Thanksgiving

I attended what is perhaps the oddest combination of events yesterday. Of course, Thanksgiving is not at all a British holiday, so classes and business as usual were all in order and on schedule. A little after 5pm, I headed over to the Princes Street Gardens to watch them switch on the Christmas lights, which was supposed to take place at 5:15. Things were running late, as is expected with these sorts of events, so the "program" started at 5:20. This "program" consisted of several exhibitions by local figure skaters/ice dancers of various skill levels, including a synchronized skating team called Starz! and a snowman who lazily zig-zagged around waving at people for 3 minutes to music. Eventually the fireworks went off and the 7-year-old 4th place winner of some recent competition threw the switch and all the lights in the trees and rides nearby came on. A lovely spectacle, but I had icicle stumps for feet by the time it was all over.

I stumbled home on my immobile feet and began helping to cook Thanksgiving dinner. Some of the girls in the other flats organized a big dinner for all of us on the floor. Obviously, since corners had to be cut and various jobs delegated, the end result wasn't quite traditional. Our flat was in charge of vegetable dishes, so my two English flatmates took it upon themselves to make cooked carrots, leeks in cheese sauce, and baked parsnips. I don't even know what parsnips tastes like. Anyway, I couldn't stay for the actual dinner itself, so I did miss out on the chicken, peanut butter cookies, and parnsips. Yep, that's what happens when you leave Thanksgiving to the Brits. I got some of the leftovers when I came back from my previously scheduled evening plans.

Last night, I attended the Edinburgh University Amateur Boxing Club's Fight Night 2006 to see one of my rugby teammates make her boxing debut. It was a sold out event, with music and an MC and a real ring and referees in silly white pants and bowties. When Leah entered the ring we yelled and cheered, and then cheered her all the way through the fight. The bell rang, signalling the end of the final round and we anxiously awaited the judges' results... drumroll, please... it wasn't scored because it was a ladies' exhibition match. What?! That's some real old bullshit! That disappointment aside, Leah fought a great fight and it was the most exciting fight of the evening. I sort of expected to see a hint of the "majesty" or "beauty" in the sport that is always mentioned in movies like Rocky or Million Dollar Baby, but basically it was just a bunch of guys trying to give each other black eyes. In terms of gracefulness, I still prefer rugby.

So, figure skating and boxing, cooking and then having left-overs for Thanksgiving. Not a bad night.

In other news, I saw the sun today! Yes, it's really been that long.