Graduation

Today was the graduation ceremony for the Nyadire Teacher's College.  The strangest part was how similar it was to our graduation.  Granted, there were parts that were very different than at home, but for the most part it was what we would expect.  All the students were wearing robes and the graduation hats with the tassel.  Since graduation is an official event, it was done in English (thankfully) so I could understand it.  

The ceremony started an hour late, which is exactly on time according to African Time.  Reverend Tsiga opened with a prayer and a handful of dignitaries gave little speeches congratulating the graduates.  The audience was divided into two halves.  On one half sat the graduates facing the stage.  Interestingly, on the other half sat the families of the graduates, but they were facing the graduates.  Like every graduation, it started late, went too long and was too hot.  Nothing really notable happened until the groups starting giving presentations.  

The first group to present was the preschool.  They each stood in front of the audience and recited nursery rhymes.  Rather than face the audience, they faced the stage.  I guess that they were presenting to the dignitaries rather than the audience.

After the ECD presentation, the primary school presented a traditional dance.  The dance was the highlight of the ceremony, or at least the part that I sat through.  Luckily, we had a camera and got a video of it.

Sorry for the poor quality, this was shot with a normal camera, not a camcorder.  Also three of the Home of Hope kids are in the dance.  Tinotenda is in the white shirt, Lindiwe is in the green and Tineshe is the boy on the left side.  I am not sure why, but Lindiwe only shows up half way through the dance.

AH.  So the video is working right now.  The internet is too slow.  Im going to try and upload it again tomorrow.