Dottore, Dottore, Dottore del buco del cu, vaffancù, vaffancù!!!

Italian Graduation:
20th October 2011


In Britain a student's graduation, whilst I'm sure it's a happy day, seems such a waste of a day. Sitting in the Great Hall for hours waiting for your name to be called so that you can shake hands and give a quick smile to your family (who have had to leave your siblings or grandmother at home since your only allowed to have TWO tickets for family) and the wait some more to get your photos taken. The actually ceremony itself doesn't seem to a fitting end to 3 or 4 years of University. However I think the Italians have got it right when it comes to celebrating the achievements of it's students. This thursday I was lucky enough to be a part of Stefano, my housemate's (Grazia) boyfriend's, graduation. 


We assembled outside a classroom in the Facoltà di Medicina a long with at least twenty others who were close friends and family of Stefano, and waited for Stefano to be called in to make his presentation. You see, before you  can graduated you must make a presentation in front of your friends and family as well as your professors who will then ask you questions, then everyone leaves the room and wait for professors to decide on what mark you should graduate with. So we all filed in to watch Stefano's presentation which, to be honest I didn't have a clue what it was about (even if it had been in english) But it sounded good! We left the room whilst the professors deliberated the marks then went back in and they announced that Stefano had achieved 110 marks (the highest which one can get). At that everyone cheered and many people cried with joy. There was such a overwhelming feeling of pride and happiness that I don't really think comes across during graduation ceremonies in Britain.
After that, Stefano was presented with his laurel wreath (which is a traditional symbol of achieving a masters degree) and took photos.


Then the fun began! Basically after the formal part of the ceremony comes the informal celebrations organised by friends and family and basically turns into taking the piss out of the Laureate (the graduate) for the rest of the day. So Stefano's housemate's had decided to dress up as Roman soldiers and have Stefano as Jesus carrying a large wooden crucifix (Yes, Italy is still a very catholic country). Dressed in a white bed sheet, with only shorts and t-shirt underneath, ankles in cardboard manacles and only socks on his feet, we shivered in hats, scarves and coats following the jubilant Laureate through the university buildings singing loudly "Dottore, Dottore, Dottore del buco del cu, vaffancù, vaffancù!!!" (I'm not going to translate this, but just know that it's VERY RUDE!).

After an hour of walking round and chanting, we stopped and opened some bottles of Spumanti (like sweet champagne), one of which got the Michael Schumacher treatment by Stefano's uncle. Then Stefano was made to read the poem on a huge poster which Grazia and his housemate, Chris, had made. The tradition is basically the Laureate must read the card aloud, and every time he makes a mistake he must drink (standard). They made it harder by typing it in different fonts, making it rhyme, placing the text in different places, even a bit in english, as well as the boys throwing flour and shaving foam at him! Put it this way, it made for good entertainment.
In the evening we went to a local bar where there was a small party with drinks and a buffet and we gave our presents to Stefano. A great way to finish the day.
It was such a unique, bizarre and incredible day. I think that it's so much more personal and individual to graduate in this way than it is in Britain! Don't you think?