It was great to see Andrew, who had been in my Niger training class and is now doing a fantastic job as a health volunteer and life skills teacher to secondary students in Kenya. Carlo, a small enterprise volunteer, partners with a local non-profit, Village Hopecorps International, that provides business training, health education, and micro-loans in the area. While visiting, I was fortunate enough to attend the graduation party of a Village Hopecorps colleague and friend. It was great fun to meet so many new people at such a celebratory time. I couldn't help but compare the ceremony to the ones I've attended in Rwanda over the last two years. The differences and similarities were quite striking. My very professional anthropological notes have been taken, and I would to inform interested parties that rushing the buffet table, and piling on as much starch as possible onto a plate, is as equally acceptable in Kenya as in Rwanda.
I was moved by the custom (I'm not sure if it's widespread in Kenya, or particular to this area, or this family) of introducing guests. In Rwanda, guests of honor sit at the front of the venue, facing all other guests, and are expected to speak (which they take liberty doing, for very long, extended periods of time) to the masses. At this graduation ceremony, all the guests sat in a (rather imperfect) circle and Moses, the graduate, helped introduce every single person who had come. Beginning with his family, Moses passed the microphone from guest to guest, who introduced him or herself, and sometimes included some words of praise or advice.
The venue for the graduation party had excellent views of the beautiful Mount Kenya, which I hope to climb on another visit.
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