
Two of the points the Vice Chancellor made that resonated with me were:
1) "At Oxford, we do not teach you how to think" --- Oh that's definitely true. In fact, they don't even teach you what to do. At all. For example, there were not even really clear instructions on what we were supposed to do at the ceremony. (Check out the photo of Dima and I trying to figure out what was happening)
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Dima and Sapna ---confused!!! |
2) "At some universities, the graduation ceremony is 'festive'. At Oxford, we prefer to have a serious, solemn ceremony" (and something to the effect of solemness = respect)
Note - I have no idea why the vice chancellor, and not the chancellor, was present.
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The Sheldonian Theatre |
Here are a few bullets on the ceremony:
- Yes, it's really in Latin
- You don't get to hold a scroll, or a faux scroll
- Your go on stage with about 30 other people
- You don't even get to be presented by your name, but after a group of names in which yours is included
- You are presented twice - once in your matriculation gowns, which you've had all year, and once again with your specific colour robe (mine was light blue)
- During your first go at it (in your normal gown), the person at the head of the group holds the Dean of your college's hand and then as a group, you all bow to the centre, to the left and to the right, then to the proctor again. Then the proctor says something in Latin, and you all say DO FIDEM! (Take courage!). Then you file out and hurry to get changed into your other gown at the Divinity School building before you're up again
- Depending on your degree (MSc, BCL, MA, DPhil (Phd), etc.) and your specific area of study, the second presentation seemed to happen differently. A couple of the degrees even got a tap on the head with a book from the vice chancellor (????) and the DPhils all got to shake his hand
- As an MSc. graduate, the second time is much simpler -you go up in rows of four. You bow together, and then the chancellor tips his hat off/bows his head to each of the four people individually. Then, you file out.
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Sapna and Anna |
Aunty Viniti and Uncle Steve came down from Kent for the ceremony - thank you for coming!!! Anna also joined us and we all took a few photos in front of the Sheldonian Theatre. We went to Arzoo for Indian food and then I joined Juliet, her parents and cousins, Dima and Dmitri for dessert at Pizza Express.
Enjoy the photos!
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Bowing pose! Juliet, Dima, Sultana, Sapna |
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Jeff, Dima, Juliet, Sophie, Sapna |
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Aunty Viniti, Uncle Steve and Sapna |
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Sapna & Aunty Viniti |
Sapna & Uncle Steve
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Anna and Sapna |
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All Graduate-d! |
2 comments:
So amazing!
Congratulations, Sapna! <3
Thank you, Meghan! (I love when people comment directly on my blog ;)
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