We started our day bright and early at quarter to five, but not really because it was still dark outside. After we got ready, the boys picked us up for morning prayer, which lasted around ten minutes. after we had breakfast with the boys, it was porridge. Their porridge was different from ours as it wasn’t made of oats and instead of maize, but it was actually really nice.

Then we went to class. Geography was first and we were actually learning the exact same thing as we did back home. I had never really understood oceanic circulation, but then one of the boys, Joseph, managed to explain it to me within ten minutes.

We also had biology, and then agriculture. Agriculture was interesting as we don’t get this subject in Scotland. In agriculture we talked about internal and external parasites that can be found in animals. We then had lunch, which was pork and nsima. I liked it so much I basically finished my whole plate.

One of the classes I enjoyed was English. First we practised letter writing and then we analysed characters in Macbeth, such as the Doctor and the Gentlewoman. One of the boys I am friends with, Benedicto, kept helping me as I didn’t know much. After we had Chichewa class, which I probably liked the most. Benedicto taught me many phrases in the language, and we kept laughing over how the way I pronounced them.

After classes, we went out to play sports. Fallon played football with the boys and they are so skilful with the ball. I was a little intimidated so I just decided to play frisbee with the others instead.

Later, we had evening Mass. The boys are really good singers and even dance in the pews during hymns. We had dinner afterwards, but by far the best part of the day was doing study periods. Even though we were supposed to be studying, we spent the whole night singing, dancing, playing games and having fun.

By the end of the day we were exhausted, so we quickly showered, chatted for a while and went to bed.

By Erin McFadden