“Sister” is escorting me to my car. I have just had the opportunity to tour the David Kaunde Government School of Zambia located near the President’s home in Lusaka. She is called “Sister” because she is a nun. She is also a councilor for the 600 secondary students who live full time on the large boarding school only campus. For the second time in response to my comments she replies, “Yes, these are very intelligent children.” The students have been selected from all of the public schools across Zambia as scoring the highest grades on their exams in year 9. Their passionate desire to learn shines in their faces and the manner by which they interact with each other. They are polite to me but they do not stare. Immediately I wonder, “ How could these beautiful students be working so hard with so little?” My friend Kumkum has facilitated the visit , as she is one of the biology teachers at the school. Every time I ask her about her school she says, “Often I think I would work here even if they paid me nothing.” The entire staff and student population are indigenous Zambians of dark complexion. She is the only one of lighter skin. Firstly, I receive a warm welcome by the deputy head of the school and offer my present of “Famous American Short Stories” on audiotape. His large body sits in attentive listening as Kumkum introduces me as her “Almost sister, who is a very capable teacher.” There is a break in his voice from the professional cadence which sounds of pure gratitude. I had included the audiotapes in my shipment from the U.S but didn’t want to take them with me to Budapest and I was over ready to release it to an appreciative owner. This was perfect. The campus is large and includes a swimming pool and soccer field, but I’m told the students really enjoy the “wood shop” building and home economics departments the most. All the buildings are made of concrete block with small windows and one chalkboard at the front of the room. Most are in very poor shape. Kumkum says, “You know Shannon, in spite of what you see, the school is very rich. There is money for everything. It is just the governmental process you know which puts value on some things and not others.” I understand but wish it were different. I’d love for these children to have more materials and a better environment. However, I also know that even if I personally gave money today, I couldn’t guarantee how it would be spent. Thus is one of the painful truths of Zambia and Africa. Then in the same breath, I didn’t feel sorry for them at all. I thought of all the American students I had worked with over fifteen years and their inability to focus or be kind to each other. There was a different kind of richness here that deeply impressed me. My first visit is to Mrs. Peri’s biology classroom. About 50 year 11 students in their school uniforms are sitting like canned sardines onto wooden benches. Their dark faces and bright eyes and white smiles are so bright I catch my breath. There are no lights on in the room but their interest in learning is so bright that the image of the group makes a flash picture in my mind. I do not want to be a distraction to the group so I offer to sit at the back , but there is no open path in the classroom and as I climb across students sitting in rows, I change my mind. I stop abruptly halfway in my climb and think to myself, “ This is no time to be shy or even polite. There is no way I am going to miss seeing the faces of these students as Mrs. Peri teaches!” I beg their pardon and start a new climb to the front of the classroom. Finally, accepting my new seat at the front of the room, Mrs. Peri introduces me to the class and includes me in the discussion. In only seconds I feel so comfortable that I succumb to my desire to pull out my video camera. I didn’t want to encourage any more thoughts of division between us and I wasn’t sure how disruptive the act would be. I had really wanted to ask first. Thoughts of what it would mean if I was visiting a class in the U.S. came to mind--I would need to get written permission from each of these students and the administration before I took any pictures---I didn’t want to treat them with any less respect but at the same time, I sensed that the fears of photography were not theirs. In fact, as I zoomed in on individual students, they continued with their focus and concentration of the lesson. The class and teacher acted as if nothing was happening any differently. If anything, they wanted to “perform” better in their not noticing. Mrs. Peri skillfully brings the lesson to a close with final questions and appropriate closure. I think of all of the teachers and lessons I observed as professor at Southern University, and wondered, Is Mrs. Peri the typical teacher who has been trained at the only college in Zambia? or is she one of the “natural” ones that isn’t typical of the system? At the end of her lesson she introduces me to her departmental colleagues who are working in the open office beside the classroom. One teacher tutors a student in chemistry. Another teacher is working on an older 1990’s computer. They all stop what they are doing and shake my hand. Kumkum later expresses some disappointment that they didn’t stand for me when I was introduced; however, their manner was warm and respectful enough for me. I couldn’t help but wonder, Who would I be after working here for a period of time? What would it be like to live and work in this atmosphere? I can seek why Kumkum works here and doesn’t complain too much when her paycheck is falling short for some unknown reason.
