High Table Dinner Monday: Week One

There are moments when you find yourself somewhere that you obviously don't belong, but by some turn of fate or small miracle you are. That was last night. 

Every Monday evening we'll be treated to a guest speaker and a high table dinner. Last night, our guests were the Oxford professors who will teach our courses over the next six weeks. We met with our professors briefly and then headed toward the Trinity College gardens. 

Fun fact about about Oxford: it's really uppity about its grass. The back gardens of Trinity are a perfectly manicured lawn cut in the middle by a neat gravel path and surrounded by floral bushes and tall green trees. Its pristine appearance isn't an accident though. Trinity maintains a quirky set of rules to keep the gardens looking perfect. 

Blankets are not allowed on the lawn as it might kill the grass. Red wine is also prohibited on the lawn, because its dark color could stain the grass if it's spilled. Finally, frisbee and football (both kinds) are forbidden. Croquet, however, is perfectly acceptable. You know, because it's England.

The gated entrance to the back gardens of Trinity College.  

Now enough about gardens rules, back to dinner.

We all walked out onto the lawn dressed for the night's formal dinner and were greeted by a table of champagne, which happens to be my favorite kind of welcoming. While standing in the gardens with a glass of champagne in hand and looking back at the beautiful Trinity housing, it hit me. This is the classiest thing I've ever done. Then, the night got even more swanky. 

After champagne on the lawn, we all streamed into the dining hall for a four course meal. Dinner started and ended with a grace said in Latin, the silverware was hundreds of years old, and the hall was lit by a decadent chandelier and several candelabras.

Once dinner was over, we were invited to the beer cellar that is directly underneath the dining hall. This cellar alone is reason enough for me that Oxford is one of the finest institutions in the world.

The night was incredibly grand and made me very appreciative of this opportunity I've been given. Most people don't get to learn from an Oxford professor. Most people don't get to drink champagne in the Oxford gardens. Most people don't get to enjoy an elaborate meal in a 17th century dining hall.

I'm definitely not use to all the pomp that Oxford has to offer. Until last night, the only association I had with candelabras was Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast, and I use the word "swanky" for goodness sakes. I am a far cry from a posh Brit, but these Monday night high table dinners are definitely something I can get use to.