Day 2 - 338 -- Bringing the World Together

Where to begin today? The Fall convocation occurred this afternoon. Fewer students graduate in December, but there are still many celebrating. The day began with the singing of the national anthem in four languages -- English, French, Gaelic and Mi'kmaq. That makes me so proud -- to live in a country that recognizes not only the two official languages, but the languages of the traditional inhabitants and the early settlers.

This convocation saw the first PhD degree conferred at our university -- in Education. With many other masters and baccalaureate degrees were the diplomas. The diploma in Development Leadership is only conferred at this time of year. International students arrive on campus in May and graduate in December. Studying in Canada is not easy for many of them -- leaving families and communities to say nothing of the expense and paperwork to get here. Their smiles were extra-special today.

For sharing today, I've chosen a song originally recorded in 1967. It has been covered many times (with part of it in a current TV Christmas commercial). I do love the original version best; it is the one with that wonderful teenage voice that brought this man into the music scene. It is a bit ethnocentric for the thoughts of the day, but the message is clearly multicultural. Enjoy!

Someday at Christmas -- Stevie Wonder