The Beels in Ethiopia: Gold Silver Bronze and Goodbye!

We hoped that we would be able to finish the Long Jump, High Jump and shot put the next day and then do the medal giving and play some party games but we were far too optimistic! Firstly, it was pouring with rain again and so we went to the Grade School first and then to the KG school by which time the rain had still not stopped. So we went straight for the ceremony!

My big classroom was set up with chairs at one end and a low stool, medium chair and higher chair were arranged Olympic style for the medal giving. An Ethiopian flag was produced and three of the older girls were chosen to be medal carriers. We were waiting for one of the teachers to return with the biscuits so there was a bit of a delay in starting and the children were really good, just sitting there patiently, even the 2 year olds!

This was a good opportunity to let everyone see the pictures from the day before and so I walked round with my laptop and the pictures on slideshow with some rousing music playing that we had dug up – The Final Countdown (doo-doo-loo-doo-doo), ‘We are Young’. It was the best we could do under such short notice haha! It was a nice touch and it went down well.

Showing the children pictures of the races from the day before

They thought it was great!

The ceremony opened with the children singing the Ethiopian National anthem and the stage was set.

Singing the National Anthem

Names were called, children stood on chairs, Martin shook hands and placed medals over heads and Fran kissed and wrapped the flag. I took photos. Children returned to seats and so on. Many children received more than one medal. Mainly due to the fact that medals were given for individual heats as well as the finals! Oh dear never mind – there were none for the abandoned events so plenty to go round.