the other one

On Saturday evening I attended my first May Ball and what a joyous experience it was. It it hard to really describe the event because we don't have anything equivalent in the states. Sure we have prom and Greek formals, but they don't last until six in the morning or have a firework show as an opening act.

If you attend Oxford or Cambridge, when speaking about the other university, one does not call it by its name by rather, refers to it merely as "the other one". So speaking in Oxbridge terms, the ball I attended was at "the other one". Somerville and Jesus colleges combined their two committees and put on The Last Ball: decadence, debauchery, and indulgence. The theme describes the ball perfectly.

Our May Ball committee is doing a swap with Oxford's committee and that is why we were invited. After a three hour long bus ride on the X-5, our night began with a champagne reception in the front quad. We then walked through flowered arches to the main quad which held 3 marquees for different acts of entertainment, a shisha tent, a food tent, a cocktail tent, and of course a champagne tent. There was also a giant swing (sort of like the boat swing you find at the Renaissance fair), a ball pit, and a chapel that had been converted to a ping-pong room. There was always something to do, or something to see throughout the night.

My favorite moment of the night: fireworks.

Everyone knows my obsession with fireworks -- they just bring about such fond memories of all the 4th of Julys spent on the lake in Lake Arrowhead. I also believe them to be very romantic. They can only be viewed at night, under the open sky, cuddled under a blanket.

My favorite moment of the morning: silent disco.

Silent discos are all the rage in England. I had never even heard of such a thing before becoming a member of the May Ball committee. A silent disco is when everyone is dancing, but with headphones on. The headphones have many stations to appeal to everyone's music preference. You can enjoy dancing with your friends, to the music of your choice. It was so fun to take the headphones off and then listen to everyone sing different songs.