VIEWS FROM THE CLASSROOM (Caitlyn Ford, RU Elementary Education)

(Written on Tuesday....) Today was sadly our last day at Malemia Primary School. My roommate and I dreaded getting out of bed to begin our day because we never wanted this day to unfold. It feels like we just arrived in this beautiful country, yet we are already preparing to say our farewells. Arriving at the school today was a bittersweet moment. The striking reality that this was our last day with the children and teachers lingered on my heart all day, and I was fervently trying to create plans of staying in Malawi for a longer period of time. I was an emotional wreck upon waking up, and it was only going to get worse. By getting worse, I mean, the Farewell Meeting amongst the Malemia teachers and the Radford Study Abroaders. The farewell meeting is a time for reflection on the past few weeks, and it is a time for thankfulness and mutual respect. The meeting was the perfect representation of what it takes to successfully work collaboratively together: respect, gratitude, kindness, and appreciation. The goodbye speeches given by both parties, the wonderful gifts exchanged, and the delicious cake devouring, together, embodied the true meaning and outcomes of teamwork. Every person in that room had Malemia Pride, and we were all connected with one another. We all know that being loved is a vital aspect of human life, and the amount of love that was present during the Farewell Meeting was phenomenal. The effective collaboration from both sides will make all of us possess Malemia pride forever.             This trip, and especially the collaboration with the teachers from Malemia, has greatly influenced my life already. I quickly learned the importance of teamwork in achieving mutual goals. I wonder if the teachers gain the same inspiration from our visits as I gain from working together with them. I also wonder if teamwork is as influential when we are gone, as it is when we are visiting and teaching together. Finally, I wonder what the children learn from watching the collaboration between their teachers and the visitors from America.             The Farewell Meeting has shown me the importance of establishing heartfelt connections with fellow colleagues. It has also shown me that having pride, such as our mutual Malemia Pride, is an essential element in education. This entire trip has taught me that you have to be passionate and on fire for a common goal, and everyone in the group must feel equally important and involved. I hope that I have inspired the teachers and learners at Malemia in some way, because they have inspired me unimaginably in a multitude of ways.