Graduation

Although they do not graduate till November, most local undergraduates in their final year have received their graduation gowns.

Like many other traditions, graduation outfits have been heavily influenced by their British counterparts. The gown is black, except for a colourful v-shaped line extending from the shoulders towards solar plexus. The colour indicates the student's college, with orange representing Morningside, red representing New Asia etc. The outfit is completed by a traditional square academic cap (otherwise known as a mortarboard).

However, the traditions seem to stop here. Graduation photos are taken as soon as possible, so on a cold, grey, hazy Sunday, enclaves of Asians patrol around campus to take as many photos as humanly possible. These groups not only consist of the graduating student and parents, but grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, and even friends, all bringing flowers and gifts. A really odd tradition is to have a doll / stuffed animal, dressed in graduation robes, accompanying the student on every photo. This is in stark contrast to Denmark, where the symbol of graduation is only donned once one actually graduates - wearing it earlier is considered bad luck.

This provides a brief glimpse of the importance of education. University is by no means free (like in Denmark or Scotland), and with the competition for jobs in such a crowded city, University degrees really count for something - not just interesting / well-paid jobs, but any job at all. The attendance of so many relatives underlines this fact. However, the uncertainty of employment after graduation also pressurizes students to perform, and the achievement of completing University marks the end of a long and stressful period for the student, as a result of high expectations from family members.

Graduation here is often followed by employment, like in the United States, whereas Danes are expected to complete a Master's Degree before firms will consider them potential applicants. That is the realization that dawns, as I head back to my room to complete a heavy load of studying before I head for China's capital on Wednesday.