Commencement week at Harvard

Saturday--A. came in at 6am from his party, slept a little, then we met his Taylor friends, who have spent the last two years studying at Gordon seminary, for a goodbye breakfast. Then we got serious about packing, and by 3:30pm had 13 boxes to go to the UPS store for shipping home (so much the first taxi refused to take the stuff!). We found a drawer full of A's change and picked out the dimes and nickels to buy several drinks from the vending machine--too bad it won't take pennies and foreign coins.

Commencement week at Harvard

Friday--Today was quite pleasant with other things to do now that graduation is over. We had breakfast with friends who happen to be in Boston this week, then Gary had a working lunch with the director of the Forum of Bible Agencies. Then it was serious packing followed by an evening at Fenway where the Red Sox won. Then we went to bed and A went out for an evening of saying goodbye to friends and salsa dancing.

Commencement week at Harvard

Thursday--Today Andrew graduated! Yay for him. Now he is a Master of Public Administration in International Development. Now he owes a gazillion dollars to somebody for his education. (But at least he has plans for staying in the Loan Repayment Assistance Program.)

The graduation ceremonies here were elaborate, to say the least. They take pomp and circumstance very seriously here. But the weather was terrible, so that made it less fun. Andrew started the day with class pictures at 7am, the first phase of graduation started at 10, the second phase started at 12:30, then fancy box lunches. We were so tired by the time that was over we didn't even go to the third phase, so Kofi Annan had to speak without us.

The evening was spent trying to help Andrew figure how to deal with all his stuff: pack it to be mailed, or put in a suitcase for the plane, or decide how to get rid of it. The program here has a room for donations to next year's incoming international students, so he will put all his furniture there.

Commencement week at Harvard

Wednesday-We had a busy day today. We got up early and went downtown for breakfast at Au Bon Pain then a tour in a WWII amphibious bus, on land and into the Charles River basin. Then we went back home and Andrew updated and uploaded his resume his potential employer was waiting for. Then a speech by a Nobel prize winner, class skits, fancy reception, then dinner at a Christian millionarie's house. Now I need to iron Andrew's graduation gown.

Commencement week at Harvard

Tuesday-we arrived on time, Andrew met us, we took a taxi to his apartment, then off to the awards ceremony. Andrew's award was for "outstanding committment to International Development." He seems to have lots of interesting friends here; the Latina girls all flirt with him because he speaks their language, the girl from Afghanistan is beautiful, and an interesting bunch of kids from Turkey. His program is "overrepresented by minorities," as someone lampooned during the satire skit at the awards ceremony. Then about half of the MPAID (Masters of Public Administration in International Development) jumped off the foot bridge into the Charles River. I hope my photos turn out.

Her voice

Sometimes she sings, but doesn't know I'm listening. Sometimes she sings to the Lord. Sometimes it makes me stop and thank God for the beauty: of her voice, of the meaning, of her.