Paul Derengowski, Ph.D.
Monday evening before graduation was spent buying new clothes at the local mall, since Delta Airlines had not yet delivered our luggage, as expected. Woolworth’s, of which I did not even know it still existed, was the main shopping hot-spot. So, it was shoes, slacks, and shirts, plus toiletries, to get us through Tuesday’s graduation day. All tolled, we had to spend about R4,000 (4,00o rand), which translated to about $300 U.S. dollars. Delta Airlines received a bill from us upon returning to the States. We are still waiting to hear back from them on our claim.
Then, it was off to the Astro Villa or our home-away-from-home for three nights, which was a housing facility north of the NWU campus for athletic teams when they came to play next door at the stadium. Astro Villa is comprised of several single buildings that were like efficiency apartments—very, airy, efficiency apartments. Again, lots of security gates, fencing, and electric wire everywhere. Also, because it was winter and we could not figure out the heating system, it was a chilly night. Lows in the 30s and 40s made for piling extra blankets on the bed. The bright side of it all is that we did eventually figure out the heating and the next two nights were much more comfortable.
Since graduation was to commence at 10:00 a.m., I was required to be at the auditorium at 8:00 a.m. to be fitted for my cap and gown. Also, where would the world be without filling out paperwork? So, there was some of that as well. Annelize L., Dr. Stoker’s secretary, picked us up just before 8:00 a.m., Tuesday morning, but not until she showed up with a surprise. It was a our luggage! Yay! The only problem was, we were already dressed and ready to go when she showed up with the luggage. So, we made a few adjustments and away we went.
North-West University is a huge, gated complex, pretty much like the rest of South Africa. It is very modern and looks like any university campus a person would find in the United States, with the exception of all the security fences, gates, and yes, electric wire. Between those on campus (41,000), as well as those abroad (30,000), the student population on three different campus sites (Potchefstroom, Vaal Triangle, and Mafikeng), is a little over 70,000 students. It was great that Annelize knew where she was going, because if it was left up to me, we would have been totally lost getting around.
The fitting for the gown and cap took all of about 15 minutes; no big deal. The real trick was getting 
everything arranged so that I could buy the items for future reference. There was plenty of money left in my student account, but for some odd reason, I could not pay for the cap and gown in the office at NWU. I was told I needed to make arrangements to pay for everything in Johannesburg and then pick up everything there. When we finally convinced those in charge that we would not be able to do that, simply because of a lack of time, arrangements were made to make payment out of my student account and the cap and gown were delivered the next day at NWU. Go figure.
All students were expected to be in the auditorium starting around 9 a.m. We were to enter a specific door and had our programs, seats, and perforated paper with our names on them to hand to the person reading our doctoral bios, before we walked across the stage. This ceremony was only for doctoral graduates, of which there were 37, and was the first, ever, winter ceremony at the school. All of their other graduation get-togethers are held in the spring and fall. So, this was extra-special.
Daniel (from Toronto) sat on my left and Mark (from Cape Town) sat on my right and were both really great guys with great senses of humor. Mark told me that he really did not need the Ph.D., being a Principal at a Christian school, but he decided to go ahead and work for it anyway. Since we were among the last to be recognized, we had plenty of time to make small talk and one-liners.
It was definitely a mixed bag of graduates and their guests, though. Certain doctoral recipients really brought the “spirit” out in certain persons, especially those from the various tribes across Africa. Imagine sitting and watching a old-time western movie with Indians attacking a wagon train that was circled to defend itself. Yelping and war cries abounding is what it sounded like when certain graduates received their degrees. If it was not for the graduation ceremony, a person would almost think that the Apaches were on the warpath, Hollywood style.
Everything came off without a hitch, though. When my name was called, I took my place before the rostrum and Dr. Stoker read the blurb dealing with what I had worked on for several years. When he finished, he tapped me on the should from behind, I turned and shook his hand, and proceeded across the stage to the Vice Chancellor. All students took a brief knee at a kneeling bench, where the Vice Chancellor touched us on the head. Then, I took a few more steps, where the Registrar took my hood and placed it around my neck. Another school official handed me my degree and sent me back stage for a few pictures, after which, it was over. I was now Dr. Paul Derengowski and I am still shaking my head in disbelief. What took so long to complete, with all the ups and downs, heartaches and thrills, was now a reality.
Let’s go have lunch.
