Michelmas wrap-up

I blinked and Michelmas term was over. And I hadn't posted since mid-November. So I present to you, lovely reader(s? I won't be presumptuous), a wrap up in 15 pictures or less.

1. Kellogg housemates and I continued our sunday family dinners. Here's a photo from Michelle's night cooking. 3 authentic chinese dishes, which were both absolutely delicious and nothing like chinese food that i'd had in the states (shocker).

2. I got to meet Senator Russ Feingold at the oxford's American Institute. He gave a talk on the debate on American healthcare reform, which was in full force at the time, and I got to ask a question about the atrocious Stupak amendment. Then we chatted about Michigan football, or rather, my lack of knowledge about Michigan football.

3. Christmas time in Oxford is big. On the Friday after thanksgiving the town hosted a tree-lighting ceremony and lanterns parade through the streets of Oxford. It's definitely geared towards families with children, but our inner children enjoyed the evening quite a bit.

4. Another shot from Christmas light night. Paper lanterns, carried by children through the town.

5. Made a new BFF, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, first woman appointed to the Supreme Court and total badass. She gave a lecture about differences between American and British justice systems, then answered (and evaded) some questions. The American society drew my name from a lottery for a drinks reception with the Justice afterwards, so you know, Sandra and I bonded over a glass of wine. Actually, she drank a glass of wine, but I had to put my glass down because my hands were shaking. Minorly terrifying encounter, but in an adrenaline pumping, I'm-shaking-hands-with-history kind of way.



6. SDO take two. Delivering her lecture with a piercing gaze.

7. Kellogg had a Christmas tea with carols and, apparently, a slightly bossy Christmas fairy. All in good fun.

8. Christmas tea, take two. Shirley, Julia and Lilit are three ballers ballin' (and a partridge in a pear tree).

9. On the last day of term(ish), Julia hosted a christmas party, complete with a baked goods bonanza, impromptu caroling, and mulled wine. And cupcakes that originally said "Happy Christmas", but you get the gist.

10. On the Sunday after term ended, we ventured to Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and baller crib. I made a friend there, as well.

Checking our lists twice.



11. The front of Blenheim palace. Not bad, right?



12. Our kellogg sunday dinner crew had a christmas party/secret santa gift exchange.

Note the gold crowns from our christmas crackers and everyone displaying their gifts (tilly's wearing the lovely scarf from her secret santa)



13. Right, and Shakira visited. Couldn't get a great picture of her, but we did wait two hours in the rain while the fools who run the union tried to sort out what was going on. Then she talked about puppies and rainbows or something like that.

14. And finally: the college christmas dinner.

The green thing on the left of the plate is a christmas cracker. you cross arms with the people next to you and each grab and end and pull. The thing explodes, and inside you find strange things like eyeglass strings, paper clips, or dice.

15. This is just a bit of cake, really. Happy very belated christmas, end Michelmas.