Formal Halls

Tonight was our first Formal Hall, which even the organizers described as a Hogwarts-esque experience. We started off with drinks in a courtyard and then all 200ish of us moved to the Hall. We got a three course meal - a salad, duck, and a raspberry cheesecake with white chocolate ice cream. The meal was really fantastic but lighter than I thought it would be - everyone says English food is heavy, is that only compared to French food? We started the meal with a Latin grace (the start and end were similar to the one I know, the middle not so much). I had a great time at the meal, I sat next to another Mount student and then two guys who go to school in Hong Kong. I love the diversity of students here. I experienced it in France but here it is different, I'm not quite sure how to explain it. While it seems most students here are from the University of California, it seems the second largest piece of the pie chart is students who come from schools in Hong Kong (or at least out of the people that I've met). Not one person (except my teacher) has heard of my beautiful mountain home which is really quite a shame for them. I do happen to go to the best school in the world after all. Our director Dr. Jarvis, ended the evening with a incredible speech about being British that managed to get across some important facts about the present time while also being one of the funniest speeches I've ever heard.   

Here's a picture of the menu for the formal hall - as many of you know I'm riddled with food restrictions and I was so happy when the server told me I could put my food restriction card away because I could eat everything that was being served. (Though I hate cheesecake, which balances out with my lactose intolerant roomie's love for the stuff, and I gave it to a neighbour.) 

I got to see a couple churches today, including the oldest one in Cambridge that actually dates back to the Anglo-Saxon architectural period, but it was during a class field trip so I was too busy taking notes to take photos. It was rainy today so afterwards I walked straight home to get dry, although my rainboots are proving useful and cute.