Somehow, somewhat

Recently I seem to lose the enthusiasm to read. Being spending too much time idling and slacking around. I also seem to crave more for food like cookies, chips and basically junk food. Wonder if this is what they call stress-eating.

Being having strange dreams these past few days. In one of the notable dream, there seemed to be an appearance of an omnipotent person/entity/figure/whatever, although I can't seem to recognise/remember who/what it was. Maybe it is not as one will think of but it just has that type of "presence". Oh well...

Once again it's the time of the year, where self doubts are flowing in my mind. If I am doing the right thing? If I have the ability to excel in what I am doing? If I am really cut out for certain things? So many "if"s. I guess I am still not as mentally strong as I wished to. These are things that I should have put a stand on and move on. But well, there is still some hesitation. Practically, wise words are only useful if you can invoke them to the full extent. Oh some more wise words. Now can I implement this to its full extent?

Counting down and 12 more days to go.

Slacking and Counting down

19 more days to go before I am in Singapore...haha looking forward to it. Meanwhile getting extremely slack these days, haven't been reading up much (if any). Been watching too much Taiwanese variety shows these days...hopefully I won't get too cheesey :P

圆梦

对这首歌有一点小小的感触。或许是跟现在处在的状况有关吧。

圆梦 by 康晋荣

离开的那天 写在信上面
赚了些钱把你接到这边
在异乡的夜承诺回响在每条街
整箱的泡面 戒掉的香烟
没有工作只好努力省钱
我又想起你的脸
想起我戴的卖掉的你送的纯金项链

拥抱着甜蜜回忆 珍贵却都不值钱
计算着我的梦想和现实之间
该不该就此妥协
拥抱着难圆的梦 倔强地不做改变
尽管那胸口的苦还拼命的锥
在见你之前忍住不掉一滴泪

Convocation

Today, I attended a friend's convocation (which incidently is the 442th of Mcmaster) who got his Masters. The whole ceremony was pretty interesting, so I thought that I should write something on it. Of course if you have been through a convocation before then there isn't much essential difference but the thing I thought that is unique and different from the Singapore way/style is the carrying out of the rituals.

Apparently the ritual had been a tradition with a history of hundreds of years dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. The whole ceremony proceeds as follows (as much as I remember).

(1) Guest will get seated and then the graduands are ushered into the hall. The graduands are all in plain black gowns except those who will be confered their Ph.D, where they are in brownish-red gown (I think...I am not good with colour).

(2) After the graduands have taken their seat, the president (of the school), the chancellor and his "company" will enter. All will stand and welcome them in. They will be seated on the stage. An interesting thing here is the person leading this group is so-called the Babel. He will also be carrying the University's Mace. There are two meanings behind this ritual. One is that in the early days, Bedels were functionaries and maces were weapons then. Thus the action where the Bedel carries the University Mace directly in front of the chancellor has the symbolic meaning of protecting him. The other purposes of the Mace is that it is the symbol of the authority of the University Senate to confer degrees, this authority being exercised by the chancellor.

(3) The chancellor sits on a massive oak ceremonial chair. There is a distinction between the way he confers degrees. Those to receive a Bachelor's degree kneel in pairs as he clasps their hands in his; a candidate for a Master's degree merely bends to accept the chancellor's hand; and the chancellor and the President stand to confer a doctorate. And when conferring the degree, the thing he will say is as follows: "(name of the candidate) I admit you to the (Bachelor/Master/Doctorate) degree of McMaster University. I hereby grant you all the rights and privileges pertaining to that degree". It seems that these words have been said to every graduands right ever since the founding of McMaster in 1887.

(4) There are also conferring of awards and speech from some of the people. But I thought the President gave quite an interesting speech. It's not the type of speech you will usually hear in Singapore in this kind of situations. Maybe this is just part of their culture. The speech is in a sense broader in aspects not just limiting to the usual stuffs like job aspects etc.

(5) Finally when everything is over, the Canada National Anthem is being sung. This is the first time I heard the anthem. I must say it is a nice song.

(6) After which the usual things happen, the president (of the school), the chancellor and his "company" will take their leave, followed by the graduands and the guests. From here on, it's photo-taking time and things like that la.