Chapter 4 Part 1: New and Old Cambridge Matriculations

The tradition of Cambridge's 800-year-old school can be seen in the solemn ceremony of the entrance ceremony. The entrance ceremony of St. Edmund's is scheduled for October 5th.Cambridge people call the first day of a student's formal enrollment matriculation day.A few days before the entrance ceremony, we received a notice that we must wear gown on that day.I was not sure about the meaning of gown, so I went to ask Yi for advice.He took out a long black robe from the closet: here, here it is.This black robe is really funny, it is down to the knees, the sleeves are longer than the robe, and it is almost dragged to the ground, but a hole is dug at the elbow to allow the arm to come out.I burst out laughing: Wearing this, isn't it a whole Batman look!It turns out that every student in Cambridge is required to have a black robe, but it is required to wear it when participating in some important activities or banquets, and there are cumbersome differences in style, length, etc. according to age and degree.It is said that this tradition is a product left over from the medieval monk system, and it is an important symbol that distinguishes Cambridge scholars from city residents.Now only formal activities are required to wear gown, but in the past, students were required to wear this dark gown during class, exams and even meals on weekdays, and they could not take it off unless they were sleeping.The school also sent special personnel to patrol the streets and alleys. If students are found not wearing gowns, they will be given a major demerit.The famous writer Xiao Qian recalled the days of studying in Cambridge, and called gown "the shell on the snail", which is really appropriate.I'm glad I wasn't studying in Cambridge at that time, otherwise I would be depressing to death with the same dull attire every day.My dressing principle is that the clothes should be intimate with people first, if they become something outside of the body, then it will be the ugliest.My lively character and that black robe might clash.It's just that the school's requirements cannot be violated, so under Yi's introduction, I bought my gown for 60 "fat guys" in a clothing store on King's Parade.The moment the black robe was added to his body, he felt that he was not himself, so he smirked for a while in front of the mirror.

Before the official ceremony, a "family portrait" was taken, and newly admitted students, both undergraduate and graduate students, gathered on the lawn of the college, waiting to be photographed.Since everyone was wearing black robes, the chaos was very difficult to recognize. A teacher stood in the middle of the lawn and shouted the names of the people hoarsely, arranging the standing position, and it took almost an hour to finish the photo.Originally, everyone had different skin colors and nationalities and did not know each other. After this upheaval, we have only known each other for a little while.This group photo can be bought, the most common one is about 10 pounds, with everyone's initials marked on it, for example, my name is written as N.Li, and it costs 20 to 30 pounds to add a frame.

The ceremony officially began at six o'clock in the evening, and St. Edmund's students wore various gowns and sat in the college's Chapel (an old chapel).Accompanied by the sound of the organ, the fellows (higher-ranking teachers) of the college took their seats one by one. Both men and women were wearing big robes of different colors with serious expressions.I whispered to a classmate next to me: I feel like we have arrived at Harry Porter's magic school.She looked at me in amazement, how could she joke on such a solemn occasion?I just have this bad habit of pushing and shoving even the most sacred and solemn things. Such a crime has no purpose at all, it's just for fun.It's even more fun to watch her look serious.Isn't it just pretending to be cool, who wouldn't?I immediately lowered my face and straightened my body, as if it was real.

The ceremony was presided over by the Master, a handsome scholar in his sixties.After a brief opening speech, first introduce the newly joined teachers and visiting scholars (Visiting Scholar). The introduced teachers are guided by the master of ceremonies, go to the front desk to take an oath and shake hands with the Master and other fellows.The next step is to introduce the newly admitted students: name, graduate school, major in Cambridge.Every new student has to walk up to the front desk and shake hands with the dean.Although there are only three simple items in the introduction to the students, they are very meaningful: name - who are you; graduate school - where are you from; the major you will study in Cambridge - where are you going go.A simple introduction can know its present, its history and its development.

