Opening Ceremony at NUCB

Many people have been asking me about how school has been going for me, and why I haven't been posting any news about school, so here's my first of (hopefully) many posts.

In Japan, at the beginning of every school year (which starts on April 1st), there is an Opening Ceremony. Basically a gathering of students, their parents, and the entire faculty and staff to wish everyone a good school year. I was honored to be asked to write and give a speech, on behalf of all the international students, in front of the 2000 people that attended this year.

It's actually quite a spectacle. The school invited an opera singer to sing the national anthem as well as a few other songs during the ceremony. There's a 30+ brass band playing as she performed. Here are some pictures of the auditorium of where the ceremony was held:

This is the front of the auditorium and the President of NUCB, along with all the professors sit there facing the crowd.

 

Here's the opera singer. Doesn't her dress look grand?

 



 

 

This is a view taken probably near the middle of the auditorium. The sea of black suits on the ground level are all students, Japanese and international who are attending NUCB this year. On the second-story on both sides and the back sits the parents and the administrative faculty members. Lots of people eh?!

 

 

Unfortunately, I do not have many pictures of the event, just what was provided to me, as it was forbidden to take pictures during the ceremony. But it wasn't anything too surprising - after the national anthems, the President and the guest speaker who was the former CEO of AACSB, gave speeches. Then the highlight of the ceremony, my speech!

 

I actually had to attend a dress rehearsal that morning to make sure I didn't screw up too badly. There was a lot of bowing involved. It is not just walking up to the microphone and giving a speech. There's a whole ceremony involved. First, I needed to learn my cue to stand up (which was after this whole flag ceremony), then walk to the center aisle where the red carpet was, wait for the other student who was also going to give a speech (on behalf of the Japanese students) to do the same, slowly walk down the aisle:



 

 

Then I had to stop where the lady with the hat was and gently touch the hat before proceeding to the microphone. I don't really understand the significance of the hat, nor why I had to gently touch it. Since it was important enough to be included into the ceremony, I gently touched the hat:

 

Before giving my speech, I had to bow to the President. Here's me actually giving out the speech!

After my speech, I had to bow again. Then I stand while the other guy gave his speech. Then we bow together. Afterwards, we walk up to the stage toward the President to give him our copies of the speeches. But not before bowing to him first and then bowing to him afterwards!

 

See my awesome bowing? I had to practice the angle of the bow so it's not too much (which means I'm sorry) or too little (which does not give enough respect). It's a skill.

 



 

 In conclusion, it turned out really well. Everyone was impressed and came to congratulate me on a job well done. The President's wife came up to me afterwards and said I did a marvelous job, and that I spoke very clearly.

Pat on the back for me!