It’s hard to believe that Kelly and I have been here now for almost a month. We have been kept so busy with classes and seeing all the new sights that we don’t even realise how fast time is going and this week has been no different. Classes have now started to pick up in work pace and over the next week we have a number of tests to complete. However unlike home, we get to do these tests online and there doesn’t seem to be as much pressure and stress to coincide with them which makes a nice change!
But the most exciting events of this week took place in a Mobile, Alabama which is where we were fortunate enough to spend the weekend. Ava (global ambassador) and her family were kind enough to open their home to us and we learnt more about the southern culture. It was a 5-6 hour drive to Alabama from Oxford, which despite being very long, was a pleasant journey with the help of good old country songs to sing along to. I still have not got used to people driving on the opposite side of the road and on the left hand side of the car over here. As I am a passenger I occasionally forget about the differences and have attempted to get into the driver seat before realising I’m on the wrong side!
On Friday night I went to my first Mardi Gras Parade. Mardi Gras is a carnival season and represents the time of celebrations before begin people begin to fast for Lent. The parade was filled with all different kinds of brightly decorated floats and very entertaining bands. In addition to having captivating appearances, the floats also carried people dressed up in costumes with masks who would throw colourful beads and cuddly toys out to the crowds who gather to watch them. In order to try and secure some of our own beads, we had to stand with our arms up in the air shouting and waving at the floats passing by. The entire parade was fascinating and it was impossible not to get drawn into the enthusiasm and excitement that overcame the crowd. During the parade I also noticed that the police patrolled the streets by horse which is something I have not witnessed at home!
On Saturday we had the opportunity to go shopping in Mobile in preparation for the prom party that we were attending that night. The prom is very similar to the formals which we would have back home although Americans do seem to put more effort in and go all out with expensive dresses and make-up. The party was more of a reunion of some of Ava’s cousin’s friends and represented bringing back some of their memories from their actual proms. Her house was decorated beautifully with balloons and a red carpet running into the house. There was even a prom ‘king and queen’ which I thought was a lovely idea. It has inspired some discussions between us about throwing our own formal party when we return home!
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