Upacara Konvokesyen ke-47 Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Prologue: Surprise surprise! No Japanese entry title for the day.

It was Universiti Sains Malaysia 47th Convocation Ceremony at Dewan Tunku Syed Putra (DTSP) earlier evening today.

As per title. Just in case you didn't know, with only one day and two sessions (morning and evening), the convocation ceremony held in April is the smaller one among the two convocation ceremonies held for each academic year in USM (hence nicknamed Mini-Convo) and usually it is catered for postgraduates (in which the time frame for their studies tend to fluctuate) as well as undergraduates who had to extend due to various reasons (student exchange/overseas internship/own academic issues). Rumour is rife however that this will be the very last mini-convo and for next academic year onward, it will be just one single large ceremony in September...regardless of graduands' finishing semester. Is this yet another part of the austerity measures undertaken by the new administration to cut down spending? Frankly speaking, I don't think cancelling the mini-convo is a wise decision, chief of which as if USM is not congested enough during the September Convo week and the staff is not tired enough running the event beside the obvious issue of graduation scroll for graduands finishing their studies in odd timing. Or perhaps they want to encourage student to forgo the whole ceremony all together and just get the graduation scroll posted to their home? 

As for me, this particular convocation has a subtle shade of melancholy (and no, it's not just because of my current predicament) because with the departure of a couple of friends and acquaintances that stayed back in USM to proceed with their postgraduate studies, the already diminishing traces of my yesteryear undergraduate memories and presences will be close to none and what's left of me at this point of time would be merely thread and slither that I can barely hold on and cherish to...

Then again, there's nothing much else I can do at this point other than to wish them godspeed in whatever future endeavour they will be embarking soon, bid them farewell and hope to keep in touch in whatever way possible or at least on social media. As usual I didn't prepare any presents so here's this post to whoever graduating with content fit for the occasion. Gaudeamus Igitur (So Let us Rejoice!).

(Gaudeamus igitur

Iuvenes dum sumus.) x 2

Post iucundam iuventutem

Post molestam senectutem

(Nos habebit humus.) x 2

(Alma Mater floreat,

Quae nos educavit;) x 2

Caros et commilitones,

Dissitas in regiones

(Sparsos, congregavit) x 2

Poetic English Translation:

(While we're young, let us rejoice, 

Singing out in gleeful tones;) x 2 

After youth's delightful frolic, 

And old age (so melancholic!), 

(Earth will cover our bones.) x 2

(May our Alma Mater thrive, 

A font of education;) x 2 

Friends and colleagues, where'er they are, 

Whether near or from afar, 

(Heed her invitation.) x 2

(There are actually much more verses for Gaudeamus Igitur which you can refer from the ever helpful Wikipedia. Each paragraph have their own theme and some of them are actually quite...interesting.)

As for me...I will join you all soon enough. Soon. Hopefully. *fingers crossed*

Epilogue: Mid-semester holiday's over? Oh dear.