Music Ball- On March 19th was the St Andrews Music Society's Ball. It was hosted in the aquarium among the fish. While it was a tight space a ceilidh was still managed. Performances included the Hummingbird acapella group and my favorite St. Andrews band (they have a banjo and a flute!).
Jewish Society- A huge purim hamentaschen bake session took place last Sunday night before the Jewish Society's elections took place. As a result of the elections two Chicagoans are on board. My friend is the social officer and I am one of the two Shabbat Officers. it is my job to plan Shabbat meals and make food for up to 50 people. It's a great way to practice my cooking skills.
Badminton Club- As many of you know I have been participating in badminton rigorously since I arrived at St. Andrews. Yesterday was the badminton club's elections. After a debate between two positions on the board I decided to run for Safety Officer. I'm responsible for injured people and paperwork. Lifeguard practicing, I guess :).
Housing- It looks like i will be renting a house next year. If I succeed any friend or person wishing to check out University of St. Andrews is offered free room and board (you have to pay for flights, sorry). I encourage all to come.
I hope everyone is enjoying spring as it arrives at our doors.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Regional Acapella Competition
This past Friday was the Voice Festival UK. Acapella groups fromGlasgow and St. Andrews participated in a three hour competition/concert of acapella. The event was MCed by Blind Mirth, the University's improv group.
Each group was amazing in their own way and every group got many applause from the audience.
The Accidentals: This is one of the two all female acapella groups in St. Andrews. They performed songs by Adele (Rolling in the Deep), the Black Eyed Peas (Where is the Love?), and an incredible mash-up of Jason Derulo (Solo), The Verve (Bittersweet Symphony) and Nelly (Must be the Money). This is the group that won the competition and is now going onto nationals in London on the 12th of March.
The Alleycats: This group was formed by two friends after lots of alcohol had been consumed. Since then they have grown and now include female singers as well. Dress in leopard patterned shirts and straps, this group performed songs by Shania Twain (The Don't Impress Me Much), The Killers (When You Were Young) and Chris Brown (Forever). The beet boxer of this group won an award at the end for his skills and diversity as one. There was an incredible moment in which he made the sound of a heart beating with his mouth closed. During that moment the whole room had focused on him and how loud it was without a microphone. Also, during That Don't Impress Me Much the group had formed a human motorcycle using all of the men.
Choral Stimulation: The group from Glasgow. This group opened the show with an amazing movie theme song mash-up. The mash-up included the themes from Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, and Gladiator. Part of their performance included every member on their knees, singing, and pretending to be hobbits (one held up a gold ring). Other songs they performed were by James Morrison and Lady Gaga.
The Hummingbirds: The other all female group. The performed a mash-up of Jason Mraz (I'm Yours), Lifehouse (Collide) and Somewhere Over the Rainbow. They concluded with Modonna (Like a Prayer. They did not win any awards. While their mash-up was enjoyed, their overall talent was not equal with the other groups.
The Other Guys: This all male group came onto stage in black suits and white shirts. Every one of the members had a red rose coming out of the chest pocket. This group won the most entertaining song of the night after they performed Lady Gaga's Bad Romance with an incredibly choreographed dance and references made to the local St. Andrews dance club, The Lizard.
The night concluded with a performance by all the groups singing Yesterday by The Beatles together.
www.youtube.com/user/swilson#p/u/2/r5GHyQswi3U - Sahnia Twain 2:22 minutes for the motorcycle
www.youtube.com/user/swilson#p/u/1/pA7LMLpX4XM Chris Brown
www.youtube.com/user/swilson#p/u/0/G8X9P4dxM9E TheKillers
Each group was amazing in their own way and every group got many applause from the audience.
The Accidentals: This is one of the two all female acapella groups in St. Andrews. They performed songs by Adele (Rolling in the Deep), the Black Eyed Peas (Where is the Love?), and an incredible mash-up of Jason Derulo (Solo), The Verve (Bittersweet Symphony) and Nelly (Must be the Money). This is the group that won the competition and is now going onto nationals in London on the 12th of March.
