6 - Graduation Day!

Saturday, October 7, 2017

     It was an early start today because we thought we'd have a lot of decorating and setting up to do.  We were going to leave at 6:30 am to go to the school.  Russ and Mary1 thought it was 7:00 so we didn't leave until about then.  (Africa time again!)  It would be our last daylight trip on the bumpy roads because we'll get back late tonight. I took a lot of pictures and videos of the views on the way-the red clay dirt, the mud brick houses, the stick fences.  I wanted to be able to remember everything.  The cattle path alongside the road (like our bike paths), the basket ladies carrying anything and everything, the men digging a ditch for fiber optic cable, the different kinds of trees, will forever be etched in my mind's eye.

Cattle path and the red clay dirt

Fences of sticks made from dried sunflower stalks

      When we got to the school, the tents and speaker system had all been set up overnight.  They were putting the final touches on the decorating.  They did use the balloons and streamers we brought but their color scheme was the national colors: green, yellow, and blue.  We had red and white decorations.  Oh well, we meant well.  They had girls as greeters who would carry bags for people at the entrance to the school.  They had parking areas set up with parking attendants.  They were all prepared. Music was blaring so loud we couldn't stay near it for long.  We got all of our bags of gifts out of the office and put them in the Rover to bring them closer to the action.  We put up the picture boards Deb2 had spent hours making in the science lab.  We didn't know where to put the cake Russ and Mary1 had bought so we put it in the science lab, too.  Later we were told to remove it because there was not supposed to be any food or drink in the lab - too many dangerous chemicals.  I don't know where the cake went then.

The DJ and the chairs we sat in.

The graduation cake

     The Form 4 girls (the graduates) were getting dressed in their traditional Maasai gowns and jewelry.  They had traditional beaded headdresses to wear with them but they chose to put on the white graduation caps we had brought for them and they looked so gorgeous.  The white against their black hair and skin was striking.  We wandered around for awhile with nothing to do but greet people.   Mary, a Maasai woman from Kwala, where the primary school was, had some jewelry she was selling.  Most of us bought something from her.  I bought a bracelet.  We sat on the steps of the science lab because it was shady.  All the chairs were down in the loud ceremony location and we didn't want to sit with music blaring in our ears.  

     We found out the dignitaries coming would be the Regional Commissioner, Amina Masenza and the District Commissioner, Asia, who we had met the night before.  The Regional Commissioner could be compared to a cabinet position in our country.  She reports directly to the president.  The ceremony was supposed to start around 10:00 but the RC and DC were to be called when everything was ready and then they would come from Iringa, an hour and a half away.  Finally about 11:30 they came in a procession of about 10 white vehicles.  The girls were all lined up along the path leading to the science lab.  Out of the vehicles came all kinds of military people, security guards and police with huge guns, helmets and face masks.  One was positioned by the bathroom the RC would use.  The rest around the perimeter.

The graduates lined up along the road

     They all went into the science lab.  We had finally sat down in the ceremony area trying to stay out of the limelight.  We were ordered to join them in the lab.  Two of the girls were demonstrating a science experiment.  When they were done, one of he ladies asked what practical use could this be in real life.  The girl gave an appropriate answer and got a high five congratulations.  We were standing shoulder to shoulder with all these military people (and their body odor) so we felt quite honored (and a little intimidated).  Then we moved on to tour the dormitories.  We stayed outside because we'd seen them before.  When the RC came out, she shook each of our hands and welcomed us.

Science experiment demonstration

      Then it was on to the graduation ceremony itself.  It was about noon then.  We were supposed to sit in the chairs right behind the dignitaries but all their entourage filled the chairs there, so we took the front row on the left.  We had the small wooden chairs they use in the classrooms.  They sank in the sand as we sat on them, so we had to keep readjusting and moving them. Everyone was introduced, including us.  We each had to give a short speech.  Mary read the poem she gave each girl in their gift bags.  Then the girls did some dancing as entertainment.  The grads did a sort of "dollar dance" where people came up and danced by them and gave them money.  They tucked it into the beautiful belts and kept right on dancing.  Then the speeches began. We had someone interpreting for us. The head mistress spoke, I think just welcoming everyone.  Asia, the DC, gave a very supportive speech.   Deb1 gave a very long, very personal and very moving speech about her history and the history of the school, pleading for more help from everyone for the Massai girls.  Then the RC spoke.  She promised support and wanted the school to do even more such as adding Form 5 and 6, building better dorms so the girls didn't have to go outside to the bathroom (a danger to them of kidnapping).  The actual handing out of certificates and awards was very quick.  Each girl curtsied with each handshake. Four hours later (and very tired butts) it was over.

Asia, the District Commissioner

Amina, the Regional Commissioner

Deb Pangerl, the founder of Namnyaki School

The graduates dancing

     The RC led the way out and motioned for us to follow right after her.  We went to one of the classrooms and a meal of rice, beef, chicken, peas, cabbage, some green stuff was served by a catering company with big huge pots.  We sat at the same table as the RC and DC and also a representative of US Aid.  They are all very kind and personable.  I couldn't eat the beef and used Deb's trick of hiding it in my napkin.  They served the cake Russ and Mary bought for dessert afterwards in small bites with toothpicks.  They had ordered a chocolate cake, but it wasn't very chocolate.  It was kind of dry and gingery tasting, but the frosting was good.  Russ and Mary had spent a lot for it were very disappointed.

DC, RC, and Edward at lunch

      Then we went outside.  Many of the girls were having little mini parties with their families,  They had brought little cakes with them.Those were cut into little pieces and fed to people who were important to them.  I got a couple of pieces from some of the girls.  The people who were sponsors of specific girls got gifts from the families.

Eating graduation cake

     Then we somehow got the teachers gathered to give them their quilts.  Not all of them were there and Edward said to give the rest to the security guards.  Later on, one of the teachers asked for one and Deb2 decided to give her one for one of the girls who probably wouldn't graduate.  The security guards also got cologne from Marlene and loved it.

Maasai guards getting their cologne

     We got most of the girls together next to get their quilts and gift bags.  Each one had their picture taken and then a group photo with the mountain in the background.

Girls, quilts, and gifts

      Meanwhile all the tents had been taken down.  The speakers and DJ moved into the Form 1 classroom (so nicely cleaned).  The loud music began again.  We didn't want to have our ears blasted again and we were too tired to dance, so we decided to say our goodbyes and go back to our hotel. We had our last supper at Sai Villa and they only charged us for our drinks!  Deb1 and Edward joined us later.  Edward is such a fascinating person.  The story of how he came to be involved with the school is almost divine intervention.  Deb1 had been ready to give up a couple of years ago.  Edward was at the UN serving on a committee to bring indigent tribes into the mainstream.  He was invited to come see the school.  He had heard some things about mismanagement beforehand.  He saw what was going on and decided he could not do nothing because then he was supporting the very thing his committee was battling.  He came to work for the school and saved it!