The One With The Graduation (written 9/28/2012)

Dahlia and I got to school early this morning to help prepare for graduation.  There was decorating, cleaning and lot of cooking to be done.  The ceremony was supposed to begin at 9am (and end at 12).  So we diligently set to work chopping onions and tomatoes and helping to decorate.  9:00 came… and went… there was a “guest of honor” who attended graduation (a district official from Ileje) without whom the ceremony could not begin.  The students were more than happy to wait though because a speaker had been through in for the ceremony and so they were able to play music and dance while they were waiting.  They literally danced for hours and loved every minute of it.  The guest of honor arrived at 1:45, so just a little later than expected, and the ceremony began shortly after.  It was great! I got to see the songs and dances again and watch the form four students proudly hear their names called and receive their certificate (and then promptly hand it back, the headmaster didn’t have time to sign them beforehand so they will receive them, signed, later).  It was so fun! The ceremony ended at about 6:00.  After, there was a meal for the teachers and officials that came.  And then, after another tiring day, I got to head home.