A Different Kind of Spring Festival 2025 – Attending My Daughter's Graduation Ceremony in the UK

My daughter has completed her one-year postgraduate studies in the UK and achieved a Merit grade. During this year, she traveled abroad for the first time, cooked for herself for the first time, visited many places in the UK and several European countries, and never neglected her studies or friendships. We are so proud of her! Some say that graduation ceremonies in the UK are full of ritual and fulfil all your fantasies about a graduation ceremony. After all, it is the most grand event of the school year, bar none!

There is a tradition in British education: when children graduate, parents attend the celebration. My husband applied for a new UK visa using the graduation invitation letter issued by my daughter's school as supporting material. When entering the country, he was asked about the purpose of his trip, and simply replied "attending a graduation ceremony" to pass through smoothly.

Part 1: The Graduation Ceremony

On the morning of January 21, 2025, we flew from Shanghai to London, then transferred to Bristol, where we rested and adjusted. January 22 was the main day of the graduation ceremony; we got up early. The weather was kind – sunny and breezy – which is especially rare in the UK, particularly in winter.

Usually, academic gowns and tickets are collected at the Richmond Building. At the gown collection point, teachers help students choose the right size of full academic dress and personally dress them. According to the school's requirements, both participants and invitees must wear formal attire. Graduating female students wore dress shoes and dresses, with the graduation gown over the top. My daughter prepared a set of Hanfu, and after full dressing, she received compliments from classmates and passers-by: "You look amazing."

Graduates in academic gowns of different colours gathered at various street corners of the city, taking photos with family and friends, like a scene from a wizards' banquet. The students, dressed in their academic gowns, walked through every corner of their lives, using cameras to bid a final farewell to this tranquil city.

Tall trees were lush green, with blue sky and white clouds as the backdrop. My daughter led me towards the city centre and the campus, past her dormitory, the solemn city hall, and a variety of differently styled teaching buildings... Everything here seemed familiar, because this is where my daughter spent her youth and sweat.

The graduation ceremony of the University of Bristol was held at the Wills Memorial Building, which is beautiful both inside and out. The entire space was towering, with high ceilings, magnificent and majestic, surrounded by classical columns. The dark brown tone gave an ancient and solemn feel, while the decorations on the ceiling and windows were elegant and bright. Though not as ornate as a cathedral, it was simple and elegant. There was no backdrop or banner in the hall. After all parents and students entered in order, everyone stood up as the organ prelude played, welcoming the Chancellor, the Deans, and the Provost, who entered carrying the mace.

Although the school prohibited photography and videography, many people at the scene could not resist pulling out their phones and taking pictures excitedly – these photos are extremely precious! The school provided an online live stream link, so those who couldn't attend could watch the ceremony live.

Then came the long-awaited degree conferral ceremony. The Chancellor called out each student's name in turn. When their name was called, the student stepped forward, received their degree certificate, shook hands with the Dean of the faculty, and returned to their seat. Cheers, screams, and enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience – the best wishes from partners, families, and friends. The ceremony took about 20 seconds per student. It took the first female Chancellor of the University of Bristol about 40 minutes to confer all degrees. Throughout the graduation ceremony, the Chancellor worked the hardest, repeating the same sentence over a hundred times. But I think that being qualified to confer degrees on the children is also an honour!

In the afternoon, sunlight streamed through the colourful stained glass windows, shining on each of our faces like blooming flowers in this time of youthful beauty.

After the conferral, parents stood up to applaud and cheer for their children. Around me were people of various skin colours and accents, all smiling, all proud of their children, relatives, and friends for completing their master's degrees after years of study. Some graduates had large family support groups, creating a spectacular and heartwarming scene.

Children holding their graduation certificates posed proudly and happily with family and friends for photos outside the Wills Memorial Building. They congratulated each other, gathered for group photos, laughed and chatted, recording this unforgettable moment in their lives...

Congratulations to my baby on her master's degree! May you continue to work hard, set sail again, and pursue your dreams...

Part 2: Unexpected Storms

Our main purpose of this trip to the UK was to attend the graduation ceremony, and then do some sightseeing. The subsequent plan was to fly from Bristol to Dublin, stay in Dublin for 2 days, then take a bus from Dublin to Belfast on the 26th. After playing in Belfast for 2 days, we would fly from Belfast to London on January 28.

Due to the impact of super storm Eowyn, many flights across the UK were cancelled on a large scale. On Little Red Book, many posts shared the same experience as ours. Our flight from Bristol to Dublin on January 24 was cancelled, causing us to be unable to check into the hotel in Dublin, with the room fee already deducted. We also couldn't take the bus to Belfast. Moreover, we had to check out of our hotel in Bristol, the small city where we were staying. Because of the big storm, our itinerary had to change. In all my years of countless domestic and international trips and business trips, this was the first time I encountered a sudden change of plans.

My daughter and I had an urgent discussion: we needed to find a city that was conveniently located – with direct flights to Belfast – and less affected by the storm, where we could stay for 2 days, and where there would be places to eat and get supplies even if the weather turned worse. Then we urgently rearranged our hotel, choosing to stay in London for 2 days. So we came up with a new itinerary: take a train from Bristol to London, stay in London for 2 days, then fly from London to Belfast on January 26, continuing the originally planned Belfast itinerary.

All expenses from the original plan were refunded. The airline was reliable and refunded the ticket fee quickly. The bus ticket for Ireland that we booked on a foreign platform was also refunded smoothly. However, due to this sudden change, the new itinerary cost more than the original one. I am currently applying for a claim under my overseas travel insurance.

