After leaving my home later than the scheduled departure time of 13:00, driving through an unforgiving Joburg traffic, I finally arrive at the Leriba Lodge Hotel and Conference Centre in Centurion to attend the two week long third edition of the Carnegie Library Leadership Academy.
I checked in, dumped my luggage and quickly joined the group for coffee and informal chatting. Then it was time to register, sign two sets of forms, get a name tag, file and a bag.
At around 17:00 the formal proceedings started. The icebreaker introductions had been prepared earlier and were by way of Power point presentations. Everybody seemed nervous, not sure what to say. All went well though. Good introduction and welcome by Project Co-ordinator, Ms. Ujala Satgoor. She assured us that this academy is unlike any other, no institution telling UP what to do, No selection of a few librarians to be sent abroad. The aim is to reach a target of one hundred and twenty librarians who will have gone through the Academy at the end of the project.
As I have dinner later, I still have not met my roommate. Yes, we are sharing accommodation at this academy, very awkward arrangement. When I do get to meet him, it turns out that he is a big man from the Eastern Cape, Fort Hare university - Mr. Andile Magocoba.
We start off well with Andile.He is a married father of two children. He tells me he’s played rugby and cricket in his heydays.He is a Union leader with some years of experience.
Single beds are too small even for a small man like myself. I do not mind because I always set myself to expect the worst in situations like these. But it is my roommate who has a serious problem. Every time he turns, he is already on the edge of his bed, about to fall off!
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