I think there are very few people who are as lucky as I am for participating three different cultures- in graduation ceremonies and parties. In 2008, I graduated from National Taiwan University; in 2012, I graduated from Trine University, U.S.A.; and on 2nd/6, I was invited to join one high school graduation ceremony and the party after then. It is just so amazing to be in Taiwanese culture, American culture and Finnish culture in such big events!
In Taiwan, EVERY graduation ceremonies count, because they represent a good symbol for the next step of life. In 2008, we, the graduates, dressed up with the graduate gown and the cap with tassel. Different colors of collars meant different departments. My belonged to Sociology Department, which was purple.
The ceremony was long and boring. It was all about rituals, so I decided since there were so many people, I would not be the spotlight if I had my own fun. I quietly took out the donuts to share with my friends! Finally, we had a great time in such a routine!
At night, it was the time for the graduation prom. It was such a fancy event, so we seriously dressed up for the very first time. It was fantastic to see all my friends that elegant and gorgeous.
It was a bit strange that after the graduation ceremony, we still needed to go to school for the rest of classes and tests. During the time, we threw a thank-you-teacher party for all of our professors in Social Work Department. We recalled all the good memory during these four years and thank each of our teachers by showing videos, and giving small gifts.
Four years later, In U.S.A., on 9th/5 of 2012, it was the graduation ceremony of Trine University. Compared to my university in Taiwan with around 7,000 graduates, it was only about 521 graduates. Graduates wore gradation gown and the cap with the tassels. Different tassels represent different departments. To my surprise, few graduates showed up with flip-flops in such an event!
Since I already experienced being a graduate in the university ceremony, this time, I attended as an audience. When all the graduates entering to the ceremony, all the audience cheered and applauded loudly! It was such a pleasure to see their families graduating from university. Especially, I could see the race difference. Because it is so hard for African Americans to graduate from universities, their families were extremely proud of the graduates by whistling and yelling their names aloud. I somehow felt like in a basketball game and shared the excitement together.
After the all the routine of graduation ceremony, graduates went home with their families to celebrate a bit time. We, international students, had no families in the U.S.A., so the school arranged a banquet in Caruso Restaurant, the Italian restaurant . It was a nice gesture and it was the last activity I attended in Trine University. No more classes and tests from now on! How wonderful it is!
I could not believe after three weeks, I participated another graduation ceremony in Finland although I did not know the graduate! Unfortunately, I did not understand Finnish to get more involved in the ceremony, but I observed it on different perspectives. Finns are serious and quiet even in a graduation ceremony- no cheers, whistles, yelling or loud applauding but soft music, speeches and rituals. It seemed to me that it was not appropriate to cheer up or something. I asked why and my Finnish friend answered me that it actually was sentimental for graduates because they were leaving friends and families for the next step- boys go to military service and girls go to universities.
For the dress code, it was interesting to see that Finns do not wear graduation gowns; instead, they wore their own fancy gowns/suits and the special white cap!
After the ceremony, we went to the graduate’s home to have our celebration. The house was full of people ,but they could still manage to talk quietly in such a crowd. I was amazed and wondered how they made it! The food was special- sandwich cakes, dessert, salad with drinks and it was buffet. People talked and ate for more than three hours.
In graduation ceremonies, people in different countries celebrate in different ways. Taiwanese respect teachers a lot; Americans are more casual; and Finns are more restrained. I am grateful for these cultural experiences and hunger for more!
Comments
Hsuen-Chu, feel free to write about observations you feel interesting. Choose your subject. We can talk the details about your visit to Sotkamo at the end of this week or at the beginning of next week. Irja and myself like your work a lot. Have a nice evening.
Cute, cute, cute ;)