it was strange and it really felt surreal. but at the same time, it was beautiful and we really appreciated us being made part of that group of “graduands”. last week we had an “informal graduation ceremony” for international sponsored students completing their studies this semester or early next year. the research students, like myself, actually have not submitted our thesis yet as our course goes on until the end of february, for most of us. so, along with many other research students, i was there wearing that gown while we actually have not completed our studies.

as international students it is not going to be very feasible for us to come back to attend a formal graduation ceremony, for - we have to leave oz land as soon as the exams are over (for course work students) or as soon as we submit our thesis (for research students). and the earliest graduation will not be after about three months after that. so we cannot stay until that date. and as for coming back, for most of us it is too expensive and not worthwhile spending an awful amount of hard earned money on the tickets to come back to this far away land – and it is especially hard for students with children, like myself.

so it was really great to be able to take part in a graduation ceremony, wearing the pompous gowns, sash (mine was smalt) and motorboard, and go up the stage to receive a “document of completion” (no matter how fake it was). and be able to take photos with family, friends and colleagues, and academics and other support staff who made this learning journey easier and memorable for us.

the timing was fake, the certificate was a blank sheet of paper, but the pride in our eyes and that of our family and friends were real. the glow of the ceremony was real. the rejoicing was real. the sentiment that this day was hard earned was real. of course, for people like myself we still had to get past our last lag of this journey by handing in our thesis in time. and as for me, my thesis is almost there. a first draft is ready. padding up the background chapter and the discussion chapter, writing up the abstract and cutting down some sections to meet the word limit is all that i need to do. and i have faith in myself that i will be able to hand in a sound and scrupulous thesis, at least by the end of jan 09. yeah!!!