Ashmolean

After some studying, I went to the Ashmolean, the huge museum here and the oldest university museum in the world. It was very nice.

Always New Things

There's always something new to discover- today I went to the train station to get tickets for the weekend, and went to the Oxford University Parks after dinner. Also wrote a lot of my first paper! The metal X (a slanted cross) in one of the pics appears all over the city at sites where people were martyred.

Work Begins!

Come to Oxford to relax/party/explore... well no, I may have done all those things (in fact have done all three just today), but technically I'm here to study/learn. Spent the day in Blackwell's studying and working- probably be back tomorrow. On a different note Rachel, one of my housemates, brought a big smile to my face. I headed to a party with a number of other study abroad students, and she called me concerned because I wasn't home for dinner. No other house in the program has gelled quite the way mine has- love these guys!

Family

One of my favorite things about Oxford is feeling like I have a real home to come back to, and a real family here. My housemates are all wonderful, and we are all friends. We've had a lot of meals here together at the house, something none of the other residences seem to do. Today, on our first day of real English weather (cold, gray, rainy), I made chili for everyone in my house plus Sarah, who is like part of the house. Rachel made us all dessert.

School begins

Michaelmas term does not begin until October. For September, I am in a three person tutorial on Shakespeare, focusing on King Lear, Titus Andronicus, and Othello. My housemates have all started lectures that they have multiple papers for. I spent today reading King Lear in the magnificent Oxford Botanical Garden. It was a lovely day. The St Giles' fair is going on- taking up a huge section of the city- TONS of rides and food, some real amusement-park style rides. I didn't go, had homework, plus it's REALLY expensive. Also annoyed about my shoe- the sole in my sneaker, which is about one month old, came right out today. Guess I need to buy new ones...

Oxford!!

So much going on- I love this beautiful and old city, and my housemates are all wonderful and my friends. The weather's been great so far, and not a day has gone by without a walk into the city. Highlights for me include seeing the town from the top of St Mary's, our first lunch as a house (cooked this afternoon- pancakes, bacon, eggs, yogurt), first Fish and Chips (which was my first dinner), and just walking around town. I've had a beer in a pub, an English Breakfast at a cafe, and even got to walk the stage of New Theatre. This is going to be an amazing semester!!

2011-07-30

Oxford

https://picasaweb.google.com/108204522360295252500/20110730?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOrR6rfA6uGHhwE&feat=directlink

I'm at Oxford- soooo much going on!