Four pupils from Zambia have just enjoyed a week’s long exchange at Elgin High School.
For Daniel James, Yvonne Chikubula, Bupe Mubanga, and Gallen Mukosha from Mukonchi High School it was a chance to meet with their pen friends who they have kept in regular contact with and last saw a year ago when the Elgin pupils visited them.
The trip forms part of a regular exchange programme and the pupils are lodging with the families of Elgin High pupils.
Teachers Dorothy Sakala and Webson Moonga joined them on the trip and said the major difference between the teaching in the UK and Zambia was the class sizes.
Ms Sakala said: “The teacher to pupil ratio is good here compared with our country where there is 45 pupils in one room.”
On Monday the pupils had a food nutrition lesson where they got to make sponge custard pudding.
They were not hesitant in recommending the Scottish food with 17-year-old Daniel saying his favourite delicacy was bacon roll and Irn Bru.
Daniel said: “We enjoyed a field trip with the geography department and went to Spynie Palace.
“The Pitgaveny Estate manager showed us round and we saw how different farming is.”
The pupils got fully immersed in the school activities and attended normal classes.
They collected their best photos yesterday from their time in Scotland which they will present to their school in the form of a powerpoint presentation on their return on Monday.
Yvonne, 17, who hopes to join the army when she leaves school, said: “We got to visit the different primary schools such as New Elgin and Greenwards.”
In their jam packed week they also managed a visit to Edinburgh where they went to the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh Castle and the dungeons.
Elgin High headteacher Andy Simpson said: “It is great how this project has developed over the years with the pupils building long lasting friendships. I want to thank the community for their help and support.”