A day that I will remember forever.

12/5/08
Today was absolutely incredible. It was one of those days that seems so surreal and feels as if you’re in one of those movies--honoring and being honored. It was a morning that encompassed the beauty of African spirit.

Miriam and I held a special photo exhibit, to honor our class of 8 “explorers” for completing a 10-week photography class. But little did we know the extent to which we, unexpectedly, would be honored. The community, students at the Kofi Anani school, and our students’ friends and family members were all invited.

Headmaster Kofi Anani first began by introducing himself and by welcoming all guests, with special acknowledgment given to Miriam and me. He opened in prayer and the “Opening Ceremonies” then began. We had no idea that students of all ages, boys and girls, had been rehearsing dances, drumming, and recitations for us for this special day.

Drumbeats melodically set the stage for a group of young dancers that marched into the concrete-wall room, performing three incredible Ghanaian dances. The dancers were enthusiastic and glowing with joy. I couldn’t stop smiling. They were the most talented dancers that I’ve seen in Ghana and told stories through their dances. After a series of dances, five children recited poems that they had memorized, drawing inner strength and compassion through each emphatic word.

After beautifully-led opening ceremonies, Miriam and I presented certificates of achievement to our class and recognized them for all of their hard work during the semester and for their photography. We called up each “explorer” one by one, hugging each one tightly as we gave out the certificates. The community clapped and roared and honored. It was beautiful.

We directed all of the spectators to the dusty courtyard outside, where they viewed the photo exhibits featuring our students’ work. Each photo was matted onto a white background and corresponded with a caption written by the child photographer. Our students seemed so proud of their accomplishments, beaming when they saw the displays.

Everyone enjoyed refreshments and all who came got pencil sharpeners and pencils! Before concluding, the teachers helped me create lines in an attempt to somewhat organize Project Polaroid. We gave out 150+ Polaroid photos. The photographs fueled contagious amounts of joy.