When I was back in the States I thought of my time in Oxford as a sabbatical from college life - a time for me to read and write and study as I discover more of who I am and what I'm capable of and passionate about, all that good self-discovery business. Now that I am here I find my days are filled with communal activities - going out for coffee, checking out the Italian Market, walking to church, sipping tea, going to pubs, cooking meals, discussing "the feeling of home," etc.
The past three days have felt more like three weeks, so I will try to share the highlights without the boring details, beginning with last evening:
Symphony didn't happen. Well, it did, but we got lost getting there and so it began before we did and the Brit at the door wouldn't let us in, although she did allow a group in shortly after we were rejected. I sense discrimination.
Though no match for Sam's 12, the 3 large blisters I developed walking to the symphony (and back in a dejected manner) have caused me to seriously reconsider the purchase of my $40 heels.
A little down in the mouth, I returned to Crick and watched Jeeves (the inspiration for "ask jeeves") and Wooster, a charming British comedy based on the works of P. G. Wodehouse. Feeling quite British and bit better I had a spot of tea, and attempted to dry my freshly washed sheets and duvee cover (which previously smelled of hampster bedding). Use of the laundry machine is (recently) free - I am ecstatic.
One very complicated shower (low pressure and a wide variety of temperatures) later I watched Bleu, my first art flim in a long while, and conversed about said film with some philosophy concentrations in the kitchen over more tea.
This morning I woke to the sun! A rare occasion in Oxford. I had french pressed coffee and went to St. Mary Magdalene's (aka Mary Mags) for my first Anglican service. It was the highest church service I've been to - complete with incense, the sprinkling of water, all sorts of chanting, standing, sitting, reading and my first Hail Mary.
Then it was off to the French Market (real French people selling real French things) where I partook of Turkish delight which was quite good (in English "quite good" means "a little good" as in it wasn't really that good, but I'm being polite, if something is "really quite good" that means you didn't think it would be good but it surprised you and was decent).
High point of the day - I procured three Parmishion scarves for 5 pounds. Everyone in Oxford wears them (along with many things I don't own and couldn't buy). I also found a hair straightener that works with the voltage over here - no more scary morning hair. Then it was back to Crick for afternoon tea and cakes and good conversation.
After evening church at St. Andrew's (an Evangelical Anglican church far more similar to Trinity in OC) I headed to the Eagle and Child (a favorite haunt of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein) for Sunday roast (along with yorkshire pudding) and a half pint of London Pride Bitter (courtesy of our junior dean Jonathan).
I've had my bedtime tea and am in need of sleep. I promise that future posts will not all be so dreadfully long.
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2 comments:
Boy, I really like reading things that are well written with lots of British English. Feel free to write long posts anytime you want. It sounds like quite an adventure and I know exactly what you mean about days feeling like weeks. I feel like I've been here a month, and it's only been 5 days. If time continues to go this slowly, that is just fine with me. Sam and I are going shopping tonight and we hope to look more Spanish and classy by tomorrow.
If only fitting in didn't cost so very much money!
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