Adventures in Bangor.
Jul. 20th, 2007 01:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
castaliaFinally have my luggage, although it didn't make it in time for graduation and in fact arrived while I was at the ceremony. A neighbor was kind enough to take it from the delivery guy and keep it until I got home. I borrowed some clothes from Christina and wore the brown boots I'd left here last year, so I didn't look too rumpled under the gown. Good thing, too, b/c the British ones don't close in the front like all the US graduation gowns do, so whatever you're wearing underneath is totally on display. Whew.
The ceremony itself was interesting, with lots of symbolism and people carrying strange sticks and a mace and staffs and things. There was a guy who looked like an 18th century page boy or something, except far older. He had on velvet and tights and the whole nine yards.
The entire thing was conducted in both English and Welsh, and the welcome thing the vice-chancellor the president say to all the graduates when they've received degrees and are being formally acknowledged as (in our case) "masters" was entirely in Welsh. A translation for that was provided in the program book. That was very cool.
I have a little problem with my certificate which I'll have to have remedied - they neglected to add the "distinction" bit on there, and I didn't even notice until a classmate pointed out that he had his on there, and a quick glance at mine revealed the mistake. I hope I can get it fixed while I'm here, so I can take it home with me. The design is pretty simple, with the university seals and crests and whatnot, but I love the fact that my degree is also written in both English and Welsh. The Welsh is at the top and then they repeat it all underneath. <&heart>
Had a bit of a lie-in this morning, so as to recover from last night's epic session in the pub. Everyone went to the Auckland in Menai Bridge to celebrate, and it felt just like old times. I didn't feel like drinking (especially not with the exchange rate at over 2:1 right now), but it was great to chat with everyone and laugh and feel like we'd never left at all. A lot of people expressed surprise that I'd come all the way over here just for graduation, but honestly, this is the last time I think we'll ever have so many of us all together in one place, this place ever again. It's special. A lot of my classmates have had to go home today, as many could only get so many days off work, but a good number will be here throughout my visit. I said a bunch of goodbyes again at the pub last night (or early this morning, technically), which was sad but I know I'll keep in touch with these people. I've been ordered to get on Facebook, heh.
Gotta go later to Kate's graduation, and then we're all having dinner tonight, so in the meantime I'm just chilling at the house and hoping the rain will stop. I need to go and get some groceries, too, just a few things to tide me over while I'm here. It's too expensive to eat out all the time, and I'd rather not spend more than is wise while the dollar is so weak. The first few days have been expensive, what with buying a new SIM card so I can have a phone while I'm here, eating out a few times with friends, paying for the dinky reception thing they gave us before graduation (kind of a waste, but oh well), etc. At least I get paid today, and mum can put that in the bank for me. I still have the stupid temp job, so at least I won't be completely broke with no way of making some money when I get home, though my credit card is acting wounded at the moment. It's such a wuss, I swear.
I'll keep everyone updated with my goings-on over here, though I doubt they'll be all that interesting. I'm not really here to sight-see or travel like so many are assuming; I'm here to see people and to be here in this place and enjoy a relaxed vacation with my friends. I may not do anything more exciting than having a night out in the pub, or going for walks in the mountains, or seeing a film in Llandudno with the group.
Okay, and I want to see my cuttles, too. I missed those crazy things.
The ceremony itself was interesting, with lots of symbolism and people carrying strange sticks and a mace and staffs and things. There was a guy who looked like an 18th century page boy or something, except far older. He had on velvet and tights and the whole nine yards.
The entire thing was conducted in both English and Welsh, and the welcome thing the vice-chancellor the president say to all the graduates when they've received degrees and are being formally acknowledged as (in our case) "masters" was entirely in Welsh. A translation for that was provided in the program book. That was very cool.
I have a little problem with my certificate which I'll have to have remedied - they neglected to add the "distinction" bit on there, and I didn't even notice until a classmate pointed out that he had his on there, and a quick glance at mine revealed the mistake. I hope I can get it fixed while I'm here, so I can take it home with me. The design is pretty simple, with the university seals and crests and whatnot, but I love the fact that my degree is also written in both English and Welsh. The Welsh is at the top and then they repeat it all underneath. <&heart>
Had a bit of a lie-in this morning, so as to recover from last night's epic session in the pub. Everyone went to the Auckland in Menai Bridge to celebrate, and it felt just like old times. I didn't feel like drinking (especially not with the exchange rate at over 2:1 right now), but it was great to chat with everyone and laugh and feel like we'd never left at all. A lot of people expressed surprise that I'd come all the way over here just for graduation, but honestly, this is the last time I think we'll ever have so many of us all together in one place, this place ever again. It's special. A lot of my classmates have had to go home today, as many could only get so many days off work, but a good number will be here throughout my visit. I said a bunch of goodbyes again at the pub last night (or early this morning, technically), which was sad but I know I'll keep in touch with these people. I've been ordered to get on Facebook, heh.
Gotta go later to Kate's graduation, and then we're all having dinner tonight, so in the meantime I'm just chilling at the house and hoping the rain will stop. I need to go and get some groceries, too, just a few things to tide me over while I'm here. It's too expensive to eat out all the time, and I'd rather not spend more than is wise while the dollar is so weak. The first few days have been expensive, what with buying a new SIM card so I can have a phone while I'm here, eating out a few times with friends, paying for the dinky reception thing they gave us before graduation (kind of a waste, but oh well), etc. At least I get paid today, and mum can put that in the bank for me. I still have the stupid temp job, so at least I won't be completely broke with no way of making some money when I get home, though my credit card is acting wounded at the moment. It's such a wuss, I swear.
I'll keep everyone updated with my goings-on over here, though I doubt they'll be all that interesting. I'm not really here to sight-see or travel like so many are assuming; I'm here to see people and to be here in this place and enjoy a relaxed vacation with my friends. I may not do anything more exciting than having a night out in the pub, or going for walks in the mountains, or seeing a film in Llandudno with the group.
Okay, and I want to see my cuttles, too. I missed those crazy things.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-20 02:08 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-21 12:03 am (UTC)How's the leak situation? Did they get it fixed properly now?
(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-21 01:36 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-07-21 03:59 am (UTC)