Colby Culture Hamilton In The 'Cac

Doghead: Australia Edition

Well. I can honestly say I have never experienced anything like it. When I say Doghead, most people outside the ‘Cac probably cock their heads to the side and say “huh?” but we ‘Cac-ers know exactly what I’m talking about.

Doghead is one of (if not THE) most recognized school-wide tradition up there in Maine. To put it simply, this St. Patty’s day celebration is a 24-hour marathon of Bud, JD, and other various boozes that are consumed starting at 12 midnight the day before St. Patty’s day (or like this year, the weekend before due to Spring Break) and ending 24 hours later. In Waterville, the students rally, start drinking, walk to the steps of the library to watch the sun rise as an entire school, and head to Dana for a early morning breakfast (door open extra early to accommodate the hoards of drunken college kids).

Down here in Sydney, Australia, I have met some of the coolest Colby-ites there are and of course, it being St. Patty’s day and all, we had to celebrate Doghead right. Although we were only supposed to go hard for a full day, 24 hours with booze and sans sleep turned into 41 hours including a nap from 3-4am Friday night, another nap from 8-11am, and then an alcohol-induced nap from 3-4pm.

In our attempt to emulate Doghead as accurately as possible, the weather impeded our mission and while at Pie Face (the best drunk food you’ll ever eat) soon after it opened at 6am, we saw the gray sky turn from a dark, menacing gray to a much lighter shade. Sunrise: FAIL.

Our other shenanigans included everything from da fancy clubs in Kings Cross (here in Sydney), playing “Cheers, Mate!” (our Australian version of ‘Cheers, Governor’), some good ole Beruit, and hitting up downtown Sydney were we hit up only the best and most Irish establishments (including Scruffy Murphy’s, Three Wise Monkeys, P.J. O’Brien’s, and finally Kelly’s on King.

I can safely say I have never had more to drink for such an extended period of time.

Although Doghead got the best of me on St. Patty’s day afternoon, I booted and rallied like no one I have ever seen before. Bottom line: I think Doghead (the Australian Edition) was a great success.

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