My Facebook post of July 22, 2025: “If you ask me when I get back home, or even in one year, or five years, what my favorite experience on my Kenya trip was, I will answer our visit to a Kenyan school. The exhilaration of seeing my first giraffe, or elephant, or even seeing the lion cubs, was nothing compared to the overwhelming joy and immense humility I felt seeing and interacting with the students, teachers, and head master at this school, the name of which escapes me right now, but I will have it soon. I knew I was going to enjoy the visit, but didn’t realize the deep impact it would have on me.

As our two Land Rovers drove up the dirt lane leading to the school the students, who were on recess came running to welcome us. It felt like we were rock stars. As we disembarked from our vehicles students would shyly say “hi” and were thrilled if you answered them. After a welcome from the head master he sent the students back to class, and the students all scurried back to their rooms while buzzing with excitement.

Our tour guide, Albert, knew I was a retired teacher and introduced me to a young, male teacher as our group set off to visit classrooms. The teacher taught science and had to get to class, I wish I would have had more time to talk to him. Next I stopped in a Grade 1 classroom, the students were sitting in groups as the teacher told me this was religion class, which she told me was taught at all levels. When I asked how many students she had she told me 60 without any hint of disdain. When I asked if I could take a picture of the class she said yes, and then spoke in Swahili to the students. I presume she told them to get to work because they all started looking at their papers so it appeared they were studying. She had complete control and I snapped the picture.

While walking by another classroom a group of students came out and one boy started to give me a high five, which I returned, and suddenly I was mobbed by students all wanting high fives. I had a few students that just wanted to touch my arm as if this tall, white person was from an alien place, which to them I probably am. When I told them I needed to go, they said, “bye” and went back to their classroom.

I tried to catch up to our group who were coming out of a Grade 6 classroom. I was told by a travel friend that the students in the classroom said their favorite subject was math, so of course I had to go in. I asked if they had a text book and one young man scrambled to get one out of his backpack. He showed me they were working on measurement, but I also saw they had done some algebra. Albert asked me to put a problem on the black board and went to find a piece of chalk. I put a one-step equation on the board and had a student come up and solve it, he did, showing all of his work. I then put another equation on the board and a second student showed their skill. I was quite impressed. I thanked them and told them to study hard.

I was then escorted to the next room, Grade 7. They showed me their textbook and some homework, which was a little more complex than the last group. Albert suggested I put a problem on this room’s board. While he got a piece of chalk one boy stopped me and asked, “can you tell me the secret to math?” Study hard was my answer, though in hindsight I wish I would have said more. After two students helped solve some two-step equations one of the students asked if he could give me a problem. When I said yes, he put a simplification problem similar to 5(x + 2) + (x + 9). I went through the problem, showing them to distribute to get rid of parentheses and then as I started the next step a student said “like terms” which I acknowledged and we combined the like terms together. High fives were given to all of the students that helped.

By this time, the rest of our group had completed their tour and were waiting for Albert and I to take a group photo with some of the students. I then got to present the head master school supplies that our group had brought with us, and he was extremely grateful.

From the pictures of the buildings and classrooms one might make the assumption these students were getting an inferior education. But from everything I saw they are getting a great education.

As we drove away tears started rolling down my face as I was so moved by what I had just witnessed. Everyone I saw had a smile on their face and you could just tell they all wanted to be there. That is what the educational experience is supposed to be about. I know I will cherish this experience for the rest of my life.”