Michael Polo.

I feel like I’ve been so…productive?  This is a strange feeling.  It’s been a while. 

Anyway, we had our commencement ceremony for the 2010 Leaders Program last week at a local venue called the River’s Lodge.  It’s an older resort about 45 minutes away from my village on the Olifants River.  It was really a great venue to celebrate the end of the program for our children (the select group of about 35 leaders) at the drop-in centers.  We took them there for the day as an opportunity for an outing/celebration of their hard work.  We reviewed the highlights of the leadership program (talking about what they had learned), handed out certificates, announced the leaders who were selected for the special outing trip (a day trip to Graskop where we will visit some beautiful sites in Blyde River Canyon which I will be sure to tell you all about), and then, the best part, had a braii (the South African equivalent of a barbecue) and let them just play for the afternoon!  

At the resort, there was a big grassy area where the kids could play soccer, a volleyball court (sort of...it was a bit old but we still played), and, yes, a swimming pool.  Unfortunately, no one knows how to swim.  But, this did not stop them from getting in the pool.  They had a great time (while I faked being a lifeguard making sure there were no drownings).  I also tried to teach them how to play, "Marco Polo" which somehow became, "Michael Polo."  Oh, well. they still had fun playing.

And I learned the secret to staying cool.  Just wear wet clothes.  All of the time. 

 Ice Breakers.

Michael Polo.

2010 Phedisang Leaders.