I apologize ahead of time for the length of this post...it probably should be two or three, but I promise to keep it entertaining!
Ivy Cutting
SPU has a tradition dating back to the 1920s where, on the Friday before Commencement, the graduates gather in caps and gowns around Tiffany Loop, where a short service with hymns and a speaker goes on. At the end, the graduates lift up a long strand of ivy (several long ones tied together, actually) that has been removed from Peterson Hall, and several members of the faculty cut off 6-8 inch sections for each graduate. It's supposed to symbolize all of the seniors moving forward from SPU and sort of cutting ties with the university, though we were informed that it would always be home should we want it to be.
The cutting of the ivy. I had the honor of having Professor Marsh cut my piece (that's my hand).
Of course, it's not fun to have all your ceremonies be solemn, and my group of friends did a fantastic job lightening the atmosphere...perhaps a little too much. But really, when your speaker bases their entire speech on Game of Thrones, and includes tribbles, if you're a geek like all of us, you're going to get excited. We also may have been a bit silly with the ivy...
After the actual Ivy Cutting ceremony were a bunch of different receptions for some of the majors. There was one in Crawford for all the music majors. It was interesting to see who all was graduating together, since only half of those there had been in my original theory class freshman year. A lot of great words of advice were given by professors, and just as many hugs.
Most of the music department taking a group picture. So many people who have touched my life!
We also had some fun, taking a group picture of the three horn players who have been together for four years, and have been quite the power section of the band and orchestra.
And then Eric and I had one more childish moment. He's definitely become more of my brother than just a friend or colleague.
The bush never stood a chance!
That evening, I got to hang out with a couple good friends, making s'mores and drinking some really awesome wine out of plastic sippy cups (without the sippy lid, mind you). It was a relaxing way to key down after a big day, and with even more events to come.
Sara and Jordon's Grad Party
On Saturday, a whole group of us drove up to Snohomish to Jordon and Sara's house to celebrate graduation, and yet again enjoy each others' company for probably the last time for a long while. There was good food and drinks, fun conversation, lots of ping pong and pool, and a relaxing soak in the hot tub. Oh, and a lot of pictures taken of me either eating or gesticulating with my food while talking. Lovely.
Commencement
I was happy to get to walk and sit with my whole group of friends at Commencement, both music majors and all of my science major friends. We were missing two, since they were in different schools within the university, but the majority of us were all in the same row. What used to be a ceremony that in previous years had dragged on endlessly ended up racing past, probably because I actually knew a lot of the 700 undergraduates. I didn't do anything stupid, like trip, when I crossed the stage to receive my "diploma" (just the thing to hold it, actually. They'll send it to me after they check all my grades.), but despite my pronunciation guide, my name was pronounced "koo-kuh-kuh-Kunze!" sigh Ah well, you can't have everything perfect!
During the ceremony, Eric and I had ended up sitting together (really, it's a bad idea to have us together...we do silly things when bouncing off of each others' impulsive natures), and plotted to go play the recessional. Now, we had been celebrating not playing at graduation for weeks (if not months), but as Eric put it later, band sometimes creates a sort of Stockholm syndrome. So, after the benediction, as the undergraduates were seated and the faculty began to recess, Eric, Victoria, and I jumped up, and booked it over to the band. We jumped right into the horn section, informed our three other horn players that they needed to hand over their horns and move over, and began to play the recessional. Professor Marsh apparently didn't see us slip into the section, which meant he glanced up from his score to see three robed graduates with horns in their hands. We were pretty tickled pink (which is sort of funny, considering the color of our tassels as music majors was baby pink).
Even though my parents couldn't come to graduation (which was okay with me, considering they came over for my senior recital--the more important event for me), I had a good time with my friends after the ceremony, and many good pictures were taken. I cried a little while saying goodbye to one friend who I won't see for a long while, but otherwise it was a joyful affair. I'm going to miss all of them a lot, but I have high hopes that technology will help us keep in touch.
USMNT vs. Panama
A disclaimer: I didn't attend this match as a spectator, but instead was working in one of the booths on the first level. Therefore, this will be less about the game itself, and much more about the people, and the general experience as an "outsider" to the event.
Yesterday was my first day working my second job down at Century Link Field. My booth was located right by one of the main entrances, so I had a front row seat to people-watching. The atmosphere was fantastic, even without going into the actual stadium. So many people went all out wearing the American flag, including star-spangled tights, American flag capes, and some really awesome hats. Commemorative scarves were given out to all the fans, and since there were plenty left over, I got one too (and grabbed one for another friend who couldn't go, but was watching at home).
One of my favorite parts of soccer: tifo! This was the display for last night's game in honor of it being the centennial year of U.S. Soccer
As a Sounders fan, I've had a decent amount of experience as a fan, but I had never seen what fans look like from the other side. Of course there are drunk people. I remember one specific man who walked around in the second half collecting scarves, unwrapping them from the packaging, and putting them around his neck. By the time he walked past my booth, he had about 15 of them around his neck, and several more in his arms still packaged.
I was a little sad that I couldn't watch the game, but I could have told you much of what was going on just based on the amazing volume of the crowd. Two goals were scored, and the second by Eddie Johnson (who plays for the Seattle Sounders) was deafening from outside the stadium. Some fantastic cheers went on during the game, and when I went back today to watch the match replay, you can hear them loudly and clearly during the broadcast. I'm incredibly proud of the Seattle fans who all came out for the match. They did a great job representing the PNW and the U.S.
I got off of work right as the match ended, so I ended up leaving the stadium at the same time as the crowd. One major difference I've found between soccer and football in Seattle comes from how the crowd exits. When I go to Seahawk games, the spectators rarely stay through to the very last minute of the game. About half will stick around, but a lot will start filing out as soon as the game is a "sure thing" (either we're destroying the away team, or we're being crushed). This is basically unheard of at a soccer game, which brings the phrase "give us your full 90". The point of this being, I walked out at the same time as over 40,000 hyped up soccer fans.
We pretty much swarmed into downtown Seattle, as many people take the bus rather than trying to pay for parking. I got to walk with a couple friends who had been at the match, and we walked all the way up to Pike Street to catch the bus. I've rarely seen the Seattle Metro so packed as it was last night. It took about 8 minutes just to get everyone on to my bus back to Ballard.
Another of my favorite aspects to the soccer atmosphere is how it brings people together. I wore my new scarf home on the bus, and ended up having several good conversations with other people who had been at the game, as well as those who hadn't gone. I even witnessed a guy get a girl's number because they had found a mutual love of soccer and travel during the 20 minute ride from downtown to Ballard. (I was terribly impressed by this, even in my exhausted state.) I love how just a game can bring huge groups of people together, and makes this city become the friendliest place on earth, if only for one night.
It was exhausting working until 9 pm, and not getting home until 10:30, then turning around to open at 5 this morning, but I think it was worth it. I expect lots of experiences similar to this, however it will be interesting to compare this match to any of the Sounders matches I'll be working at in the future. Nonetheless, it's time to go get ready for work (again). Until later!
Allison
No comments:
Post a Comment