Part 1 of The Return Home trilogy - Commencement Day, 12th May 2006
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Now that I'm back at home, I have to split the story of what happened from commencement day until er... yesterday into more than one post.
Part 1 of The Return Home trilogy-
Commencement Day, 12th May 2006
Commencement brunch over at Lakeside. The food wasn't too bad, but not everyone was particularly hungry. I know I wasn't - I only had enough to tide over some of the hunger. More picture taking of everyone in their formal best, even though I was wearing a shirt on top of jeans, but what the hey. For some reason most of the other girls have unknowingly decided to wear pink. Parents also finally met Darlene (or as we call her - Mom), my Family Friend and long story short, they get along famously like a house on fire.
After some tears and more pictures, went back and got into our graduating garb (black gown, hat, tassel and a white collar for girls) and makeup. Mom and Cheryl used my room for their stuff and to change in.
Went over to the Rec Center at about 12 something to show my parents their seats in the Fieldhouse. After calling Cheryl to bring a few things that I forgot (she was still putting on makeup when I left) in my room, I joined the rest and waited for what seemed like eternity for the march into the Fieldhouse. After a few false stops, we were finally in the Fieldhouse and we had to stand at our seats until fellow graduates finally got in. We marched in two lines and most of the Malaysians were all in a single file cos that's the only way that we could sit with one another. As for me I was between Ka Hing and Cheryl.
I remember having to stand for the national anthem, then some speeches and then the degree conferring part. Dad kept trying to take some shots, but he inadvertently switches the thing off instead of snapping a picture, which I thought was funny and so did Cheryl.
As we were all lining up to the stage, I managed to suppress the urge to shed some tears. I was actually chuckling inside of the thought of the student readers (who are the ones reading out the names) and the Malaysian names, esp. big Yogi's. But names wise, I thought it was okay that they didn't butcher it so much.
When everything was over, there was MORE picture taking of the stage and with the uni's president (who is eerily familiar with PJ). Dad wanted to belanja Mom dinner to express their gratitude at Great Wall, but Mom accidentally told Ka Hing about it and when she realised it she asked me to ask them if it was okay that a few more people came along. Dad was gracious enough to let me so it was the three of us, Mom, Huey, Ka Hing and Jessica Faith, one of Mom's granddaughters.
Dinner was okay, but didn't eat too much. The 'rents thought the crab was good.
After dinner, the 'rents went off with Mom as she showed them Coldstone Creamery and Walmart while she dropped us young 'uns off at the dorm to pack. I dropped by the guys' room to see them pack (my term was kaypoh). Then me and uncle went over to Mun Yee's room in Birch to "help out" (read: kaypoh some more) as she packs with some help from other people. Together we taped a couple of boxes and helped put back some stuff into boxes. Went back to pack a little more and was in bed by about 2 something in the a.m. (as I was too tired to chat with uncle online) as Mi Ki and Yunn Hanm have to organise their stuff (their rooms look like a storm's hit, but has not left).
My last night in America was a lot like my first - in a room that's empty on one side, sleeping with the pillow that Res Life gave us, but with the exception that I still had my bedsheet and comforter set on my bed.
Part 1 of The Return Home trilogy-
Commencement Day, 12th May 2006
Commencement brunch over at Lakeside. The food wasn't too bad, but not everyone was particularly hungry. I know I wasn't - I only had enough to tide over some of the hunger. More picture taking of everyone in their formal best, even though I was wearing a shirt on top of jeans, but what the hey. For some reason most of the other girls have unknowingly decided to wear pink. Parents also finally met Darlene (or as we call her - Mom), my Family Friend and long story short, they get along famously like a house on fire.
After some tears and more pictures, went back and got into our graduating garb (black gown, hat, tassel and a white collar for girls) and makeup. Mom and Cheryl used my room for their stuff and to change in.
Went over to the Rec Center at about 12 something to show my parents their seats in the Fieldhouse. After calling Cheryl to bring a few things that I forgot (she was still putting on makeup when I left) in my room, I joined the rest and waited for what seemed like eternity for the march into the Fieldhouse. After a few false stops, we were finally in the Fieldhouse and we had to stand at our seats until fellow graduates finally got in. We marched in two lines and most of the Malaysians were all in a single file cos that's the only way that we could sit with one another. As for me I was between Ka Hing and Cheryl.
I remember having to stand for the national anthem, then some speeches and then the degree conferring part. Dad kept trying to take some shots, but he inadvertently switches the thing off instead of snapping a picture, which I thought was funny and so did Cheryl.
As we were all lining up to the stage, I managed to suppress the urge to shed some tears. I was actually chuckling inside of the thought of the student readers (who are the ones reading out the names) and the Malaysian names, esp. big Yogi's. But names wise, I thought it was okay that they didn't butcher it so much.
When everything was over, there was MORE picture taking of the stage and with the uni's president (who is eerily familiar with PJ). Dad wanted to belanja Mom dinner to express their gratitude at Great Wall, but Mom accidentally told Ka Hing about it and when she realised it she asked me to ask them if it was okay that a few more people came along. Dad was gracious enough to let me so it was the three of us, Mom, Huey, Ka Hing and Jessica Faith, one of Mom's granddaughters.
Dinner was okay, but didn't eat too much. The 'rents thought the crab was good.
After dinner, the 'rents went off with Mom as she showed them Coldstone Creamery and Walmart while she dropped us young 'uns off at the dorm to pack. I dropped by the guys' room to see them pack (my term was kaypoh). Then me and uncle went over to Mun Yee's room in Birch to "help out" (read: kaypoh some more) as she packs with some help from other people. Together we taped a couple of boxes and helped put back some stuff into boxes. Went back to pack a little more and was in bed by about 2 something in the a.m. (as I was too tired to chat with uncle online) as Mi Ki and Yunn Hanm have to organise their stuff (their rooms look like a storm's hit, but has not left).
My last night in America was a lot like my first - in a room that's empty on one side, sleeping with the pillow that Res Life gave us, but with the exception that I still had my bedsheet and comforter set on my bed.
Labels: milestone
