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| Me, My coronocina and my Torre :) |
Any tourist, visitor, or inhabitant of Bologna has witnessed the weeks of graduation ceremonies that occur throughout the year in the city center and might identify the laurel graduate crown, students dressed in costumes and loud Italian chanting as the symbol of Bologna instead of Piazza Maggiore, Le Due Torri, Mortadella and tortellini. And right they are, the laurea is a key aspect of the Bolognese lifestyle, an enriching part of the city's identity and one of the main reasons why many of Bologna's inhabitants have chosen Bologna as their Alma Mater.
As a matter of fact, in my first weeks living as a Bolognese I was sometimes startled by the scherzi or jokes that Italian students play on their graduation day, some of those scherzi include signs with graduates faces imposed on interesting images or others bodies all over the city (jokingly), students dressed up as Pikachus, unicorns, fairys, you name it, running all over Bologna, La Dotta, forced to pull pranks on tourists and any willing volunteer, commanded by their peers. This could have been me, had I acquired that group of friends...but I was luckily blessed with low key reserved friends :) While some people are sprayed with ketchup and egged on their giorno di laurea, graduation day, there are also other graduates who walk through the Bolognese streets, and while they don't stand out in a crowd like a Pikachu might, they do wear a distinct head piece that separates them from the rest and also resonates as a powerful symbol of Bolognese (and Italian) culture.
La Coroncina di Laurea or La Coroncina di Alloro per Laurea | The Graduation Crown or The Crown of Laurels for Graduation
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| Priceless. Ti voglio Bene :) |
The Laurea is a coveted accomplishment in Italian culture, especially in Bologna who is home to the world's oldest university in continuous operation, founded in 1088. After I was introduced into Bolognese society, began taking courses at the prestigious university and witnessed newly graduated students roaming the streets in their coroncine, a goal was set in mind and it motivated me from my first stroll through the main square. Additionally, it also fostered a new found appreciation for the city that I fortunately chose to pursue my masters studies in.
Throughout my first year at Bologna, I noticed there were distinct times of the year when the neo laureati (newly graduated) would be out and about showing off their laurels or pulling pranks with friends throughout the city center. As I dove into classes and got familiar with the Italian university system the Italian graduation day became more clear and justified the various potential graduation dates for a group of students who might have all started class on the same day. Just as getting used to taking oral exams was a challenge, understanding the graduation was a challenge as well, but as I started to understand the exam schedule, la laurea logistics began to fall into place as well.
In the Italian University system exam period is much different than exam period in the United States. A typical course runs the semester and attendance is often given as a choice. A student can either be considered a frequentanti, someone who attends the class, or a non frequentanti, a student who does not attend the class. Both types of students are enrolled in a particular course and have the opportunity to receive a grade and be tested on the coursework, however each path comes with merits and challenges. I chose the frequentanti path since I knew I was incapable of self study to learn the material, and it just made sense that I would get far more out of seeing the teacher, hearing Italian every day, interacting with my classmates and building relationships at school was a far better option than the latter. But a non frequentanti might argue that they work two jobs and don't have time to attend class, can teach themselves well out of the book, and are capable of putting all their eggs in one basket to either pass or fail the one exam that counts toward your grade. I opted for the interim assignments to test my knowledge and help my grade, along with creating relationships with my docenti and colleghi.
For any class, there is the normal class period where class is in session, normally the duration of a regular semester. Immediately following the end of the class period, exam period begins. BUT, exam period is not as simple as it may sounds. Exams are broken up into appelli or sessions, and each class has the opportunity to take the exam at one of three options of appelli. Generally there are three appelli immediately following the end of the semester for a certain course, so a student will have three different exam dates to choose from. If you are a frequentanti like I was, most professors also do a pre appello or pre session offering of the exam then generally follows the week after classes end. The regular sessions start 4-5 weeks after the end of the semester, for example, classes ending in may would have their first exam session mid June, and the following sessions would happen monthly, in July then in September. If you fail the first session or get an undesirable grade you are allowed to take the exam the following session or even wait until the next semesters session to re take it.
