I was born and have lived in Zimbabwe all my life so it might be unbelievable to most of you when I say I didn’t know what Africa was until about a week and a half ago.
A week ago, I was privileged enough to find out what Africa was and to view it from so many different directions. I got a chance to attend the Yale Young African Scholars program in Zimbabwe at Arundel school from the 18th to the 24th of August. I wasn’t really thrilled spending a week with people I didn’t know especially from other countries; it was definitely going to be the worst 7 days of my summer holidays. When I got there I was welcomed with joy by the YYAS team but it really didn’t get me to change my mind about the program; I thought ” well it’s their job to make us feel welcomed.”
After unpacking my bags I decided to take a walk and introduce myself to my colleagues, little did I know that the next few seconds were going to change my life and the way I viewed Africa. The best 7 days of my life started the moment I said, “Hi, my name is Isabel but you guys can call me Bella.” The events that followed soon after that line, I cannot clearly remember as the excitement overwhelmed me and I was under the illusion of time for a while.
The next six days were filled with a series of lectures, seminars, workshops and discussions that were both inspiring and educative. Our speakers came from all walks of life, CEO’s, politicians and lectures which enabled us to view life from all angles. I can definitely say that the best time for everyone was from 3.30 to 4.00, well if you said snack time you guessed right. This was all made possible by the Arundel kitchen stuff, whom we thank for spoiling us with all the fantastic breakfasts, the delicious lunch meals, the refreshing snacks and the outstanding dinner meals.
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Yale Young African Scholars experience Isabel Masawi
Posted by: Pachikoro Contributor , September 3, 2017
7 SECONDS OF SUMMER
By Isabel Masawi – L6 Hellenic Academy, YYAS 2017 Alumnus
I was born and have lived in Zimbabwe all my life so it might be unbelievable to most of you when I say I didn’t know what Africa was until about a week and a half ago.
A week ago, I was privileged enough to find out what Africa was and to view it from so many different directions. I got a chance to attend the Yale Young African Scholars program in Zimbabwe at Arundel school from the 18th to the 24th of August. I wasn’t really thrilled spending a week with people I didn’t know especially from other countries; it was definitely going to be the worst 7 days of my summer holidays. When I got there I was welcomed with joy by the YYAS team but it really didn’t get me to change my mind about the program; I thought ” well it’s their job to make us feel welcomed.”
After unpacking my bags I decided to take a walk and introduce myself to my colleagues, little did I know that the next few seconds were going to change my life and the way I viewed Africa. The best 7 days of my life started the moment I said, “Hi, my name is Isabel but you guys can call me Bella.” The events that followed soon after that line, I cannot clearly remember as the excitement overwhelmed me and I was under the illusion of time for a while.
The next six days were filled with a series of lectures, seminars, workshops and discussions that were both inspiring and educative. Our speakers came from all walks of life, CEO’s, politicians and lectures which enabled us to view life from all angles. I can definitely say that the best time for everyone was from 3.30 to 4.00, well if you said snack time you guessed right. This was all made possible by the Arundel kitchen stuff, whom we thank for spoiling us with all the fantastic breakfasts, the delicious lunch meals, the refreshing snacks and the outstanding dinner meals.
I can definitely agree that to some of us who were so confused on the career path that we were going to take after high school, the program massively helped us to decide. We also had the chance to sit down with the Yale students and ask them what college life was like and how they cope with the pressure. Their answers were so on point and they opened our eyes on the choice of programs to take at Uni. Not forgetting our discussion section and workshops where we got to express our own views without restriction and also got to hear what other people think and sometimes got to change the way we look at things. YYAS was surely the best place for me to be this summer.
Earlier on I had told you that I knew nothing about Africa but if you ask me now I can tell you all about its different cultures and religions. In 7 days I travelled to 24 different African nations including places as far as Egypt, Libya, Algeria to name a few. To most of you this sounds impossible but this is totally possible at YYAS. A place where you get to visit the whole continent in one place. I experienced it all in my 7 seconds of summer!!!
Source: http://www.pachikoro.co.zw
