Una grande fiesta - July 15

We'd all been anticipating this event for a long period of time. The day was finally here - it was the day of Eliud's graduation. We had heard about the significance of graduation for students here for as long as we'd been in Mexico. So, the three of us were equally excited about the opportunity to be a part of such a special event in the life of this family. This was such a big deal that we were to stay home (Sonia and Jorge were at Annual Conference) to get some things ready - including ourselves - for the big event.

Just like the Awards Ceremony the previous Saturday, we didn't really know what to expect. And just like we were surprised at that event, we were equally surprised at this event. In our culture, the word graduation brings forth specific memories and thoughts for all of us. I think of the type of music that is played; I think of marching in robes and mortarboards; I think of shaking hands and receiving diplomas. While this is very much a part of our culture, very little of this - if anything at all - is a part of the graduation experience in this culture.

As usual, we were told to be ready at 5:00 PM - so we were. We had done a good job of getting ready early so that we would not be the hold up when it was time to leave. However, as we waited Zuri and Alejandra (Eliud's girlfriend) casually finished getting ready - in their very decked out dresses and jewelry. I must have been confused about what we were going to attend, because their outfits seemed more like a prom or maybe a wedding...and that turned out to be the case. As we arrived around 5:45 (we were told the ceremony started at 5:30), other students were pulling up too. Because we thought the event started at 5:30, we had expected to be there a little early or at least on time so that Eliud could march in the processional. Well, there wasn't a processional or robes or mortarboards or diplomas. What we did experience was a fun time and a big party for all the graduates and their families. Turns out, the evening didn't really even get going until about 7:00 PM when dinner was served.

Our salon - salons are the locations where all the "big events" are held in Mexico - was called the Kristal Palace and it was the most elegant place I have seen or visited in Mexico - thus far. The outside was amazing, with freshly cut green grass and beautiful trees (something you never see in this part of the city), as well as the inside, which was really unbelievable. It was clear that the school had paid a significant amount for this. The decorations were gorgeous. The flowers at the tables were beautiful. It was just so elegant. After a brief period of "mingling" with family and friends, dinner was served at 7:00 PM. It consisted of several courses - a fresh fruit salad, a creamy nut soup, chicken cordon bleu with vegetables, and the final course was cake for dessert, although that came much later in the evening after all the recognitions had been observed.

All of this seemed very nice, but it seemed more like a wedding than a graduation. Speaking of recognition, after dinner, the graduates lined up to be called out or presented as official graduates of the school, ending up in the middle of the dance floor with people cheering all around them. The director of the school offered a few words, followed by students, teachers, and parents. So, this was their "ceremony." Yet, the "real" reason they were there was for the music and dancing, all of which began during dinner. The minute the first course was served, Shakira was singing and dancing (a replay of the finale at the World Cup Tournament in South Africa) in the background on this super-sized screen where everyone immediately turned their attention. It was pretty amazing, but so is conversation (in my opinion) - none of which we were able to have the entire evening. And the music and singing and dancing continued the rest of the night, which was fine with us, considering that gave us a mental break from speaking Spanish all night. It didn't really feel or look like graduation, but neither has some of the other things we've experienced here. The names might be the same (like graduation or church or anything for that matter), but the process or experience is very different. I think we're warming up to it though - after the second round of Shakira on the "big screen," Miranda and I decided that we should probably take belly-dancing lessons in the fall, just to keep up with our newfound Hispanic ways of doing things. You just never know when those skills might come in handy! Overall, it was just a great night - even if it was NOTHING like I had expected. And it was even better that we could enjoy this special event with our Mexican friends and family.