My matriculation happened back in February 2, a Friday evening. It was a simple yet important ceremony to mark my formal admission to Downing College and Cambridge University. This ceremony was specially arranged for 3 "late-arrival" graduates: a guy from Spain, David from Scotland and me, CL from Malaysia. There was a bigger matriculation for this Lent term held before my arrival.
It followed by the Formal Hall, which is a formal, English traditional, candle-light dinner in my college. Fellows were sitting at the High Table, graduates were separated from undergraduates in the MCR tables. The Formal Hall began and ended with Latin Grace read by Chaplain while other in the Hall stood quietly. Everything was first time to me, so i was very excited. It looked like a Prime Minister's dinner, one of my friend in Penang commented on my Formal Hall photos. But to me, with the wearing of gown for dining in a medieval architecture Hall, and following the English tradition ceremony, it is just like a scene in the Harry Potter!!
This is an old story which i have shared with many friends. It was a Harry Potter night, this was my first thought. However, when time passed, i realise the significance of this night; It leads me to the world of cambridge, opens my eyes to a different western culture which i have never ever experienced before!
Formal Hall plays a very important role in cambridge student's life. It is held by every colleges at certain nights of the week for students to dine, to socialise at special functions i.e. society annual dinners or just to celebrate the end of the tripos exam! Yeah! Through this traditional meal, the English traditions and elegance have penetrated into every cambridge student's daily life. In the evening, i especially like to walk in the street, enjoy watching couples in their formal attire, walking arm-in-arm, whispering to each others, or students gentleman in black coat with tie, sometimes putting on their gown, holding a bottle of wine with their two hands and walking in the street. They are on their way to attend a Formal Hall!
It followed by the Formal Hall, which is a formal, English traditional, candle-light dinner in my college. Fellows were sitting at the High Table, graduates were separated from undergraduates in the MCR tables. The Formal Hall began and ended with Latin Grace read by Chaplain while other in the Hall stood quietly. Everything was first time to me, so i was very excited. It looked like a Prime Minister's dinner, one of my friend in Penang commented on my Formal Hall photos. But to me, with the wearing of gown for dining in a medieval architecture Hall, and following the English tradition ceremony, it is just like a scene in the Harry Potter!!
This is an old story which i have shared with many friends. It was a Harry Potter night, this was my first thought. However, when time passed, i realise the significance of this night; It leads me to the world of cambridge, opens my eyes to a different western culture which i have never ever experienced before!
Formal Hall plays a very important role in cambridge student's life. It is held by every colleges at certain nights of the week for students to dine, to socialise at special functions i.e. society annual dinners or just to celebrate the end of the tripos exam! Yeah! Through this traditional meal, the English traditions and elegance have penetrated into every cambridge student's daily life. In the evening, i especially like to walk in the street, enjoy watching couples in their formal attire, walking arm-in-arm, whispering to each others, or students gentleman in black coat with tie, sometimes putting on their gown, holding a bottle of wine with their two hands and walking in the street. They are on their way to attend a Formal Hall!
We can only get romantic candle-light dinner in winter. In spring, the day is longer and the sunlight brightens the dining hall in the evening.
Everyone is standing during the Latin Grace reading.
Pretty "double Dr.-to-be" Israel medicine graduates student, Dana (Left) & CL (Center). Both of us were wearing gowns (similar to black robes we wear in our convocation in Malaysia) on top of our formal dress. Photos of my first Harry Potter Night:-
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/chweelin_choong/album?.dir=/bde4re2&.src=ph&.tok=phzBIm
Interesting facts about Formal Hall:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formal_Hall
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/chweelin_choong/album?.dir=/bde4re2&.src=ph&.tok=phzBIm
Interesting facts about Formal Hall:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formal_Hall
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