by Telson Magombo | 6 April, 2015
“For Malawian students, has anyone ever used Mac computers before?”
The somber mood of the students signified the gravity of miseries that thinking about Macbook computers brings.
I didn’t even remember what Mac computers look like. Lucky enough someone had to bear with us by giving an orientation on how to operate them. I received training from my partner, Mariana for transcription and spent the whole day just learning how to open a file.
After familiarizing myself with it, the next challenge was that I had limited time to type the transcription. A second orientation would mean delaying the whole process and the alternative was to bring someone for a help.
One side of me felt so diminished and unimportant while the other side encouraged me that, “we learn from mistakes.” The only other time I felt so unimportant was while Mariana and I were waiting for a driver in the field at Champiti Primary School. We were surrounded by some kids and when I asked what they would like to be in life, one of them answered “I would like to be like you, a translator of a white lady.” For the kids that was a great ambition compared to what they experience every day.
A small bell that was ticking in my head rang out, “What could be the effects of such kind of ambitions for these kids? If these kids are to change their ambitions as they grow up, what would then be their ambitions?”
And this made me to start thinking about motivating kids. However I had a good partner in Mariana who never want to disappoint anyone. Even when I sometimes felt like something was not good (for example ambitions of the kids) Mariana would say: beautiful, gorgeous, nice… and all the adjectives that could follow.
Honestly I have missed those comments since they encouraged me.
The other interesting thing I have learned from this project is the ability to interact with people regardless of their age, status or race. I remember when there was a function on HIV/AIDS Sensitization Campaign at Champiti youth club. I could only stand aside while shaking my head with the feeling of the song being played, but I could see Josie and Carlo joining the crowd in the dance floor. It was wonderful to have people like Steve, Chad, Ross, Brittany, Justina, Daniel, Mariana and all the entire crew from UNC- Chapel Hill. I learned a lot from you guys. It was exciting and wonderful experience I would love to remember.