Today I went to bed, and then I woke up around 10:30 or so. I've been trying to catch up on e-mails, classwork, grocery shopping, and all of the other things I need to have done by the time lectures and tutorials begin next week. So much to do, so little time. One of these days I'll get my Rome posts finished. For now I need to read and write an essay.
This afternoon as I was running errands I passed a stand for Freshers Fair. This massive celebration that exists for the purpose of coercing incoming freshmen to sign up for far more than they can handle is a great way to get free food, smoothies, and general information about stuff around Oxford. A man on the street (clad in old Oxford attire) served as a sort of town crier advertising the poster fair. "Don't get plastered, get postered at the Oxford Union poster sale." An interesting phrase choice considering the wine and cider samples that were available at the booth.
Later on in the day I had a beautifully Oxfordian experience. The weather was lovely, crisp fall air and an autumnal sun that warmed the grass just enough to dry off the dew. I grabbed a copy of the Chronicles of Narnia and headed for the University Parks. A dry wooden bench under a golden-leaved tree called to me and so there I sat spending my afternoon hours, wrapped in my pashmina, indulging in fiction. If it weren't for the afternoon tea I'd planned for 4.30 I might have stayed until dark.
Tonight I returned to Discuss where we covered Exodus 6-12. I met Philip, who lives in an old medieval village outside the city, owns (and rides) two motorbikes and works security for Andrew Lloyd Webber. Amazing? Yes, I think so. Sadly my New Zealand acquaintance, Daniel, is leaving for Mozambique for three weeks, so that non-relationship will never materialize. And New Zealand had been doing so well in the Rugby World Cup too.
Tomorrow is the final day of Freshers Fair, meaning I'll need to sign up for any clubs or societies of interest. I'm hoping for ballroom dancing lessons and possibly a choir, but we'll see what time and circumstance allows.
2 comments:
Everything you write convinces me that I am going to have a tremendous time. Woot.
I read this.
And the thing I am most jealous of at this particular moment is that you can sit in a park and keep it PG-13. That is, without creep men with strange intentions...
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