SOME OF THIS WASN'T LOST=]=]=] It's jumpy, but still entertaining.
I woke up this morning with a very familiar feeling. The sun was peeking in through the windows and I could hear a few male voices from what seemed like right below my window. There was a bustle that I was not a part of from my cozy bed but it seemed my obligation to get up and join. It was if I were visiting my family at my grandparents house and everyone was up for breakfast but Kelsey and I. I can always hear my dad and uncles and aunts chatting and cooking while I lay uninterested in moving. I think it's the most comforting feeling I've had since I arrived.
It'll be a week on Thursday that I've been here in Oxford and slowly but surely it's becoming home. I realize that like my home self I'm already becoming remiss about keeping things updated, namely, this blog. This week has been very busy, but not busy at all at the same time. I don't begin my days until late, unless we have meetings before noon. Today we just have a four o clock tour of the Union Society....
OK so It's Wednesday but now I'm actually sitting down to do this. So as I left off, last night was the Union Society tour. Kels and I went to the Mission, a burrito place down the street, and coincidentally right across from the Union, and it was extra delicious. Kind of like a Chipoltle.
OK SO. it saved this much. I'll just write about dinner briefly because it's definitely worth mentioning. It's been a week now, but I certainly remember it enough to write about. We had a dinner for Jesus College, Hertford, and New College as a sort of introduction to Oxford and to meet our peers in a nice environment. Kels and I got all dressed up and looked freakin great, and of course it was raining on the way. Thanks Oxford. But we walked into the reception like area and it reeeeked of booze. So we thought, "oh strong wine on the table of there, huh" Nope, it was brandy and by gosh was it strong. I took a sip and nearly spit it back in. It was not enjoyable to finish what tasted like pure alcohol. We went into the hall and it was really nice, I think just a smaller dining area because it was much too small to be a formal dining hall. There were candles all down the table with settings fit with wine glasses and fancy forks and even little mouse pad type things with Hertford's crest on them. Dinner was pretty good, and the company was great. I sat next to a Fresher who's the VP of Jesus JCR (essentially our union) and he was a trip. We had irreverent conversation all night. And let's just say, the wine was certainly flowing.
So here's the good part. After dinner and dessert is toasting. And oh, is there toasting. First, we all toast to the queen. So you rise, and "To the Queen!". Very British. But what happens next is the head of the event, in our case the director of our OPUS program, toasts someone of moderate importance. That person then toasts the next important person and blah blah. After the official toasts the floor is open. This means that anyone can toast, but must then direct the toast at someone else. Trouble. I'm going to say there were at least 30 toasts. For every toast, you have to rise and drink. Every. Single. Toast. Let's just say there were some wobblers by the end because what are you toasting with? Port. Port is some strong shit, yo. And it is flowinggggg. So my speech came up. And I'd had a few glasses of wine, I certainly was fine, but..you know. So Ollie, the Jesus student, set me up with a very funny introduction about how I put my foot in my mouth and how he was curious what the heck I'd have to say. So I got up and said my sappy whatever.. and decided to toast Kels. I almosttt started crying. Like I welled up and sniffled. Oh god...I felt like an ass but people said it was endearing. Thank goodness.
So, word to the wise. If you are ever invited to a formal dinner at Oxford, wear comfortable shoes, take an Advil before hand, and keep a glass of water near by.
Quick word on the pirates. We were at an Irish bar and there was a huge table of girls dressed up as pirates. Apparently it was the girls 21st, but it was hillarious and I introduced one of them to "My New F***ing Haircut" because people were doing jager bombs. America: 1. British girls: drunk. We have since seen another group of pirates...I don't get it.
Ok Yay I got some stuff recovered. Don't try to sort out what happened when. It'll just give you a headache.
Cheers,
Kenz
No comments:
Post a Comment