Today I went to a ceremony with my Jula teacher instead of having regular class. I knew we were going somewhere, but it wasn’t until we were most of the way there that I learned where we were going. It was the inauguration of a new meeting building, where ladies groups (and other groups) can get together.
The ceremony was scheduled to start at 2:00. We got there a little after 3:00 and had a seat. We had some water to drink and waited for it to start. At about 3:30 people were starting to sit on the ground, but then more chairs must have appeared because they went and got them to sit on. At 4:00 we bought homemade chocolate popsicles to eat as we waited for it to start. At about 4:20 the ceremony actually started. There were a few speeches by important people, some in French and some in Jula, and by 5:00 they were cutting the ceremonial ribbon (which we saw them put up as we were waiting) and the ceremony was over. We sat around a little bit because they were giving out free water, and of course we wouldn’t want to miss that. Then when we got up to leave and were saying goodbye to people, we found out that they were giving out some free sodas, so we went over there. When they opened that door there was a mad rush, and I decided that I didn’t want a free soda that bad. But my Jula teacher, Fatimata, got right in there and got us each a Fanta (orange soda). After drinking it we were finally free to come home.
I’m not always sure what a day is going to hold. I was planning on Jula class and got a ceremony instead. It’s a good thing that it’s God, and not me, who’s in control.