As the pandemic eases, the Japanese Government finally lifted its strict restriction on the re-entry requirements. I decided to visit the U.K. with my wife in the coming July. Our purpose is to attend my daughter's graduation ceremony from Oxford University Graduate School. Her thesis for her master's degree was accepted last year. Additionally, she got a medical license also in the U.K. during her graduate school and she is now working as a trainee in a hospital in the suburbs of London, though she had already finished the trainee course of Japan.
I learned an interesting custom about the graduation ceremony in the U.K.. In general, graduation ceremonies are held once a year and its season is March in Japan, when cherry blossoms, one of the cultural fixture of Japan, will celebrate all graduates. To my surprise, the ceremony is apparently held three times in a year in the U.K., and the graduates can choose the season of their ceremony from three options; July, November, and March. Much to my surprise, they can choose the year too. The graduates can postpone it as long as they want, even years.
My wife and I have been eager to attend the ceremony and see our daughter's beaming and proud face. It goes without saying, but Oxford University is one of the highest class universities in the world. We had just been confined to Japan due to the pandemic for three years. We asked her to choose the best season for the graduation and the sightseeing, and we got to visit Oxford city in July. The scenery in November and March doesn't seem so good. The latitude of the U.K. is above that of Hokkaido. I understood the harshness of its climate.
There are several places in the college which only authorized personnel can step in. The famous movie, Harry Potter was shot in such places. With our daughter attending, we can see inside. This sightseeing is very attractive.
The last visit to the U.K. was in 2018's autumn. I remember how hard it was to listen to the words from local people in the hotel in Oxford and a parking lot in Stratford-upon-Avon. I even wondered if their words were English or another language. The English which I could easily and comfortably understand was only the narration from the speaker of the Great Western Railway, which I took from Oxford to London. However, everything will be ok with our daughter this time. (Link)
Four years have passed since. Our daughter was to stay in Oxford for one year as a visiting scholar at first, but she was offered another year's stay with a scholarship as a scholar. Meanwhile, she was advised to go into the Graduate School, which leads to now. Additionally, she passed the National Examination for Medical Practitioners during the stay. She hopes to work in the U.K. at least for now.
During our stay, we'd like to walk around her life range and her workplace. It's the first time for my wife to visit Oxford and I'm thinking of revisiting standard sightseeing spots like the Cotswolds and the birthplace of Shakespeare, and London.
I chose ANA last time, but I found a ticket for a better price and am using British Airways this time. I'm now wondering if I should get a new suit of British taste made as a mark of respect for British culture for attendance at the ceremony. I can't wait to get on board the international flights.
(Vocabulary)
thesis (学位取得のための) 論文
a doctoral thesis 博士論文
beam にっこりほほえむ, (喜びなどで) 顔を輝かす
beam at sb/sth ＜…＞に向かってにっこりほほえむ
Which leads to now. 今に至る
life range 生活圏
https://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2018/10/parking-violation.html
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