Day 3: Nina's graduation!

Took off early. Had breakfast at Extreme Cafe. I had two eggs, two sausages, two hash brown cakes & a tomato for $8.50. Add a little hot chocolate for $3.50. Wow! My money's not going to last long this way. Picked up a rental car, graduation gown, & ran to change clothes at Angela's workplace. Then ran to the Regency to go to Nina's graduation ceremony. Boy, am I out of shape.

The ceremony was a little different than ours. A woman walked in with a gold scepter type staff over her shoulder. Then all the professors followed. The audience stood during that procession. The chancellor & 2 professors gave a speech & all the students got their diplomas. Each time a student shook the hand of the chancellor, he would hold a cap over they're head which is symbolic of being crowned. The students weren't allowed to put they're caps on until after they shook the chancellor's hand. We yelled "Go Nina" when Nina walked across the stage. Not too many people did that so I think it embarrassed her a little. The Chancellor said, "I see you have a support group out there", when he shook her hand. The audience sang a song that everyone seemed to know about honoring the graduate, and then we sang the national anthem in English & Maori. That was pretty neat.

There were some Maori students that graduated. Twice their families started chanting when their student was capped. I guess it was to wish them well or send them on their way, something spiritual.

When all was over, the graduates filed out & then the audience. The grads were given balloons & everyone paraded down the street to the reception hall where tea, tarts, & fruit were served. A bar with liquor was there if we wanted to pay for it. Angela bought a little bear in a graduation gown for Nina. I guess it's tradition to do so. And Frank gave her a big flower bouquet.

We had dinner at Ian's & sat around the table telling about fun childhood pranks we played.