An interesting side note: I booked a room in Dublin on an international hotel platform. I contacted the hotel and called the platform's hotline. Although the website provided a Chinese customer service number, after entering the order number, there was no further prompt tone. When I called the English number, I immediately got a human response. I requested a refund of the two nights' room fee. Initially, after receiving my request, the platform only refunded one night. After a day, I called again, and after multiple verifications and providing relevant communication materials, the platform agreed to refund the other night. Through dealing with the international hotel platform, I gained two insights: first, English communication skills are important – at least you have more options; second, if you don't get what you ask for, don't be afraid or worry – try to argue your case, and you might succeed.

Part 3: Belfast

In 2013, 11 years ago, our family of three visited England and Scotland during my daughter's summer vacation after she entered junior high school (first year). In September 2023, when I sent my daughter to study in the UK, I visited several cities in Wales. This time, we wanted to see other parts of the UK, so we chose Dublin in Ireland and Belfast in Northern Ireland. Although we ultimately didn't go to Dublin due to weather, we did set foot in Belfast.

Belfast is the largest seaport in Northern Ireland, the political, cultural centre, and largest industrial city of Northern Ireland. It has a strong industrial base, with a long history of shipbuilding; the Titanic was built here.

The Titanic Museum is currently the largest Titanic-themed attraction in the world, located on the site where the Titanic was designed and built. The building recreates the scene of the Titanic docked at the shore, telling the story of the Titanic. Interestingly, during the Chinese New Year period, the museum was decorated with Chinese knots and lanterns, giving it a festive Chinese feel.

Belfast is rich in tourism resources, with two most famous attractions: one is the Titanic Museum, and the other is the Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.

The Giant's Causeway is a coastal path formed by tens of thousands of basalt columns of various sizes but regular shapes, arranged closely together. According to scientific research, it was formed by volcanic eruptions about 50–60 million years ago, a true masterpiece of nature. However, the Giant's Causeway is over 100 kilometres from Belfast. If you join a tour group, it takes a whole day. Actually, taking a bus is convenient, but the journey is long, and buses are infrequent, so you must check the timetable in advance.

Bus 221 stops opposite the City Hall. We first visited the City Hall, then bought round-trip tickets at the tourist information centre by the road for £17.30 per person. The scenery along the way was nice – the Northern Irish countryside. In the drizzle, it was truly picturesque! A friendly local told me that the stop after the one where he got off was our destination, so we didn't need to worry.

The weather forecast said it would rain all day, with low temperatures. When we got off the bus, the wind was stronger and the rain heavier, making it hard to keep our eyes open. The tourist centre was also closed due to the recent storms, and we didn't even have a place to use the restroom.

The columns were arranged in an orderly manner, stepping down into the sea. Due to long-term soaking and erosion by glaciers and the Atlantic Ocean, most of the columns were black. The majestic columns extended in patches, along with huge black volcanic lava balls. Nature is truly a master! Volcanic lava erupted from fissures in the oceanic crust, rapidly cooled by seawater to become solid basalt. During solidification, the magma fractured, and the contraction force was very uniform, resulting in regular hexagonal columns.

Tens of thousands of polygonal columns stretched from the cliff into the sea, like a "Giant's Causeway" paved with columns inserted into the ground – a rare sight worldwide. In 1986, the Giant's Causeway was inscribed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage list.

There is a small restaurant outside the scenic area. We each ordered a hot drink. The yellow flames and warmth from the burning fireplace allowed us to wait peacefully for the return bus.

Belfast City Hall is the seat of the city government. This Neo-Baroque building was built over a hundred years ago. The huge green dome of the main building is a local landmark. Besides its magnificent architecture, the City Hall is open to the public for free visits, allowing visitors to appreciate the government's attitude of "of the people, by the people, for the people."

Today is my daughter's 24th birthday. We chose a well-reviewed restaurant near Queen's University Belfast, with delicious food and excellent service, which made the day perfect. We also visited the university. Queen's University Belfast was founded in 1845 by Queen Victoria and is one of the ten oldest universities in the UK. The campus is small but beautiful; the drizzling rain couldn't dim the deep beauty of the red brick buildings.

Random Thoughts: City Walk and Cultural Experience

London has many classic landmarks, so starting a relaxed and enjoyable City Walk is a great idea! It's not only a good opportunity to discover London but also allows you to find your own little surprises during a leisurely walk. In London, you can feel the blend of nature, culture, and shopping. From a peaceful stroll in Hyde Park, to the historical treasures of the British Museum, to the shopping spree on Oxford Street, and finally enjoying a classic theatre performance in the West End.

Wear comfortable shoes, bring your phone and power bank, and measure every corner of London with your steps, letting memories freeze at every glance and pause! Museums are free, with so many treasures you can't see them all. This time we visited the British Museum again, and also the newly visited Victoria and Albert Museum. We shopped at Liberty London and Covent Garden, and visited St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. Constantly crossing between prosperity and history, we felt the perfect fusion of fashion, full of happiness.

Random Thoughts: Personal and Property Safety

During this trip to London, especially in the evenings, we easily noticed that in busy areas there were always some loitering people with wandering eyes observing passers-by. Online posts often mentioned phones being snatched or bags being unzipped. So we were very careful: after checking the navigation on our phones, we immediately put them away; we didn't look at phones on the roadside to avoid snatching by thieves on motorbikes. Safety first when travelling abroad.

We cherish this trip very much. As my daughter grows up, there won't be many opportunities for the whole family to travel together. Life cannot lack rituals. This graduation ceremony, as well as New Year's Eve, the Spring Festival, and our daughter's birthday, were all spent in the UK. For us, every bit of it shows that the meaning of travel lies in being with family, seeing the world, and spending a warm time together under the same sky.