Wednesday -- the farewell ceremony at Banjika

 Hey guys! It’s Adrian and Sophie (aka Cola and Mitch)

Wow. Today was our last full day at the school.

We started the day off with a late wake up, meaning we got to sleep in and arrived at school at 9 A.M. for tea and donuts. After, students came together in groups, socializing while playing cards and making friendship bracelets: we laughed and joked with our homestays while eating breakfast.

Knowing this would be our last day at the school, we took today as an opportunity to take many pictures to savor these moments. We then had the Banjika students teach us a dance. It was rough at first, but then we got the hang of it! After, we had a small dance party to the Cha Cha slide, the Cupid Shuffle, the Macarena, Gangnam Style, and, of course, the song of the trip, Summer by Calvin Harris. 

we practiced our dances for the big performance at the celebration

We then had lunch and made our way to the goodbye ceremony (tears were shed). The  ceremony started with speeches from Banjika teachers and the headmistress. It was followed by some students dancing, and then a speech given by Murohn and Sophie on Menlo’s behalf. Mr. Schafer shared his appreciation, and then we moved on to gifts. Menlo students received gifts from their homestay partners: the girls received beautiful, patterned wraps to tie around their waists, and the boys received Maasai tribe wraps to wear around their torsos. 

Then, once again, we had another photo sesh, this time with families and homestay partners. 

We can’t wait for tomorrow; an amazing safari awaits us in the Ngorongoro Crater.

Signed with love and tears,

Adrian and Sophie

the whole community came to the celebration, including many of the homestay families

we danced

a lot





they gave us each beautiful wraps, and a painting of leopards

  

     



   
  

  Buffie with the headmistress and a teacher

Mr Schafer's new look  









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