“Has she seen the library yet?” Asks a passing teacher. And I thought to myself, “I’d really rather see students in classrooms, rather than just a typical library.” But again, I was taken by surprise. I stepped into the cramped room. About one hundred students sat arm-to touching arm around seven tables in a space as big as my living room. There were two long sets of bookshelves with older encyclopedias and reference books. Two children were standing over a newspaper reading with such focus and attention nothing would break their concentration. Mostly, students are reading their notes that were taken in class or studying or reading a next chapter in a textbook. With the door open there was a slight breeze that rustled the students notebooks and that was all I could hear. It was if I had walked in unknowingly on a group of monks in meditation, I was shocked again at the powerful focused learning around me. I scanned the small room with my video camera and prayed for forgiveness for any disturbance I may be causing. The camera was louder than the breeze. There were a few handmade posters on the wall and one window, and two bulletin boards with various announcements and twenty six student hand written a4 size white papers stapled with a title at the top “The A-Z of Life. I scanned each page slowly hoping to catch them all. My body shivered with Grace. A-Z of Life (Taken exactly as written on posters hanging in the DK school library) A-Accept Accept others for who they are and for the choices they've made even if you have difficulties in understanding their beliefs, motives, or actions. B-Break Away Break away from everything that stands in the way of what you hope to accomplish with your life. C- Create Create a family of friends with whom you can share your hopes, dreams, sorrows, and happiness. D- Decide Decide that you'll be successful and happy no matter what may come your way. Good things will find you. The roadblocks are only minor obstacles along the way. E-Explore Explore and experiment. The world has much to offer to you and overtime you try something new, you'll learn much more about yourself. F-Forgive Forgive and forget. Grudges only weigh you down and cause grief. Soar above them and remember that everyone makes mistakes. G-Grow Grow up and leave childhood monsters behind! They can no longer hurt you or stand in our way. H-Hope Hope for the best and never forget that anything is possible as long as you remain dedicated to the task of putting God first in your life. I-Intuition Intuition is the teaching from within, pay attention to what you feel! J-Journey Journey to new worlds, new possibilities by remaining open minded! Try to learn something new everyday and you will grow. K-Know Know that no matter how bad things seem, they will always get better. The warmth of spring, always follow the hardest winter. L-Love Let love fill you heart instead of hate. When hate is in your heart there is room for nothing. But when love is in your heart there is room for endless happiness. M-Manage Manage your time and expenses wisely and you will suffer less stress and worry. Then you will be able to focus on the important things. N-Never Never ignore the poor, helpless, weak, or suffering. Offer your assistance when possible and always show your kindness and understanding. O-Open Open your eyes and take in all the beauty around you. Even during the worst of times, there is still much to be thankful for. P- Pray Pray everyday for the small things you are grateful for and the guidance to know your true path. Q-Question Ask many questions because you are here to learn. R-Refuse Refuse to let worry and stress rule your life and remember that things always have a way of working out in the end. S-Share Share your knowledge, talent, skills and time with others. Everything that you invest in others will return to you many times. T-Try Try hard even when your dreams seem impossible to reach. You will be amazed by what you can accomplish. U-Use Use your gifts to the best of your ability. Talents that are used will bring unexpected rewards. W-Work Work hard everyday to be the best person you should be but never feel guilt if you fall short of your goals. Every sunrise offers a second chance. X- X-Ray Look deep inside the heart of those around you and you'll see the goodness and beauty within. Y-Yield Yield to commitment. If you stay on track and remain dedicated, you will find success at the end of the road. Z-Zoom Zoom to happy peace when bad memories or sorrow rears their ugly heads. Let nothing interfere with your goals. Instead, focus on your dreams for a brighter tomorrow.
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