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I Was Here

2/9/2017

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Written by Lucy Chihana, CorpsAfrica Volunteer in Malawi

Reposted from Lucykondwani
I always wanted to volunteer. Leave home, be on my own, meet new people, and learn a new language. It was in September, 2015 when I saw the call for volunteers by CorpsAfrica, immediately I knew I would get in and maybe get to volunteer. 25th March, 2016 is the day I got to my site in Balaka-Miliyoni village. I met people who would be my family for the rest of my stay here, that means I had to decide if I was going to accept them into my life or not. To cut the long story short- my host family is amazing, the daughters are basically my sisters and I know we will be in each others lives even after I leave because they were nothing to me but amazing,helpful, and joyful. My one month stay with my host family was adventurous: from night traditional dances (mganda), fetching firewood, to Nsima for breakfast. My host family was super helpful in assisting me adjust and settle. They made me feel accepted and wanted, I believe this is what we want to feel when we go or move to a new place, city or school.
A month later I moved to my own place. Its a small house that was once a maize mill. The first time there I couldn’t believe I was ever going to live and survive there. Well, here I am and if I had to turn back the hands of time I would still choose this exact path. It wouldn’t make sense to some people but I have always wanted to make a difference in the lives of people I don’t know or I owe nothing just to be remembered by someone somehow that because our paths crossed their life is not the same. I believe It doesn’t matter how big or small your contribution is when it comes to making a difference. Use whatever it is you have to make the life of another better. I have never taught anywhere but, I became a standard teacher here. Teaching a kid how to even hold a pencil isn’t a joke, I thank God for my teachers for never giving up on me.
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My class…my students. I pray one of them becomes a president one day and remembers I was here.
I never would have known that between the numbers 1-5, 5 is the hardest to learn how to write if it wasn’t for my students. Like its rightfully put “the discovery of something new is the beginning of knowledge”.
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This woman right there made life so much bearable, easier and fun. My neighbour and landlord. She helped with my laundry, cooked, swept , mopped and when I took long vacations she watched over my house 24/7. We took every meal together. I officially moved into her house the last 2 months of my service. My laughs with her were loud and real. She truly made me happy. Never dull moments with Nagama. One of the things I will terribly miss about my volunteer experience is Nagama. I know no matter how many years go by she will always remember I was here.
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