November 30th
This is the second time I’ve celebrated Sol’s high school graduation—the first when she walked across the stage in Omaha during her senior year as part of her foreign exchange program. Now, here I am again, at her official graduation in Ushuaia. It’s exciting to experience this reception in Argentina because the celebration is definitely a different kind of celebration than the graduation parties I’ve been to in the US.
The evening began with the whole family getting dressed up in long, elegant dresses and nice suits. We headed to a fancy hotel situated on the mountainside which offered a breathtaking view of the city and water below. We arrived right on time at 9 p.m. and were led into a ballroom set up like a wedding reception, complete with a head table for the graduates and fancy round tables spotted around the room. As we were served appetizers and wine, we mingled with other families and enjoyed the lively atmosphere before the official announcements began.
One by one, the names of the graduates were called out, and each pair of students walked down the dancefloor to their chosen song, greeted by cheers and applause. Sol stepped out in a a sparkling green dress and walked down the dancefloor with one of her childhood friends. We were all ready with hugs when she reached the end of the runway.
The evening continued with a multi-course dinner, a video presentation celebrating the students, and eventually, a full dance floor. There were several dances reserved for students to share with their families, and we all took our turns waiting for a moment to dance with Sol. At 2 a.m., a champagne toast was made and graduation hats flew into the air in celebration. I’ve attended my fair share of fun graduation parties in the US, but nothing compares to the level of celebration here in Argentina.
