All the guests were led into a makeshift tent set on the turfy quad. The brunch meeting was to be held in an upscale dining hall and my daughter wanted us to see the hall, but the hall wasn't available due to the maintenance of the air conditioner. If you want to see the hall, google for it with the key words; Pembroke College Oxford dining hall.
I was afraid that I had to chat with people on both sides in English, but I was able to pick the seat at the end of the table. Additionally my daughter took her seat between me and the professor. She worked as an interpreter when the need arose. He had travelled across Japan several times and the most impressive place was apparently Koyasan or Mt. Koya. We had an animated conversation about his travels in Japan.
The dishes were simple and so-so, but the dessert and the white wine were great. The British white wine might make my English smoother. I have three daughters and each of them let me experience a variety of things so far. I would be put through lots of fun things from now on too.
(Vocabulary)
quad（学校の）中庭
turfy 芝で覆われた、芝の多い
if [when] the need arises 困ったときに
have an animated conversation about ～の話で盛り上がる
animated 活発な, 生き生きとした, 快活な
本来は歴史的価値のある立派なダイニングルームがあって娘はそれを見せたかったらしいのだが、エアコンの工事中で使えず、急遽、中庭にしつらえたテントの中でのブランチだった。KW: Pembroke College Oxford dining hallでググると写真が出てくるので是非ご覧ください。
両隣に外国人の方々が着席すると両側と英会話をしなければならなくなるから困るなあと思っていたら、一番端を選ぶことが出来た！超ラッキー。しかもコレッジの教授との間には娘が居るのでいわば通訳付き。願ってもない席順となった。この先生は日本に旅行歴があり、一番印象深かったのは高野山とのこと。日本への旅行の話で盛り上がった。
料理はまずまず、デザートは良かった。また白ワインも。この白ワインは僕の英語を少し滑らかにしてくれたかも。娘が３人いるのだが、それぞれがいろいろな経験をさせてくれた。今後もいろいろなことがあるのだろうなあ。
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