three cheers for informality
Tonight, I went with my mom and my best friend N to a formal-type of dinner for accepted students at a university. Not one of my favorite universities - so we basically just went for the free food (which was very good).
We got there at 6:30 because from 6:00 to 7:00 was the "reception", a vague term taken generally to mean an interval in which people "mix" and "mingle" and such. Not being the mixing or mingling sort, we got there at what we figured would be just the right time to find our table and wait for dinner. So we sat outside in the car for a while, joking and pretending to critique the outfits of the people we saw walking by, etc., being a generally sarcastic and lively bunch. N, unfortunately confined into wearing a skirt due to it being laundry day, comforted herself by pulling her black Harley Davidson sweatshirt over a purple blouse, and we were set to go inside.
When we got inside, though, we realized we should've stayed in the car until 6:45 at least. The proverbial "mixing" and "mingling" was a bunch of people standing about in a small room, each in their own small circle, exchanging platitudes and small talk. My mom and N and I found a nice solitary corner and hung about looking inconspicuous until a general migration of the crowd toward the doors signaled the start of dinner.
We found our table, Table 9, and sat down. Another family came to the table, joined shortly afterward by an official from the university.
As soon as dinner started, the feeling of stifling began. I couldn't eat my salad in peace and laugh with N about silly things because the other people round the table seemed so - unwilling to laugh! The college offical was nice, but still a little stiff. Throughout the dinner, she became animated once, when she was talking about her dogs (a topic encouraged by N). And the other "accepted student" at the table spent the whole entire dinner undauntedly sucking up to the college official in the most sickening way imaginable.
The whole affair was thoroughly stuffy and stiff and dull. No one cracked a joke or talked about anything real in a lively way. There was hardly anything genuine to be found because everything was so insufferably stiff.
N and I were consumed the whole time with a great longing to dance on the table, or throw a whole glass of water over our heads, or start singing raucously, just anything to bring some life into the place! When the dinner was over, we felt like someone had just untied us, and we could now take a huge gulp of air! We laughed and sung and twirled in the parking lot and jumped into the car with fresh vigor. All the ride home we talked loudly and agreed on how thoroughly glad we were that we were not stuffy or snobby!
The lesson to be learnt for me: wear bright colors, twirl about, laugh whenever possible, and never be anything but absolutely genuine. Or else risk the horror of falling into dull grey stiffness ever after!
We got there at 6:30 because from 6:00 to 7:00 was the "reception", a vague term taken generally to mean an interval in which people "mix" and "mingle" and such. Not being the mixing or mingling sort, we got there at what we figured would be just the right time to find our table and wait for dinner. So we sat outside in the car for a while, joking and pretending to critique the outfits of the people we saw walking by, etc., being a generally sarcastic and lively bunch. N, unfortunately confined into wearing a skirt due to it being laundry day, comforted herself by pulling her black Harley Davidson sweatshirt over a purple blouse, and we were set to go inside.
When we got inside, though, we realized we should've stayed in the car until 6:45 at least. The proverbial "mixing" and "mingling" was a bunch of people standing about in a small room, each in their own small circle, exchanging platitudes and small talk. My mom and N and I found a nice solitary corner and hung about looking inconspicuous until a general migration of the crowd toward the doors signaled the start of dinner.
We found our table, Table 9, and sat down. Another family came to the table, joined shortly afterward by an official from the university.
As soon as dinner started, the feeling of stifling began. I couldn't eat my salad in peace and laugh with N about silly things because the other people round the table seemed so - unwilling to laugh! The college offical was nice, but still a little stiff. Throughout the dinner, she became animated once, when she was talking about her dogs (a topic encouraged by N). And the other "accepted student" at the table spent the whole entire dinner undauntedly sucking up to the college official in the most sickening way imaginable.
The whole affair was thoroughly stuffy and stiff and dull. No one cracked a joke or talked about anything real in a lively way. There was hardly anything genuine to be found because everything was so insufferably stiff.
N and I were consumed the whole time with a great longing to dance on the table, or throw a whole glass of water over our heads, or start singing raucously, just anything to bring some life into the place! When the dinner was over, we felt like someone had just untied us, and we could now take a huge gulp of air! We laughed and sung and twirled in the parking lot and jumped into the car with fresh vigor. All the ride home we talked loudly and agreed on how thoroughly glad we were that we were not stuffy or snobby!
The lesson to be learnt for me: wear bright colors, twirl about, laugh whenever possible, and never be anything but absolutely genuine. Or else risk the horror of falling into dull grey stiffness ever after!
posted by Laura at 10:11 PM
2 Comments:
"Woman of Optimism"
She has violated the sacred law! *smite!* *double smite!* *super-awsome-ultimate-supreme-mega-smite!*
*coughs* ahem hehe yes it is very good to know you aren't stuffy or snobby ^_^ - except when you are :P hehe
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