The Alleycats: This group was formed by two friends after lots of alcohol had been consumed. Since then they have grown and now include female singers as well. Dress in leopard patterned shirts and straps, this group performed songs by Shania Twain (The Don't Impress Me Much), The Killers (When You Were Young) and Chris Brown (Forever). The beet boxer of this group won an award at the end for his skills and diversity as one. There was an incredible moment in which he made the sound of a heart beating with his mouth closed. During that moment the whole room had focused on him and how loud it was without a microphone. Also, during That Don't Impress Me Much the group had formed a human motorcycle using all of the men.
Choral Stimulation: The group from Glasgow. This group opened the show with an amazing movie theme song mash-up. The mash-up included the themes from Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, and Gladiator. Part of their performance included every member on their knees, singing, and pretending to be hobbits (one held up a gold ring). Other songs they performed were by James Morrison and Lady Gaga.
The Hummingbirds: The other all female group. The performed a mash-up of Jason Mraz (I'm Yours), Lifehouse (Collide) and Somewhere Over the Rainbow. They concluded with Modonna (Like a Prayer. They did not win any awards. While their mash-up was enjoyed, their overall talent was not equal with the other groups.
The Other Guys: This all male group came onto stage in black suits and white shirts. Every one of the members had a red rose coming out of the chest pocket. This group won the most entertaining song of the night after they performed Lady Gaga's Bad Romance with an incredibly choreographed dance and references made to the local St. Andrews dance club, The Lizard.
The night concluded with a performance by all the groups singing Yesterday by The Beatles together.
www.youtube.com/user/swilson#p/u/2/r5GHyQswi3U - Sahnia Twain 2:22 minutes for the motorcycle
www.youtube.com/user/swilson#p/u/1/pA7LMLpX4XM Chris Brown
www.youtube.com/user/swilson#p/u/0/G8X9P4dxM9E TheKillers
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Jews Jews Jews
My Jewish life is back. When I took my semester break I also took a slight Jewish break. However, this past weekend was the regional Jewish event for the United Kingdom. Each year students from Whales, Ireland, Scotland and England meet in a city to have a shabbaton together where the hosting town introduces everyone to Jewish life in that town and at the local university. This year the regional event was hosted in St. Andrews at the Univeristy.
Around 40 students attended and stayed at a local hostel. The event began with kabalat shabbat and a Friday evening meal. The next morning, in the Shabbat services, biblical texts were discussed as well as everyone's Jewish background. After services Jews went to the pub to celebrate the unity and continued to explore the town as one. Finally, on Sunday, a morning brunch was held along with good-byes. This experience truly showed that Jews can find each other wherever they go.
Also, as often occurs when Jews gather, sixth degrees of separation took place. One person at the events, Chanan, is a Jew from New York studying at Comlumbia and Yeshiva University. He knows kids from ICJA and CJHS.
In preparation for the event I volunteered to help out in the kitchen to prepare the sabbath meal. As the majority of people there were not great cooks, and I am always one to experiment, a lot of the cooking and decisions were left to me. The few of us in the kitchen ended up making tons of stuffed peppers, pasta, Israeli salad, egg salad, chicken and more. I was complemented after for my skills in the kitchen and ability to improvise. This led to an offer by the Shabbat Officer to come and cook weekly for the Jewish society. I plan to take this offer and start to make Jewish dishes for everyone to enjoy. I'll take suggestions if anyone has any. Send me your recipes!
Around 40 students attended and stayed at a local hostel. The event began with kabalat shabbat and a Friday evening meal. The next morning, in the Shabbat services, biblical texts were discussed as well as everyone's Jewish background. After services Jews went to the pub to celebrate the unity and continued to explore the town as one. Finally, on Sunday, a morning brunch was held along with good-byes. This experience truly showed that Jews can find each other wherever they go.
Also, as often occurs when Jews gather, sixth degrees of separation took place. One person at the events, Chanan, is a Jew from New York studying at Comlumbia and Yeshiva University. He knows kids from ICJA and CJHS.
In preparation for the event I volunteered to help out in the kitchen to prepare the sabbath meal. As the majority of people there were not great cooks, and I am always one to experiment, a lot of the cooking and decisions were left to me. The few of us in the kitchen ended up making tons of stuffed peppers, pasta, Israeli salad, egg salad, chicken and more. I was complemented after for my skills in the kitchen and ability to improvise. This led to an offer by the Shabbat Officer to come and cook weekly for the Jewish society. I plan to take this offer and start to make Jewish dishes for everyone to enjoy. I'll take suggestions if anyone has any. Send me your recipes!
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