Graduation

!Graduation!

Finally! I can post a new blog again! Of course, high school graduation is a very BUSY time of the year, especially if you are a senior on Kwajalein. High school graduation in the United States does not compare to the graduation ceremonies on Kwaj. Graduation on Kwajalein is extremely personal (mostly because there are only 18 kids in the graduating class), but it's GREAT! The week of the graduation ceremony has to have been one of the most chaotic weeks of my life. Graduation on Kwaj is a very anticipated event by seniors, their families, and the community. It has been for many, many years. The week before graduation, the seniors had to go and decorate the whole Multi-Purpose room for the ceremony, and I (lucky me) got to be in charge of that. WE GOT IT DONE! With much effort from the guys, and much

cooperation from the girls, the room was done in two days flat. But the work wasn't done. Then there were pictures in caps and gowns, a complete rehersal for the senior class (which we did twice, speeches and all) and a final touch up before the ceremony. Everyone was spent but SUPER excited about walking down the aisle. The day of graduation, after the rehersals, Colby and I spent some time relaxing and making leis for people after the ceremony. That wasn't too much fun, Colby got plumeria milk in his hair (for those of you who don't know, plumeria milk is like super glue and does not come out), and I got it ALL over my arms, so at the ceremony I was sticking to my sleeves.

The ceremony came, and all the seniors reported in a back room to light candles. We walked down the aisle with our candles, posing and smiling for pictures. Then the talking began, with welcoming speeches (performed in english and marshalleese), the valedictorian speech, many MANY scholarships (one that I won and two that Colby won!), a class history where three students told a story about the senior class and thier years at Kwajalein Jr/Sr highschool, thank you speeches, a slideshow of all the seniors, and fianlly the diplomas. It was really neat though, during the thank you speeches we all got two leis, one for our fathers and one for our mothers,

and we got to go out to the crowd, in the middle of the ceremony, to put a lei on around parents necks. I think that is what made the ceremony so personal, the five minutes of hugs, sobbing, and pictures. I cried SO much, while Colby on the other hand didn't. He's thinks he is a real man, even though I object.We got our diplomas (and Colby got a medal for being Salutatorian), and then we walked out of the MP room and got into a receiving line, which is where the whole community comes through the line and gives kthe graduates hugs, leis, pictures, and presents. It was a really neat experience. We had leis piled up to our ears. Some of the leis were really neat, some had presents in them, some were made so they could be kept for years to come, and some smelled like wine, which wasn't too terrible I guess. Everyone was super hot and sweaty from standing outside getting leis, but it was definitely well worth it.  We took our pictures, cried, and got lots of hugs before it was all finally over.

Graduation on Kwaj is quite an experience. I've been to many high school graduations, and this ceremony has been by far the prettiest and most heart felt ceremony I have EVER experienced. THEN IT WAS TIME TO PARTY. Another thing that is big on Kwaj are the graduation parties. They are a bit more important than the ceremony to some parents! I, however, decided not to be apart of the graduation parties...solely because planning a graduation party is like planning a wedding with 9 pairs of parents, and that was WAY too much stress for me to handle!

Colby had a party though, with all the senior guys. It was FANTASTIC. On Kwajalien, graduation parties are usually a group thing, because the community is so small. Receiving money from community members is a tradition on Kwaj.

Everyone recieves a little note or envelope with money inside, it's really fun. So the boys each got to decorate their own card box and decorate their own corner of the receiving tables. I decorated all of Colby's stuff, thats why it looks so GREAT.

 The party was filled with live music, laughter, great food and PLENTY of alcohol, which was good because over half the island had to have been at their graduation party! The festivites carried on through the night with more live music, some performed by Colby and his friends, and MUCH dancing. Hula dancing and marshalleese dances are also traditional at the graduation parties, and they are SO much fun.

Fianlly graduation time is over, the diplomas have been received, the parties have been had, and the food is all gone. NOW I CAN START BLOGGING AGAIN! But overall, I have to say, living on Kwajalein, graduation time of the year has always been a lot of fun, and I, as well as Colby, couldn't have had a better senior year anywhere else. Though we will be leaving this island soon, it will always be our home, filled with many memories of beaches, laughter, and island time. Hopefully I will be able to get a few more posts up about Kwaj before we leave. Here are some more pictures from the party, enjoy! This post was spell checked by Colby) *