Final thoughts

      As a future teacher, I don't think I can ever complain about class size after going to Uganda. Seeing 50 plus students in a classroom with only one teacher, gave me instant anxiety, yet the teachers taught as if there were 23 students in the room. The students worked on their assignments and stayed on task. The teachers were able to provide support to the students who needed it. I was in a state of wonder when it came to the students handwritting. It was beyond perfect.
       Classroom management was nonexistent due to the students all being prepared and focused to learn. As a future teacher,  I plan to share my stories of the students in Uganda, this way students won't take their education for granted. We are able to have free public education, with so many resources. We are beyond fortunate to have worksheets available to us, working WIFI and more. This trip has humbled me completely.

Coming home

       Leaving Uganda was bittersweet. I learned so much from this trip. I feel like this trip was offered to me at the perfect time in my life. I was able to truly appreciate my time and purpose. I learned so much about the world around me, not just from going aboard but having different traveling partners from different walks of life. Uganda is a beautiful country filled with amazing people, everyone is so welcoming and kind and truly grateful for us to come and teach them strategies that we use in our local classrooms with students here in the states.
         I am beyond grateful for the outlook the students provided me with their passion for education and learning. I can honestly say that it was a breath of fresh air being in a classroom where all the students were on task working, engaged and wanting to be in their class. I'm a college student and I don't feel like that. It also made me realize how fortunate we are in the states with our class sizes. Some classes had up to 50 plus children in them. This trip was beyond a great experience.

Updates on Preparations

       For this trip, I literally pack 4 times. I read the list provided by Dr. Langran, I googled items to bring to Uganda and other blogs about packing for aboard. For it being my first time aboard, these blogs still were no help, I kept overthinking everything. I also had a huge suitcase. In my mind I was going to be gone for ten days, how was I going to pack my closet of comfort in a suitcase. Talking with a fellow traveler, I found out she was packing her 10-day attire in a carry-on.
       I looked at my carryon luggage and my pile and made decisions. I was able to fit dresses, leggings, rain boots, and other items all in a carry-on. I'm glad I didn't this due to me having a second luggage piece of supplies for AJS. For my workshop materials, I read the book for my piece on A- Z summaries. I typed out a little summary and some talking points to use for the workshop. I also made sure to pack my journal that I was given by Dr. Langran this helped me write down little ideas from other members of the group and things I learned around me.

We're going to Uganda

        When I heard about this trip, I was excited. I'm currently in my last semester of college before I Student Teach in the fall. My college career hasn't been the typical story of graduating from high school and going straight to college. I took two years off before I knew I wanted a future in education. With me being a commuter student, starting part-time and working through school, I always felt like I was missing out on the “college experience” A few friends of mine have traveled abroad with their classes or spent a semester overseas, to make their experience richer. I honestly didn't think I would ever be able to have this experience, or honestly feel like a college student.

       When I heard about the trip, I felt like it was at the perfect time in my academic career. I would learn so much about myself, stepping out of my comfort zone of traveling with people I didn’t know, going aboard for the first time and learning from a fellow teacher. I am looking forward to all the new experiences this trip has to offer. I can’t wait to collaborate with different people and gain further information. I am beyond excited to start this experience and see what Uganda for the first time.