In Cambridge, there is a kind of book called "The Eternal Book", which is the complicated and detailed school rules accumulated by Cambridge over hundreds of years.These traditions passed down from generation to generation and the institutions evolved from these conventions clearly and concretely define every move of Cambridge people, seemingly irreversible and irresistible.I feel curious: what is the force that keeps Cambridge people sticking to traditions that have been going on for centuries?What is the reason why Cambridge maintains a long history without letting the traditional accumulation become a burden?Yes, compared with many emerging British universities, Cambridge is out of fashion in some aspects, such as the opening ceremony or graduation ceremony here still retains a strong medieval color.It is strange that the oldest institution can produce the freshest ideas in the world, that Cambridge, an old university, can continue to have the most Nobel Prize winners.Perhaps it is precisely because of her unfashionable and independent behavior that she has been able to preserve her own personality for hundreds of years. In the changing times, she is still the highest institution of learning and the center of academic thought in a country.

While I was thinking wildly, I suddenly heard the master of ceremonies pronounce my name: Li Na, Fudan University, majoring in development economics.I got up, adjusted my clothes, and walked to the front desk.Because of the tranquility and solemnity of the church, I can hear the sound of every step, and my own heartbeat, very clearly.The dean held my hand and looked into my eyes: congratulations on becoming a member of Cambridge. Such a solemn atmosphere can't help but make people awe-inspiring.At that moment, my eyebrows were clear, and I suddenly realized: After all, there is one thing in this world that is absolutely precious, which makes us feel the preciousness of our own bodies.To be a student in such an institution is more than just being an intellectual?Sometimes, the traditional classical connotation will give people a sense of conversion. At that moment, I feel closer to the black robe on my body.It really looks better than any other clothes in my closet, not because of its style, cut or fabric, but its connotation, the sacred and solemn feeling it brings to me.I thought to myself, no matter how much I like the new and dislike the old clothes, there are two clothes that will stay with me for the rest of my life, one is the white wedding dress at the wedding ceremony in the future, and the other is the present Wearing this black robe.I hope they respectively witness my happiness and my ideal.

The ceremony ended with the sound of the organ, and the students and fellows went to Marquee together, tasting sherry (sherry) and greeting each other.At half past seven, a bell rang, and everyone filed into the dining room (a rectangular hall filled with portraits of previous presidents).A well-dressed waiter waits at the door to usher everyone into their seat with their name card.On the three long tables, covered with snow-white tablecloths, exquisite candlesticks, exquisite tableware and menu (menu), this is the famous high table (high table dinner) in Cambridge.In the flickering candlelight, the waiter served us soup (pre-dinner soup), main dish (main course, lamb chops + potatoes + green beans), dessert (dessert, extremely delicious pudding), cheese+biscuits (all kinds Cheese + biscuits), coffee + mint chocolate (coffee + mint chocolate).This is an opportunity for students to communicate, so the seats are specially arranged in advance.Sitting next to me was a middle-aged British man who studied philosophy at Cambridge.I think he is old enough to study for a Ph.D., but he told me that he has just started his undergraduate studies, but this is his second major in life.The education concept of the British is different from ours. Reading is not for academic qualifications, but for needs.The higher the degree, the better, but it must be in line with your own interests.So someone who has several bachelor's degrees doesn't spend the same amount of time doing a Ph.D.This gentleman is an example. It is quite comfortable to study in the same class as seventeen or eighteen-year-old children at such an age.He sat next to me, and his fiery enthusiasm was too much for me to bear.Without saying a few words, he used flattering words to me (just to practice listening skills), hinted that he was single (none of my shit), asked for a phone number (of course he didn’t give it to him), and offered to take me home (of course did not promise him).This guy was the only downfall of the night.Maybe a little extreme, I just think that the beauty of Chinese women is something that foreign men can't really appreciate.Besides, love is often not in actions or words, but in the tacit understanding between each other.Tens of thousands of strands of tenderness, looking at each other with a smile - such a person is not easy to encounter in the same race, let alone not in my race.The dinner didn't end until nearly ten o'clock, and everyone stood up for the last prayer. When people thanked God, I bowed my head and said silently: "Thank you to the kitchen for giving us delicious food, Amen!