell us their produce and products. This was our final stop of the day before reaching our final destination in Zomba. The Annie's lodge we are staying in now is breathtakingly beautiful. There are flowers everywhere in full bloom. We have only seen a few monkeys hiding the bushes, but are hopeful to see more tomorrow.
Until later friends :)
Hello again friends and Happy 20th Birthday to our fellow traveler Rebecca! Another day of travels is behind us and it was just as amazing of an experience as yesterday. This morning we left Annie's Lodge in Lilongwe to travel to our more permanent home in Zomba, Malawi. This 6 hour bus ride was filled with amazing new sights and questioned to be answered by our wonderful bus driver and friend, Andrew. We made multiple stops along the way, but our first was at Dedza Pottery and Shop at the end of a dirt road right off the main road. Here we had a chance to purchase beautiful hand sculpted and painted pottery of all sizes and styles. We all stocked up on gifts for family and ourselves. I personally purchased items that I am excited to use in my new apartment next year. While we were here we ate a small lunch at the local restaurant attached to pottery shop. It was a wonderful meal with a beautiful flowers and view. We then walked down the road to a small art shop run by a man and his wife in their home. We learned that the husband had taken the majority of his paintings to Lilongwe to sell this weekend, but we were still able to view and purchase some of the remaining. These paintings are beautifully painted with some much attention to detail and color. The wife showed us their process of making paper in their back yard out of scrap paper. This process was not only amazing just in its self, but it made us realize and appreciate how innovative Malawian people are and how they are able to do so much, with so little.
We then hit the road again with our next stop being the largest open air market in the area. This market was spilt down the middle with half being across the border in the county of Mozambique and the other being in Malawi. This was a very amazing and slightly overwhelming experience as we were surrounded by friendly, but persistent venders trying to sell us their produce and products. This was our final stop of the day before reaching our final destination in Zomba. The Annie's lodge we are staying in now is breathtakingly beautiful. There are flowers everywhere in full bloom. We have only seen a few monkeys hiding the bushes, but are hopeful to see more tomorrow.
Until later friends :)
Friday, May 27, 2016
Moni friends!
We have landed safely in Lilongwe, and we have been having a fantastic time. The wifi is pretty spotty, but when we travel to Zomba tomorrow, we will be able to update you better! We traveled to Tikwonde Freedom Gardens today and had a beautiful and delicious traditional Malawaian meal. We are still a little jet lagged but hopefully we will be completely refreshed for our journey tomorrow.
Peace out <3
-The radford and tech group (written by Lindsay L)
We have landed safely in Lilongwe, and we have been having a fantastic time. The wifi is pretty spotty, but when we travel to Zomba tomorrow, we will be able to update you better! We traveled to Tikwonde Freedom Gardens today and had a beautiful and delicious traditional Malawaian meal. We are still a little jet lagged but hopefully we will be completely refreshed for our journey tomorrow.
Peace out <3
-The radford and tech group (written by Lindsay L)
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Moni!
Moni! (Hi in Chichewa)My name is Lindsay Lawrence and I am incredibly excited about traveling to Malawi, Africa tomorrow!! Although I am a student at Virginia Tech, I am thrilled to become a Highlander over this next month with my new Radford University friends.
I'm looking forward to exploring this amazing country and all of its beautiful landscapes. In addition, I am also excited to learn about the culture of the Malawian people.
The people I meet and the memories I make will be unforgettable. So please follow our blogs so that you all can be apart of our trip as well :)
If you want to follow my personal blog, here ya go:
http://monifrommalawi.blogspot.com/
I can't wait for tomorrow!! (But I really need to finish packing...)
Kusanzika America!
Hello!
Hello!
My name is Emily Rogers and I am SO excited to have the opportunity to travel to Malawi, Africa with fellow educators and friends. I cannot wait to experience a new culture! I am most excited to meet all of the amazing teachers and students that we will be working with. I already know that they will teach me so much more than I could teach them. I am very excited to see how our game kits come together and cannot wait to give them to the classrooms!
I have officially finished packing and am ready to take on this new and exciting adventure. While I do have some traveling nerves (I always do), I am ecstatic to go. I cannot wait to share with you all about all of our experiences!
