Have I really only been here for two days?
Following our morning of tours and shopping as described earlier, we as a group attended our first High Table dinner in a very harry potter-esque dining hall, complete with servers in white coats and 4 full courses. First, they made us get all gussied up (the boys looked so cute in their blazers!) to meet with our Dons, or the Oxford professors (the leaders of our generation...) Then, they led us out the a blue striped tent where they proceeded to feed us flute after flute of champagne (and it was definitely not andre...) and expected us to converse intelligently with some of the most distinguished members of the Oxford Faculty. Not an easy task, but I like to think I managed pretty well. Next, they led us into the dining room and gave the traditional ceremonial blessing in latin before we were allowed to sit down. The food was fabulous; completely not the stereotypical English fare...there was not a blood sausage or boiled anything in sight! We ended the evening with a few laughs at the college pub before going to bed pretty early.
Today was the first day of classes. My media class seems really interesting but not as easy as I was hoping. We as a class are actually going on an excursion to London tomorrow, so that should be fun. Then came my tutorial with Mrs. Susan Gillengham, one of the great brains of theology of the Worcester (pronounced 'wurster') College. Mrs. Gillengham just happens to married to the provost (equivalent to a dean) of Worcester and the two of them live at the college in what she claims is an "apartment" but in actuality is the refurbished servants quarters.....complete with 10 bathrooms and 5 kitchens. Another one of her perks as the provost's wife is access to the beautiful private rose garden which is where we had class today. So we sat in a garden eating chocolate that she gave us taking notes on the early history of Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Completely unforgetable to say the least. But then again, these past two days have been simply amazing so I don't know what I was expecting!
Following our morning of tours and shopping as described earlier, we as a group attended our first High Table dinner in a very harry potter-esque dining hall, complete with servers in white coats and 4 full courses. First, they made us get all gussied up (the boys looked so cute in their blazers!) to meet with our Dons, or the Oxford professors (the leaders of our generation...) Then, they led us out the a blue striped tent where they proceeded to feed us flute after flute of champagne (and it was definitely not andre...) and expected us to converse intelligently with some of the most distinguished members of the Oxford Faculty. Not an easy task, but I like to think I managed pretty well. Next, they led us into the dining room and gave the traditional ceremonial blessing in latin before we were allowed to sit down. The food was fabulous; completely not the stereotypical English fare...there was not a blood sausage or boiled anything in sight! We ended the evening with a few laughs at the college pub before going to bed pretty early.
Today was the first day of classes. My media class seems really interesting but not as easy as I was hoping. We as a class are actually going on an excursion to London tomorrow, so that should be fun. Then came my tutorial with Mrs. Susan Gillengham, one of the great brains of theology of the Worcester (pronounced 'wurster') College. Mrs. Gillengham just happens to married to the provost (equivalent to a dean) of Worcester and the two of them live at the college in what she claims is an "apartment" but in actuality is the refurbished servants quarters.....complete with 10 bathrooms and 5 kitchens. Another one of her perks as the provost's wife is access to the beautiful private rose garden which is where we had class today. So we sat in a garden eating chocolate that she gave us taking notes on the early history of Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Completely unforgetable to say the least. But then again, these past two days have been simply amazing so I don't know what I was expecting!
5 comments:
Sounds absolutly enchanting! ( I am working on all of my very English vocab.) I bet the gardens were beautiful, and good chocolate to boot. I hope you have taken some pictures. Glad you are enjoying it. Beats the hell out of France, eh???????????? Mom
Hi Allison! We are enjoying reading of your adventures. Sounds like you are living a great novel. We look forward to reading "the rest of the story"
Sue and Chip
Allison, have you fogotten so soon...describe the food, exactly what did you eat at the dinner. Our family lives for food!!!
It sounds so wonderful and thanks so much for sharing with us.
When you go to London, I hope you get to ride the tube..."Mind the Gap." Aunt Wendy
The parties sound really fun. I would like to experience the service. The gardens you had class in really must have been great. I bet the choc. didn't come from the cupboard like at our house. That would be comething nice...?
Glad you are having a good time!
Dad
Your dog 'Seamus' alerted me to your online blog and wants me to request on behalf of all of his friends here at Funnybones (doggie daycare) that you bring back some of that delish blood sausage you were talking about. He thinks he and his pup pals would enjoy the English delicasy! :-) Kenya (owner, Funnybones for Dogs)
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