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| Huddled around my kitchen table! |
Graduation in Italy does not happen all on one day like it does in the US. That becomes obvious when you stroll down the cobblestone streets of Bologna and see a neolaureato on almost any day of the week. Why? This is because the graduation dates happen similarly to the way exams happen: in sessions. Each department has their own appelli di laurea that generally follow the same monthly schedule, for example, my department of Political Science has graduations sessions in July, October, December and then March the following year. Since I completed all of my exams by June, I was able to apply myself and write thesis like crazy to be ready for the first session in July. In retrospect, maybe I should have taken my sweet time writing and extend my Bolognese experience through the following year?
But Lina and I had the same mindset. Finish your studies as soon as you can, do not prolong the torture of stress associated with studies! And we did it!
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| 051 @ Piazza Maggiore |
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| Al Sangiovese |
Tim, Alex & Michael arrived the Friday before my graduation, I don't want to get into the detail of everything since this post is already long, but man did we have fun! We ate and drank in all the great spots including Osteria del Sole, birra up at San Michele in Bosco, Piadine, Tigelle, Marsalino, gelato, Spacca Napoli etc. We made it to Modena and Maranello for the car lovers, and even managed to force Alex to walk up to San Luca... Cappuccino pit stops were necessary and welcomed.
The rest of the family arrived on Sunday evening. The nonni had been driven up by my parents and Toni in the rental car (Happy that Toni thankfully gave in and stuck around long enough with the Nonni at Muto to make it to Bologna!), it was a long 8 hour drive from Muto and after my Nonno had fallen earlier that week they thought the trip might not have been possible. I was so grateful for their arrival and they seemed beyond grateful to have arrived safely in Bologna for my Italian graduation. The next two days leading up to my graduation were madness, it was amazing having so many family members and friends (Thanks Marana!) there to support me, but wheeling two vecchieti around Bologna and making a decision for a group of 14 people was not easy and as low stress as I had anticipated. While I tried to entertain and show my beautiful BO to family and friends, I also had to deal with printing and binding my final finished thesis product and prepare myself on the Italian vocabulary I would have to use in my discussion as well as be prepared to answer any questions asked of me concerning my paper.Despite the stress and arguing, I still managed to have my last few days in Bologna be among the best. On Sunday evening we all walked to Piazza Grande to eat outside al fresco in the alley the hugged the right flank of San Petronio. Nearby we could hear "Cabaret" being screened on the Maxi schermo in the Piazza as part of the Cinema Sotto le Stelle program that extended the month of July. The previous days had been burdened with unbearable heat, but that Sunday temperatures started to cool and we had the most perfect evening in Piazza. Pignoletto was drank, tortellini were tasted, roses were bought from street vendors, and jokes and fun were had by all.
