Saturday, March 17, 2012

卒業式! Graduation!

This past weekend was the Graduation Ceremonies for the graduating students in Meiji Gakuin University. Since many of the buddies in the buddy program were fourth years, a group of us exchange students decided to make an appearance. We were allowed into the actual ceremony though so we just hung about on campus until our friends had a chance to see us and take some pictures!


The graduating class is large so they have to take turns, we arrived at school around noon and waited around until 4pm.. we did a lot of waiting. The first graduation ceremony was at 10am on Thursday and the last ceremony was at 2pm on Friday.




This crazy looking man is actually the head of the exchange program at Meiji Gakuin. Asami is the leader of the Buddy Program so they are presenting him with a Thank you card.


There was a party for the graduates and teachers in the upper part of the school cafeteria. There were fancy finger foods and drinks but we felt a little out of place so our little group of foreigners just stayed put in the corner..


Leaving the school! The graduating boys all wear suits (except one guy who was in a bright red hakama.. couldn't decide if he was just fashionable or if he was wearing it for family tradition). The girls wear Hakama which is different from a kimono, and women only wear them at certain events like a graduation ceremony. Everyone looked so beautiful and happy! (well, sort of happy anyways. After graduation many students are looking forward to the life of a salary man..)



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