Tourist, Not a Student (Day 2)

So I woke up on the second day with a clear mission… find a store with bath towels. That was actually a mission from the previous day, but I never found one. Who knew towels would be so difficult to find! When I told my twin (Hi Steph) about this issue, she stressed the importance of completing this mission TODAY. In her own words, "First impressions are everything an a smelly un-bathed one isn't the best...  trust me, I know." 

As I trekked out bright and early, I met Katherine, my neighbor who's in her 3rd and final year at Mansfield. There are 6 of us on a floor. Me, Katherine, and apparently an American guy whom I have never seen and whom Katherine has never spoken to are the only ones moved in so far. We all share a kitchen, a shower room, and a toilet room. Katherine suggested I find Boswells for towels, and gave me directions how to get there. Those of you who know me know how capable I am of following directions even in a place I am familiar with. So, I set out without a clue where I was going!

Despite the pressing nature of my mission, I wasn't really in much of a rush. I gave myself until the end of the day to get the job done, so like a typical tourist, I explored the streets with camera in hand.

Typical tourist photo...

I was slightly confused about which places I could and could not go, and it was only the second day, so I wasn’t too adventurous with trying to find unlocked doors and whatnot. Especially when you saw signs like this one…

Or my favorite...

One of the first places I went in, other than my accommodation and a grocery/department store, was St. Mary's Church, the official Church of Oxford University since the 1200s. These pictures don't do it justice. 

Kneelers 

Yes, this was in the Church. The sign goes into the hunting activities of the snowy owl and ends with "And owls are the sorcerer's companion: Hedwig was a Snowy." 

There was also a tower with an incredible view of Oxford for those willing to pay the fee. Curse my stingy nature! I regretted not doing it the minute I left, so when I explored St. Michael's Church, I was quick to cough up the fee for their Saxon Tower, which is nearly 1,000 years old! 

Going up the tower

360 view at the top of the tower

There were even drawn maps of the skyline labeling the buildings so you knew what you were looking at!

You could write prayers to share when the prayer group meets (every week?). I left my own and browsed through the ones already shared. My favorite was clearly, based on the handwriting, written by a youngin'. "To stop all war and for people to be friends and never die :) That will make me happy."

By the time I had finished exploring the two churches, I forgot the name of the store that I needed for towels! The woman working the giftshop in St. Michaels gave me a map and directed me to some locations where towels may be sold. I had remembered Katherine saying something about the covered market in her directions, so I headed there. I'd heard all about it from my advisor at Dickinson, but for some reason, it had never actually occurred to me that it is, in fact, a covered market.  I was picturing an outside market! It's absolutely wonderful with new things around every corner. 

Pigeons enjoy walking through as well. Some prefer flying though...

I went back for more later in the week. These cookies are so good! White chocolate is my favorite thus far, but I've also had the ginger and chocolate chip! 

I played a guessing game with a few old British women about what the design the bakers in the cake shop window were making for a cake! Turned out to be DJ equipment, for the record (pun intended).

They had various adorable tiny cakes for special occasions. Thanks for walking the dog, and for looking after the dog, the post, and the rabbit just to name a few!

Again, I asked a shop owner about towels and she told me Boswells. That's what it was called! She even drew a route on my map. No way I'd get lost now! Right? As I hit the streets again, I saw a ton of street performers... singers, musicians, and fire jugglers. Although this young girl attracted the biggest crowd, and for good reason! 

Yeah, I can't even do a normal hand stand on the ground!

I was also told Blackwell's Bookshop is a must see. I happen to stumble upon it on my quest for towels, and it certainly met expectations! 

Looks small from the outside, but you would be shocked by what's inside! 

The Norrington Room alone, in the basement has more than 160,000 books and over 3 miles of shelving. There are a total of 4 floors by the way.

The entirety of Alice in Wonderland and Beowulf on one page each. They also had one for The Hobbit and The Great Gatsby. 

I really liked this mug! 

Holywells Music Room, the oldest Concert Hall in Europe! Another must see!

In case you were wondering, no, I hadn't forgotten about the towels. Yes, I was still looking, unsuccessfully. But at that point, I was more concerned about food than towels. For lunch I went up to a little food stand selling filled corn pastries and asked for their most popular one... traditional - beef, potatoes, and onions. It was so good! The streets just smelled so good with all the food places. 

