1.15.2006
on being back and eating dinner
I came back to Oxford on Wednesday evening, and I can say that it is delightful to be back. I miss the heck out of Boston. I miss my family, I miss my girlfriend, I miss my comfortable bed and warm down comforter. I miss watching television while snacking and wearing pajamas. I can't exactly walk over to the MCR without changing out of my pajamas, hopping into the shower, and getting dressed for real now.
But I missed Oxford life too, and I'm happy to be back. I won't be ashamed to say that the beer in this country is far superior to the watery mess available in the United States. I'm also grateful to be in a country with a healthy respect for a decent cheese plate. And where sharp cheddar is fine, we don't need to inflate that term by marketing standards to "Hunter's Extra Extra Sharp Farmhouse Cheddar" or something insane like that.
I have been back for four nights. On Wednesday, I arrived in Oxford at about 10:30 pm, and at about midnight, I wanted to go out for a kebab. I was hungry, the plane had made me dehydrated, and some salt and fat in my diet would not have been at all unwelcome. But the kebab vans weren't out, as it was a Muslim holiday and the purveyors of kebabs were not working. Thursday night, I fell asleep and didn't even grab food. Friday, I had a rehearsal with Magdala, and we then went out to the Angel and Greyhound Pub before heading to Mario's, a nice Italian restaurant. I had a delicious Spaghetti Lucifero, which was a tomato sauce with anchovies, black olives, garlic, and chili peppers. Mmmm... :)
Last night, though, has to take it. My friends Basak and Simon are getting married this year, so the engagement ceremony was held last night. They've been engaged (by Western standards) since early October, but the engagement ceremony finalizes the arrangement in Turkish eyes. Because Basak's father is Yasar Yakis, the former foreign minister of Turkey, and was also once a high-ranking diplomat in Great Britain, the ceremony and dinner were held at the residence of the Turkish Ambassador, His Excellency Mr. Akin Alptuna. The ambassador was on hand to host the dinner, and some of his and Mr. Yakis's friends were also present, including Sir David Logan, former ambasssador of the Court of St. James to Turkey, as well as the EU's delegate to Turkey, a New Zealander whose name I have sadly forgotten.
I got to meet lots of Basak and Simon's friends. On Basak's side, there was, in fact, another Basak, as well as a girl named Aisha (I hope I'm spelling that right). Simon's school friends, Joe, Stephan, and John (I think), as well as his uncle Jim and many of their friends from Liverpool were present. It was a joyous occasion.
Hors d'oeuvres were circulated, as was champagne. We had toothpicks of olives, feta, and tomatoes, stuffed grape leaves, fried spring-roll-type-things filled with cheese, and pastry shells. Dinner was in four courses, and we were waited on by a fleet of butlers and waiters. It was truly awesome. The first course was a trio of salads: tomato salsa topped with garlic marinated prawns, leaf salad stuffed into a round cheese crouton ring, and avocado salad topped with smoked salmon. The second was a trio of Turkish appetizers: an herb & (I think) potato pancake, a half-spring roll filled with meat and cheese, and a third which fails me at the moment. The main course was a delicious lamb shank laid on a bed of wilted spinach and garlic, with very well roasted vegetables (some might, uncharitably, have called the taste 'burnt'. not me) and a sticky rice pilaf with raisins and pine nuts. On the side, a light salad of tomato and cucumber. Dessert was a sort of marscapone trifle (a tiramisu without the lady fingers), and a small slice of baklava. Afterward, we went upstairs again for an after-dinner Turkish coffee and a drink. Again, the butler came around again, this time with Bailey's, Cointreau, and a brandy and a cognac of some variety. Amazing.
It was a wonderful evening, and both Basak and Simon looked fantastic together. Everyone there was so wonderful and giving and lovely. The party favor was a bag of Turkish delight, wrapped up with a Turkish evil-eye pendant which is going on my door today.
Term starts today: singing will commence this afternoon. I am excited to get back into the swing of things, though I wish I were a little more prepared for the start of term. It feels a lot earlier this year than it did last year. I'm not sure why.
But I missed Oxford life too, and I'm happy to be back. I won't be ashamed to say that the beer in this country is far superior to the watery mess available in the United States. I'm also grateful to be in a country with a healthy respect for a decent cheese plate. And where sharp cheddar is fine, we don't need to inflate that term by marketing standards to "Hunter's Extra Extra Sharp Farmhouse Cheddar" or something insane like that.
I have been back for four nights. On Wednesday, I arrived in Oxford at about 10:30 pm, and at about midnight, I wanted to go out for a kebab. I was hungry, the plane had made me dehydrated, and some salt and fat in my diet would not have been at all unwelcome. But the kebab vans weren't out, as it was a Muslim holiday and the purveyors of kebabs were not working. Thursday night, I fell asleep and didn't even grab food. Friday, I had a rehearsal with Magdala, and we then went out to the Angel and Greyhound Pub before heading to Mario's, a nice Italian restaurant. I had a delicious Spaghetti Lucifero, which was a tomato sauce with anchovies, black olives, garlic, and chili peppers. Mmmm... :)
Last night, though, has to take it. My friends Basak and Simon are getting married this year, so the engagement ceremony was held last night. They've been engaged (by Western standards) since early October, but the engagement ceremony finalizes the arrangement in Turkish eyes. Because Basak's father is Yasar Yakis, the former foreign minister of Turkey, and was also once a high-ranking diplomat in Great Britain, the ceremony and dinner were held at the residence of the Turkish Ambassador, His Excellency Mr. Akin Alptuna. The ambassador was on hand to host the dinner, and some of his and Mr. Yakis's friends were also present, including Sir David Logan, former ambasssador of the Court of St. James to Turkey, as well as the EU's delegate to Turkey, a New Zealander whose name I have sadly forgotten.
I got to meet lots of Basak and Simon's friends. On Basak's side, there was, in fact, another Basak, as well as a girl named Aisha (I hope I'm spelling that right). Simon's school friends, Joe, Stephan, and John (I think), as well as his uncle Jim and many of their friends from Liverpool were present. It was a joyous occasion.
Hors d'oeuvres were circulated, as was champagne. We had toothpicks of olives, feta, and tomatoes, stuffed grape leaves, fried spring-roll-type-things filled with cheese, and pastry shells. Dinner was in four courses, and we were waited on by a fleet of butlers and waiters. It was truly awesome. The first course was a trio of salads: tomato salsa topped with garlic marinated prawns, leaf salad stuffed into a round cheese crouton ring, and avocado salad topped with smoked salmon. The second was a trio of Turkish appetizers: an herb & (I think) potato pancake, a half-spring roll filled with meat and cheese, and a third which fails me at the moment. The main course was a delicious lamb shank laid on a bed of wilted spinach and garlic, with very well roasted vegetables (some might, uncharitably, have called the taste 'burnt'. not me) and a sticky rice pilaf with raisins and pine nuts. On the side, a light salad of tomato and cucumber. Dessert was a sort of marscapone trifle (a tiramisu without the lady fingers), and a small slice of baklava. Afterward, we went upstairs again for an after-dinner Turkish coffee and a drink. Again, the butler came around again, this time with Bailey's, Cointreau, and a brandy and a cognac of some variety. Amazing.
It was a wonderful evening, and both Basak and Simon looked fantastic together. Everyone there was so wonderful and giving and lovely. The party favor was a bag of Turkish delight, wrapped up with a Turkish evil-eye pendant which is going on my door today.
Term starts today: singing will commence this afternoon. I am excited to get back into the swing of things, though I wish I were a little more prepared for the start of term. It feels a lot earlier this year than it did last year. I'm not sure why.
