Saturday, October 07, 2006

The Opening Ball


The Opening Ball. What a beautiful tradition here in St. Andrews. Last night I attended the Kate Kennedy Charity Opening Ball with two other girls. The Kate Kennedy Club is a society of the sixty most elite boys in the Uni (university) and has been around since 1926. They throw a ball every October to mark the beginning of the social year here at St. Andrews.

Just picture the scene. We walk towards St. Salvators Quad. At the entrance of the ancient stone archway are bagpipers beckoning students to enter. Once in the Quad you walk past fire jugglers and various KK members (I don't think the Brits see the issue with this abbreviation) who are all dressed in full Kilt attire. The Quad is lit up with yellow search and blue flood lights. And this is all before you have even entered the Ball floor.

As we entered the Ball tent each lady was handed a white rose and every guest a glass of Champagne. The Tent, covered in roses, balloons, and lights, was also filled to the brim with students, all in their very finest attire.

Ok now. Onto reality. Although the ladies are in ball gowns, and the gents in kilted suits, we are still the youth of the 21st century. We might be surrounded by ancient ruins, be at the University of Princes, and hear the faint groan of bagpipes, but lets not forget to prove that in the new millennium entry into adulthood (and the according behavior) doesn't happen until at least the age of 35! (see picture of dancing kilts)

That being said, it was a fabulous night. I had one heck of a time with my new friends (Allison and Emily). We danced the night away in good fashion, and ended the evening with the ceremonial (and experimental) tasting of a Scottish delicacy, namely the deep fried mars bar!

Thanks for reading...more soon to come.

Cheers!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I love the picture of your sheering the sheep! Looks like so much fun!!