Finally I found Boswells! It is huge and they sell everything! I got my towels and some other essentials. Mission for the day accomplished! When I arrived back at my room I was greeted with a lovely email with a list of my 6 tutors for the year! They all seem extremely well qualified and I can't wait to get started working with them! 

When I first told people I was arriving at Oxford on the 23rd of Sept. when orientation doesn't start until October 5th, everyone always asked why I was going to early! These past few days, I was not an Oxford student (other than the student discounts and entrance to restricted areas like the Radcliffe camera!). I was a tourist, in every sense of the word!  I need this week for trial and error, getting lost, and figuring out budgets. There is something so incredibly freeing about waking up and just going outside and exploring! There are still so many things to see! The next mission... getting a bike! 

I'm leaving on a Jet Plane...

  

I don't know when I'll be back again (read in the tone of John Denver's hit song). But seriously, I don't know when I'm coming home. I only bought a one-way ticket!

Anyway, my British Airway flight left BWI at 9:30pm. No window seat, which was kind of a let down, but I had complementary red wine with my meal as I watched a bit of Monster's University... it seemed appropriate as I was on my way to Uni! Can't say I enjoyed the red wine though. It's an acquired taste that I have yet to acquire... I couldn't even finish the whole bottle, and it was a small bottle!

SO, exactly 7 hours later, the plane landed at Heathrow Airport at 9:30 am. It was a pretty 'dank day in London' according to the pilot, and I can't say I disagree. While waiting in line for the bus to Oxford, I had a lovely conversation with a woman who had just finished 5 years at Oxford with a PHD. Within 10 minutes on the road, I had my first sheep siting, but it definitely wasn't the last! After I got off the bus, it took me a while to find the taxi rank even though they were all lined up right in front of me! I guess I was looking for a yellow car, not a black one! The inside of these cabs are pretty cool! There is a lot of floor space, so you keep your luggage with you as opposed to putting it in a trunk (or a boot, as the English call it... I know that thanks to Isabel!).

Anyway, the cab driver took me to Mansfield's porter who was incredibly sweet. I got my keys and then headed to Dawson street (which the taxi driver had never heard of before). He found the street and dropped me off. I knew I was looking for a creepy alley because I had seen pictures of it from blogs I've read from other students who had studied at Oxford and lived in Ablethorpe (my building, lovingly referred to as Dale). Had I not done this research, I never would have found it. The ominous alley leads to an ominous gate with the Mansfield crest on it. Home sweet home!

Ominous Alley

Ominous Gate

I'm on the 3rd floor... seemed appropriate. At Dickinson I've always been on the 3rd floor or higher. Only this time, my dad wasn't here to carry my bags up the steps! And for those of you who were wondering, how I, Amy Fly, the person who took 2 cars to move all her stuff into Dickinson last year, was able to bring a years worth of things in such little luggage, I DID IT! Despite my mother continuing to push me to pay $65 extra to bring another suitcase, I was able to fit everything I needed (and wanted) in these bags! Still not happy to carry them up three flights, though :(

My room isn't all that great. The walls are paper thin, and there's very little lighting and closet space (thank God I didn't bring that extra suitcase! I wouldn't have room for anything else!). One of my first purchases was a desk light. During the day, you can't even tell the ceiling light is on, and at night, the light barely does anything.

My window is my favorite part

Terrible picture, but this is the view from my window. There is this little courtyard area in the middle of the building. Essentially, anytime anyone comes or goes, I can creep out my window and see :)

Cute little sink and the ceiling light that is the bane of my existence... 

No dresser... just this! But it works! 

Random chair next to my desk...

BUT, I don't mind. I don't plan on spending much of the next year locked up in my room. The room also came with sheets, a pillow, and a strange comforter that looks like the thing you put under the sheets to make the mattress softer. It was surprisingly comfortable! 

So cute!

Not the color I would have chosen, but beggars can't be choosers!

So, as tempted as I was to go to sleep when I got to my room because I'd been up for over 24 hours, I decided to explore! I was actually on a mission to get my passport scanned and get my ID card at Mansfield. I thought I'd be able to find it from memory based on the taxi drive. But I have very bad spacial memory and I am directionally challenged, so the first turn I made off of Dawson Street was the wrong one. After asking a bunch of people for directions, I finally found it just in time before it closed for the evening! The walk should have taken me roughly 15 minutes... It took me about 2 hours! Once I found the land mark Magdalen bridge, I was okay. I had looked at the route on google earth over the summer so often that it all started to click!

