Ch 25: A Unique Place in the World

Tonight was the Pembroke College MCR (Middle Common Room- a social gathering place for graduate students) Michaelmas dinner. The night was kicked off with Champaign in the reception hall in typical Oxford fashion. The meal itself had additional servicing of white wine, red wine, followed by a port (see where this is going?).

I learned a new word and Oxford tradition that night. It's called scouncing; a tradition here that demands that a person drink a tankard of ale or some other alcoholic beverage as a penalty for some breach of accepted etiquette. Quite a way to get a party hoppin'.

"How wonderful" I thought. "I learn something new here every day".