My name is Emily Rogers and I am SO excited to have the opportunity to travel to Malawi, Africa with fellow educators and friends. I cannot wait to experience a new culture! I am most excited to meet all of the amazing teachers and students that we will be working with. I already know that they will teach me so much more than I could teach them. I am very excited to see how our game kits come together and cannot wait to give them to the classrooms!
I have officially finished packing and am ready to take on this new and exciting adventure. While I do have some traveling nerves (I always do), I am ecstatic to go. I cannot wait to share with you all about all of our experiences!
Monday, May 23, 2016
Hello
Hi,
My name is Lindsay Jordan and I am excited and thankful to be traveling to Malawi, Africa. I look forward to the life changing experiences that I will have. I cannot wait to experience Malawi's culture and begin my journey as a global educator. I am thrilled to get to know my fellow peers better and create relationships with the students and teachers at the school we will be working at.
I am finishing up last minute packing and I cannot believe this is becoming reality. We begin our journey this Wednesday and I look forward to sharing my experiences.
My name is Lindsay Jordan and I am excited and thankful to be traveling to Malawi, Africa. I look forward to the life changing experiences that I will have. I cannot wait to experience Malawi's culture and begin my journey as a global educator. I am thrilled to get to know my fellow peers better and create relationships with the students and teachers at the school we will be working at.
I am finishing up last minute packing and I cannot believe this is becoming reality. We begin our journey this Wednesday and I look forward to sharing my experiences.
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Hello!
Hello!
My name is Rebecca Aylor and I am ecstatic to be travelling to Malawi, Africa for a little over a month this upcoming summer. I am privileged to be joining other Virginia Tech and Radford University students on this journey to work with children and teachers! I am very excited to be able to get to know not only my peers better, but also all the new faces we will meet through our travel. We are bringing sports kits to give to each classroom, in the hopes we can use the equipment and games to help inspire the idea of learning and teaching language.
As I am packing and preparing myself for this adventure, I am nervous but also exhilarated. I am looking forward to seeing my group at the airport in just a few short days, and being able to share my excited state of mind! I cannot believe how fast this trip has approached, but I am so happy to be able to explore and share this experience!
My name is Rebecca Aylor and I am ecstatic to be travelling to Malawi, Africa for a little over a month this upcoming summer. I am privileged to be joining other Virginia Tech and Radford University students on this journey to work with children and teachers! I am very excited to be able to get to know not only my peers better, but also all the new faces we will meet through our travel. We are bringing sports kits to give to each classroom, in the hopes we can use the equipment and games to help inspire the idea of learning and teaching language.
As I am packing and preparing myself for this adventure, I am nervous but also exhilarated. I am looking forward to seeing my group at the airport in just a few short days, and being able to share my excited state of mind! I cannot believe how fast this trip has approached, but I am so happy to be able to explore and share this experience!
Hello!
Hello everyone!
My name is Abby and I am unbelievably excited to be traveling with such a wonderful group in a couple days! I am excited to experience the rich culture of Malawi, get to know my fellow travelers on a whole new level only traveling aboard together can form, and learn from the students and teachers in the school we are joining. I am very excited to share the game kits we have created with the students and learn new games from them that I can bring back and share with my students.
I am currently trying to finish the last minute packing, although I am still up to my eyes in Walmart bags and clothes. I can't for the reality of this trip to set in as we board the plane and we start this amazing journey.
My name is Abby and I am unbelievably excited to be traveling with such a wonderful group in a couple days! I am excited to experience the rich culture of Malawi, get to know my fellow travelers on a whole new level only traveling aboard together can form, and learn from the students and teachers in the school we are joining. I am very excited to share the game kits we have created with the students and learn new games from them that I can bring back and share with my students.
I am currently trying to finish the last minute packing, although I am still up to my eyes in Walmart bags and clothes. I can't for the reality of this trip to set in as we board the plane and we start this amazing journey.
Friday, May 20, 2016
Malawi - Here we come!
We are getting excited about our upcoming trip to Malawi to see our friends at Malemia Primary School and Annie's Lodge. We leave on May 25, 2016 and will keep you updated here about our work and adventures.
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