I got my ID card, although I was disappointed because they used my passport picture, which is absolutely dreadful... so I won't be posting that pic!

I saw the 'hideous and out of place' statue in the middle of the quad that got mixed reviews after it's recent appearance. It's so strange seeing this stuff in person after an entire summer researching it all!

 I was going to explore the inside of the college, but I wasn't quite sure what was open now and when I walked up to one of the doors (picture a giant wooden door of a castle, it's actually the door in the picture above!) it literally opened by itself which was a little creepy. So I decided to explore other parts of the city and wait until I had company to mosey around the inside of buildings!

At that point, I still hadn't emailed my mom yet to let her know I was alive (no phone and no internet in my room), so I started looking for computers. I happened to stumble upon the Radcliffe Camera, one of Oxford's University Libraries. 

Beautiful Building (ignore the construction)

Inside... There is a spiral staircase in the middle of the building. Fitting considering the structure of the building.

Luckily I had my Uni card, because they don't let you in without one... they also check your bag before you leave.  I was very surprised by the computers in there! They are so outdated and don't even have Microsoft word. The only thing they have is the internet. That's it! Plus the keyboard is a bit different, namely there is the symbol for the pound (£) where the @ is on our computers.

So that was my first day, mostly exploring the streets as opposed to inside buildings. I thought I had gotten rather far and seen a lot, but based on my exploration the second day, I just got lost many many times in a little tiny circle! I saw so much and even saw (and pet) Mansfield's famous cat, Erasmus, outside the University Club! The very first day, and I found the cat already! That must be a good sign!

Sorry for the lengthiness of this post, but a lot happened in one day! More to come! Stay tuned! 

Oh, and Stephanie made me promise to say hi to her in my posts... So, Hi Steph :)

How Did I Get Here?

                If you would have asked me last year where I would be today, I would have said exploring the streets of Bologna with an Italian-English dictionary glued to my fingertips. I had already definitively decided that I would study at the University of Bologna for the Fall and at the Washington Center in DC the Spring of my Junior Year. Looking back now, I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited that things didn’t go according to plan.

                It all started over winter break of my sophomore year when I received an email inviting me to apply to a new Dickinson study abroad partnership program with Mansfield College, Oxford University. Honestly, the first thing that crossed my mind was, “Oxford? There’s no way I’d get in.” The only thing I knew about the prestigious institution was that it was somewhere in England, and I wasn’t even willing to bet money on that! I quickly dismissed the idea and didn’t give it another thought until weeks later, when I walked into my advisor’s office with questions about Italy and DC. Before I even got the chance to ask, he told me I’d be a great candidate for the Oxford program and suggested I apply. Even then I politely (and quickly) declined. To this day, I am not quite sure if it’s because I didn’t think I had a prayer of getting accepted, or because it had already taken me so long to decide on Italy and DC.

                Nonetheless, I woke up the next morning  with one thing on my mind: Oxford. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Why on earth would I pass up this amazing opportunity? The worst that would come from applying would be that I’d increase my already high stress level by 78.4% and I’d be down the $35 Dickinson requires for all study abroad applications (that may not seem like a lot, but those who know me know how stingy I am and how significant $35 actually is). I finally came to my senses and decided that a chance to study at Oxford was certainly worth $35 and a little added stress. It actually turned out that when I went to pay the application fee for Oxford and Italy, I was told that I didn’t need to pay a fee for the Oxford app because the program was so selective that the chances of me getting in were very slim. Not discouraged in the least bit (maybe a little…) I set out to start the preliminary application (3 recommendation letters, 1 essay, a course request form, and several supplemental questions). Ultimately, I didn’t want to be left to wonder what could have happened if I let this opportunity fly by.

                The only catch was that the application was due by the end of the week. I also happened to have a Mock Trial tournament that weekend. Those of you who are familiar with Mock Trial know that tournaments mean you have absolutely no time for anything but affidavits, fake accents, and Midlands Rules of Evidence. By day, I was suited up for court, and by night I was writing the Oxford application essay and actively pushing sleep to the back of my mind. The two worlds collided when I headed down to the Hotel lobby at 6:30am to meet with my advisor, who luckily, also happened to be the Mock Trial coach. Two minutes after I hit submit, I hopped in the van and head to court. That weekend was one of the most stressful and rewarding 3 days of my life. After meeting the deadline and having our team place 3^rd at the tournament, I felt like I could do anything!

