Tom Hooper
Debate Room
The next event was a Q and A with Billy Joel. This one required getting there 2 hours early! Upon finding no line, we decided to sit on the picnic benches outside the debate building. Suddenly, one person looked as if he was inching towards the door. Apparently that was cue (pun intended) for the masses to start queuing! In no time, the queue wrapped all the way off the Union grounds and onto the street. As we waited, we could hear Billy practicing inside. So surreal! At one point, the Brit we met in the cue casually said "Oh, look it's Billy Joel." as he walked by, 2 feet from us! After the sun had set, and the clock struck 7, it was time to file in. We got great seats, and then proceeded to wait another hour before the show even started! No pictures allowed (unless you wanted to pay a 50 pound fine and have your membership revoked), but I can tell you, it was amazing! He was sitting literally 10 feet from me and played snippets of We Didn't Start the Fire, Uptown Girl, New York State of Mind, River of Dreams, Laura, Tomorrow is Today, Where's the Orchestra, So It Goes, Summer Highland Falls, Beethoven's 6th, For the Longest Time, and ended with the entirety of Piano Man. He is a great performer and a hilarious guy!
He brought his own piano
His tea!
The next event I went to was a debate on whether the European Union is a threat to democracy. I had a terrible seat on the top level. I could see nothing, and hear little. It was fascinating to go to though. At the end of the debate, you vote for either the opposition or the proposition by walking through one of the two doors.
Noes and Ayes
The next event (all in the same week, by the way) was an interview with John Mayer at 2pm. Once again, we got there early for the queue (can you tell I fancy word queue?). This time, photos allowed, so I took them in abundance. He was actually very insightful and had lot of interesting things to say about his work methods, his career trajectory, and even his relationship with Steve Jobs.
Only time we got him smiling
Closest thing we got to a performance
How far away I was. That big head to the left is Grace. She got dibs on a better seat because she is obsessed with John Mayer's music, even though she cut in the queue and wasn't waiting as long as I was! (That's a neutral statement, right Grace? - I promised to only say nice things about her because I am stealing her photos)
Not that you need another picture of John Mayer, but this one was priceless. He was referencing his throat surgery in 2011 (the guy likes to talk with his hands!)
After John Mayer, Grace and I headed to the first of the Friday Lecture Series, which are speakers specially chosen by Mansfield's Principal, Helena Kennedy, a Baroness in the House of Lords. We were running 15 minutes late, but were surprised to find the event hadn't started yet and there weren't that many people there. Misha Glenny, a British Journalist was speaking on cyber warefare and security. About 5 minutes after we sat down, Helena Kennedy walked into the room. Grace had already met her, and I hadn't, so I leaned over to Grace and said, "Is that, is that..." She responded very excitedly, "Yes, Severus Snape is sitting next to us." I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about until I looked 3 seats down from me and found Alan Rickman sitting there! After the great lecture, we tried to get a creeper photo on the way out but failed...
Snape to the far right
In the hall, we ran into another Mansfielder who was freaking out because Alan Rickman had asked her to show him the Mansfield library. As we exchanged stories, he walked past us, again literally 2 feet away.
Our faces when we saw Alan Rickman
The next event for the evening was Formal Formal (that is not a typo... it's called Formal Formal.) It sold out in 4 minutes. (Also, bare in mind that there were so many other equally interesting events going on at the same time in Oxford. For Instance, the president of FIFA was speaking at the Union.) Formal Formal is a black tie event with a 4 course meal. Did I mention you also have to wear your robes? The food was divine: seafood bisque, fried goat cheese, beef wellington, and blueberry cheesecake.
Mansfield at night
Classy in robes
It's beginning to look a lot like Hogwarts...
Did I mention Severus Snape was there?
Or that I took creeper shots of him throughout most of the dinner?
Really started to look like Hogwarts!
It was a great time though. Afterwards, a group of us watched the beginning of Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. The minute we saw scene with Snape in the dinning hall (filmed at Christ Church, where I have also been) we were satisfied and went to bed.
Such an incredible amazing day and week in general! I have a TON of work to do, but I am looking forward to see what is to come!
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