One more toilet fact for you. Every once in a while I see a sign referring to the loo as the W.C. I was quite confused by this until it dawned on me (while in the W.C. nontheless) that this is an abbreviation for the now seldom-used term "water closet," which is really most appropriate in consideration of the size of restrooms in England. You may all now visit England with this new and valuable knowledge.

Freshers (and returning students) have settled on Oxford. The clubs and pubs are making money hand over fist I'm sure, not to mention the shopping venues (most of the Europeans I have met adore shopping). By far the best part of all the returning students (aside from the substantial number of attractive British men - a huge change from NWC) is their contribution to Thursday night Discuss. Last Thursday I ate dinner with an entire table full of students my own age! Though I enjoy the 25-35 year olds that I've been meeting at Discuss it was a nice change. My small group is still composed of many of the same people (all of whom are a few to several years older than I). We may be doing a type of service project and going to Hepsy and Rob's (they're my leaders) for tea in a few weeks.

I have committed myself to writing a substantial essay (4,000-5,000 words) on Jane Austen. It would have been wise for me to choose something related to my tutorials, but I am hoping to rise to the challenge. This will require a significant amount of reading, which I really must become better at. In addition to this essay (due at the end of term) I continue my weekly reading and essay in C. S. Lewis, as well as a creative writing assignment (relating to my trip to Rome) every fortnight. I have decided to drop the idea of ballroom dancing in order to spend more time working at church and doing "Oxfordian" things. Still, I'm really wanting to take dance lessons at some point when I get back to the States. I think a partner might help (though I'm told it's a good way to meet people ;) )

In my spare time I'm getting ready for visitors!! Samantha is coming all the way from Spain and will be in Oxford October 29-31 (just in time for the midnight reading of Poe in the graveyard) and then we're hoping to see Spamalot in London on Nov. 1st, at which time I will leave her in London and potentially pick up Ross, whose plans (believe it or not) are still up in the air. It will be most wonderful to see both of them within the next 3 weeks. I do think I will be seeing Brady as well, but once again times have yet to be solidified.