Italy Journal
Thursday, March 7,
2013 (continued)
HAPPY GRADUATION DAY,
PETER, CONGRATULATIONS!!
I left the students about an hour before the ceremony to go
to the church and claim my seat, only to be told that no one could enter until
the graduates paraded through the crowd OUTSIDE the church. I was thankful that
the rain had stopped. I found many of the family members and friends of the
students waiting, too, and we talked until the 4:00 magic hour when the
graduates came through the “parted waters.” Then there was a stampede of people
who entered the church after them, only to find out that the 20 or so seats
that did not have graduates in them were taken already. So, about 3oo people stood on the outer and
middle aisles for the 2 hours of the ceremony. Che Bello! I was one of the lucky ones who was
next to the bench where a man got up and left half way through, so I stared
down the young man that started for the seat and grabbed it myself with
gratitude for a rest.
The ceremony itself was very nice. Three famous people (that
I didn’t know) gave speeches. There were 66 graduates in all – 16 of Peter’s
Master’s group and 50 undergraduates. Each of them was presented a lovely
diploma, and they were all given a cardboard tube earlier in which to transport
the diploma safely. After everyone
received diplomas, Carlo Petrini (UNISG President and Slow Food founder) spoke
about the special power of remembering, and the ceremony ended with the
students’ chorus singing a few songs. The students threw their hats in the air
at the last chorus! BRAVI!
I was very proud of Peter and his classmates. They’ve all
become very close this year and have been very supportive of each other. I was
so glad that I had been able to spend this year with them, too.
GREAT JOB, WINNERS! J
I love you all.
Colleen
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