day 167: heritage day

even though the learners are in the middle of end-of-term exams, today was a holiday from school as all over the country people simultaneously celebrated heritage day. when we dropped by the school last week to present an invitation to the principal & one of the teachers, we were extended an invitation as well. we were asked to attend a heritage day celebration @ siyazakha school. a number of schools from the surrounding community gathered together to celebrate south african culture through the arts - learners presented dramas, dances & lots of music!

we were told the program was to begin at 9. so, we showed up a few minutes after 9. only 2 other cars were there & very few people to be found. we saw one of our students & after greeting them, asked if they knew what time the program (which they were in) was to begin. "i don't know!" come to find out, even though the printed program said it was to begin at 9 am, that was actually when they began arriving & setting up. around 11, the program actually began. a few hours later, we needed to head out. so, we attempted to sneak out in between performances; HOWEVER, in a room full of several hundred xhosa-speaking south africans, white people trying to swim upstream are hard to miss. before we knew it, a lady (perfect stranger) dressed in bright red traditional african garb, was leading us by hand in front of the crowd, across the stage, where she interrupted the speaker to tell the group we were leaving. she introduced us & thanked us for coming...& just when we thought we were off the hook (and as i was halfway out the back door), we were pulled back in. i knew it wouldn't be that simple!

"now, it wouldn't be appropriate for us to let you leave without allowing you to address everyone here. & since you have been here quite some time now, surely you are able to construct a sentence in xhosa in order to do so." & so...with a microphone shoved in my face, i said the only 3 things i could think of. "molweni (hello)...ninjani (how are you?)....enkosi (thank you)." i have to say, i laughed along w/ the crowd. BUT, what a joy to be welcomed into their community with open arms.

& as we FINALLY snuck out the back door, we turned the corner & were bombarded by squeals, hugs & smiles from some of our students! it was SO great to get to see them :) many of them were from our most difficult class, but they have slowly become some of our favorites. reminds me, yet again, that those who are often the most difficult to love are the very ones who need Love the most!