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This is why I get homesick sometimes.

MAYhem WEEK

May Week. This is what all Cambridge students long for, yearn for, especially during the long weeks (weeks? MONTHS) of exam revision that occur during May and June (and, this year, during the only nice two weeks of weather we got). May Week actually occurs in June (don't ask) and starts with Suicide Sunday (again, don't ask). It's notable for it's plethora of garden parties and May Balls. I could hardy wait for May Week to begin so I could attend my first garden parties. For months I looked forward to the Newnham Garden Party, supposedly one of the nicest garden parties the colleges had to offer. I bought tickets for in months in advance and procrastinated often by thinking about which dress to wear.

The party did not disappoint. Though it drizzled on and off (typical), I had an amazing time. The theme was Circus Delirium so there were lots of bright colors to dazzle the eyes, candy and treats to indulge in, and performances to wow us. It was one of my favorite Cambridge experiences. I got to dress up and wear a fascinator (check that off my bucket list) and spend the entire day enjoying Pimm's, BBQ, cotton candy (candy floss to Europeans), and a group of amazing Cam friends. Definitely a May Week highlight.

The rest of May Week (dubbed Mayhem Week by my friend, Jules, because of the excessive partying and hedonism that the week is composed of) did not disappoint. We had a dinner for the old committee of the SBR (graduate society at John's, you'll remember). Delicious three course dinner with unlimited wine and truffles at the end of the meal. Yum yum yum!

Afterwards some of the committee members joined me in crashing the Darwin Boat Club Dinner after party. We popped into the Dar Bar to find a bunch of boaties who had already been enjoying the night a bit too much.

Thanks to some new friends I made at Pembroke College, I got to join them for two dinners, one in their gorgeous Old Library, and one in Hall for their last BA Table of the year. I met some awesome people and made some hilarious new friends from all over the world, including Amsterdam, England, New Zealand, and Milan!

St. John's also had it's last BA Table. Last time of the academic year that I got to don my gown, put on a fancy dress, penny my friend's dessert, and enjoy an epic three-course meal with my Cambridge friends.

The week began with a garden party at the chaplain's house. We had glasses of Pimm's and way too many mini scones with jam and clotted cream (can you say addicting?). There were hilarious games for us to play. One was a more tame version of beer pong (not surprising the Americans were pretty good at it) and they had a hilarious game called "Splat the Rat". I was terrible at it. 

The week ended with our much-anticipated SBR Garden Party in the St. John's Master's garden. The SBR committee spent a lot of time planning it and thankfully the weather went along with our plans. We had the works: paella, hookah area, keg, cocktail bar, unlimited Pimm's, strawberries and cream, and lots of delicious desserts. It was a marvelous end to May Week.

And THAT, ladies and gents, is May Week. Semi-sunny skies. Cute dresses and chinos. Pimm's and lemonade. Baklava and strawberries with cream. Beautiful looming colleges and sprawling gardens. Live bands and bartenders. Top to bottom May Week is reason enough to apply to Cambridge. But, wait! you say. Am I not missing a crucial element of May Week? THE MAY BALL! Yes, dear reader. I have not forgotten that extraordinary night. But it was just too epic to squeeze into this blog post. So keep your eyes peeled for a May Ball blog post in a few days. And don't forget: FOLLOW AND COMMENT!