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| Nonni & Lucio Dalla |
By 9:00am I was prepared. I had found Lina and conferred with her about my fears. I had found my wonderful relatore or advisor, Professor Partington, who advised me I was well prepared for my discussion. And slowly but surely my friends and family began to fill the courtyard of Strada Maggiore, 45 while the first graduate went into Aula A to be questioned by the Commissione di Laurea. Relief, anxiety, fear, excitement, you name it! Was all happening in my mind. I was due second according to the list, but after the first person finished, I was asked if someone could cut me in line, so I was bumped to third, unknowing of what time I would actually face the Commissione and my graduation fate. My friends and family distracted me as I waited anxiously for the door to open and for them to call the next candidate "Lia D'Ambrosio". I rushed in and my family quickly mobilized behind me wheeling my Nonno into the tight turns of Aula A, behind him came the carriage with Chiara's two children, Giada and Andrea, Claudia followed, then Gaetano & Christina and the rest of the crew (Alex, Tim, Michael, Samantha, Jessica, Lina, Li etc). I was unaware there was a head of the commission, so before I sat I handed copies of my thesis to my advisor Professor Partington and my Co advisor, and looked clueless on where to hand the third, when Partington nicely pointed me to the man sitting in the middle of desk and panel of professors and opposite a lone chair that was clearly going to be the hot seat. I gave the head of the commission (Prof Gozzi) my thesis and sat nervously with my back to my friends and family audience and facing Prof Gozzi directly along with 5 professors to his left and his right... talk about intimidation! Ha! It was go time! Professor Gozzi mentioned that I might like to present my defense in English, and I let him know it was kind of him to ask but since I did my studies in Italian I'd like to give my final stand in Italian as well, he agreed and I proceeded to give my spiel, stumbling at first over the Italian, but then getting into the flow. A couple minutes in, my advisor kindly reminded me I had a handout for the panel/commission, so I got flushed and embarrassed again, handed out the sheets and recomposed myself to finish my 15 minute defense. At the close of my time, I was relieved, but only for a moment! Now it was the panels turn to ask a question... starting with my advisor (such a nice man!), he asked and I responded... generally only your advisor asks a question, but I was surprised to here Prof. Gozzi directly across from me begin to ask me a second question... he seemed really truly intrigued in my work! Psyched, I answered his question and I was done, they sent me (and my audience) out of the room to deliberate, they called me back in a few minutes later expressing that I had done well enough to be invited to the graduation ceremony that afternoon... WHAT A RELIEF!!! |
| Grandi amici :) |
Out in the courtyard I was congratulated and overwhelmed with all of the built up anxiety that I could finally let go. I thanked my professor for helping me achieve such a wonderful accomplishment then I went back into see Lina finish her discussion since she was right after mine. What a thrill to have both accomplished so much and in such a short time. Lina and I were the only ones from our class graduating during that appello there were maybe 7 students in total, some from other programs within political science and a couple from our International Relations program but who had started the year before us.... che grande emozioni! Lina and I were finished! So I told her I'd see her at la proclamazione and I was off with my posse to grab a cappuccino on Strada Maggiore and then to have a fabulous lunch at Al Torinese under the porticos of Piazza Maggiore. Life was good! After lunch my host family had to depart to catch their trains, I thanked them immensely for attending since they were a huge part of my initial florentine experience and my love for Italy, then I walked the crew down to the classroom where la proclamazione was held. The actual graduation ceremony was short, simple and underwhelming. A number of our professors were dressed in judge type robes and marched into a classroom with the graduates in it. We line up along the side of the room and then Professor Endrici (La Endrici) announced each of us and proclaimed we had become Dottore by Italian law and also announced our final grades. I was psyched as I achieved a 100/110, which was beyond my expectations of a grade, my lovely Lina got a 110/110 con lode, she is such a hard worker and truly intelligent woman, lucky to have her as a friend during my two years at Uni :) But the main thing I walked away from that proclamazione with was a title and a feeling, I was now a dottoressa, and my adventure to becoming a dottoressa was above and beyond and the most important people in my life were there to witness it! SO thankful for everyone who supported me through my ups and downs in BO and so thankful to have such a strong family bond through my Nonni who inspired me to embrace the country they immigrated from so many years ago. I was and still am so proud to have completed this feat with them as witnesses!
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| So blessed :) |
From the semi underwhelming proclamation of 20 minutes we headed outside for photos and auguri, and Alonso, Alena, Li and Lavinia brought Lina and I our Coroncine with purple ribbon (Purple signifies we were from the department of Political sciences) - It was official! My turn to shine and walk the streets of Bologna as a dottoressa and coroncine! Coroncine and all we began to diverge from the classroom, some may have begun to chant dottore, dottore, dottore... (they were probably for the other graduates and I know Alonso was saying it under his breath as well, haa!) as we walked away, and I don't know if everyone knew where they were headed, but I sure as hell was headed straight towards that Torre Asinelli...
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| Rewards! |
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| New campanello title! |
If you're still curious about the dottore song.... take a look at this link! But shhh... I didn't tell you about it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvCbOEk6tGM -> Typical sight in BO!