                But that was only the beginning. A week later, I got a phone call from the Global Ed office at Dickinson, telling me I moved onto the next stage of the application process! I was so busy jumping up and down and sprinting to my advisor’s office to share the news that I didn’t even process the part about the next phase requiring me essentially to revise all my previous application materials. Another week came and went, ending with another phone call even more exciting than the first. I made it to the third stage, this one involving an hour long interview! I spent the next week researching anything and everything about Mansfield. It was all I talked about, all I thought about, all I dreamed about. When I wasn’t on the computer researching Mansfield, I was in my advisor’s office preparing for the interview. I was ready. 

But, nothing is ever easy. I woke up the morning before my interview with the stomach flu. It took me 4 hours before I could even leave the bathroom long enough to email my advisor in a panic asking for advice. He simply said, “you have to try and tough it out… Your best is very, very good.  Let's see if it will get you to Oxford.” I slept for about 20 hours straight and then dragged myself to the interview in front of a panel of 4. It’s all a blur now, but nothing was off limits. We talked about everything from the death penalty to Erasmus, the Mansfield cat! I kept eye contact the whole time channeling my nerves into my fidgeting hands under the table. By the end of the interview, I was bleeding from digging my nails into my hand. Sure, I complained about it then (and even now), but after exchanging stories with recently accepted Oxford freshers, or freshman, who  had to endure an interview 3 days long, I had it easy!

Another week came and went, only this time it didn’t end with a phone call. As a worrywart, even the email from one of my interviewers offering to help me get an internship with Parliament if I go to Oxford didn’t put me at ease. Another week came and went without any phone calls. Then my worry became shear panic when I didn’t get a phone call, but an email! The subject line read “Mansfield College Oxford.” Naturally, I thought the worst. But those thoughts quickly disappeared and I am pretty sure I even cried a little! The first word I saw was Congratulations!

Yet even then, I was not in the clear. I was one of 2 Dickinson nominees whose applications would be sent to Mansfield, but I still needed the okay from Oxford! The worst part was the waiting. During the process of researching all there is to know about Mansfield to convince Global Ed that I was the right person to represent Dickinson at Oxford, that I could do this, I convinced myself I could do this. The more and more I found out about Mansfield, the more and more I fell in love with it. There was nothing else in the world I wanted more than to study there. The entire process began in January. April 16^th, I received an email notifying me that Mansfield officially offered me a place to study for the 2013-2014 academic year. It became officially official in May, when I received this in the mail (my first correspondence directly from Mansfield):

Words truly cannot express how blessed  I feel not only to be leaving for the UK in 15 days, but to be a student at Dickinson and to be surrounded by people who love and support me. Thank you to my parents (though both of them refuse to read my blog and will probably never see this) for letting me chase my dreams. Thank you to my dear friends, especially my roommates, for putting up with my endless rants about how amazing Oxford is and for encouraging me every step of the way. And thank you to my advisor for believing in me. It took seeing how much faith you had in me for me to have faith in myself. I’ve been counting down, the days, the hours until I step foot on that plane, but I won’t forget those who got me there. A friend told me that going to Oxford “is going to change [my] life.” I fully intend it to. 

First Post (clever title, I know…)

                 After many gruesome battles with technology and my indecisive nature manifesting itself in countless internal debates (seriously, it was as struggle…), I’ve finally decided I am going to attempt to keep a blog documenting my adventures abroad. Now, though my own mother has told me she will not be reading my blog, I hope at least one of you reading this (assuming I have at least one reader) will muster up the energy to forgive the overtly cheesy URL and title of this blog and the entirely too long and wordy sentences to continue reading, and perhaps, even enjoy doing so. This blog is for you just as much as it is for me. While I fully intend on keeping you updated along the way, the frequency and detail of these posts will definitely fluctuate depending on how busy and hectic my life becomes in Europe.  Just judging by the notoriously daunting reputation of Oxford’s reading lists and by the fact that I will be set lose in a foreign country 4,356.433 miles from home (Yes, that is accurate. The internet told me so.), I would venture to say I am going to be pretty busy. Nonetheless, I hope you’ll continue reading, as I’ll continue writing! I already have a lot to say, and I haven’t even left the country yet! Stay tuned!