Fresher's Week

Week 0

So, obviously I'm a bit behind with the blogging as Fresher's week (or Week 0 or Naught Week, whatever suits your fancy) happened 2 weeks ago. Time here is completely warped, going by so quickly but so slowly at the same time. I know that sounds completely contradictory, but just trust me, it's not! So while I can't recall EVERYTHING that happened Fresher's week, I'll try and hit the highlights!

So fresher's week essentially consist of many many many orientation type events and many many many entertaining events put on by either Oxford University or by Mansfield's very own Entz, who are responsible for keeping us Mansfielders entertained pretty much all year!

Entz crew

So, I didn't find the library inductions very helpful at all, as I was one of the lucky ones with a 2000 word essay due the Friday of Fresher's week and had already been forced to become acquainted with the many many many libraries at Oxford (There are 3 libraries at Mansfield alone, a main Old Bodleian Library, a New Bodleian Library (under construction-- much like the rest of Oxford) the Radcliffe Camera Library, the Gladstone Underground Link between the Old Bodleian and the Radcliffe Camera (which also holds books), the Bodleian Law Library, the Social Science Library, and so many many many more!) Fun Fact: the Bodleian is actually required by law to hold a copy of every book published in the UK and Ireland. There was also orientation specifically for international students in the examination schools, which is normally where lectures are held and where student's take their exams at the end of term. 

Another event during Freshers week is a social at the Turf Tavern, where essentially Mansfield students completely take over the entire pub. That's the pub where most people meet their college parents (comparable to a Big / Little in a Greek life). That's when I met my college mum, a wonderful PPE second year, as well as who I'd later find out to be my adopted college brother (oh, these families get complicated... I also have a legitimate brother, a sister, and a dad. And if you trace the line far enough, I have 2 grandfathers, all of which [except the adopted brother, but we don't like him anyway :) hopefully he's not reading this] showed up at a family dinner in 2nd week. And if that's not confusing enough for you, I believe I am the same age as my grandparents, and older than all my siblings and my parents!)

There were also a few events to mingle with Mansfield tutors, some of which included a meet and greet type gathering with tea (obviously) and a Visiting Student and Freshers cocktail and formal dinner. In my experience thus far, Mansfield is definitely living up to it's reputation of having the best food among the Oxford Colleges.

Fresher's week also consisted of clubbing events... Every. Single. Night. I don't even understand how that is even possible, but people did it! Unfortunately,  my paper kept me from experiencing any clubs during fresher's week (probably one of the reasons I escaped Fresher's Flu), but one night, a bunch of us spent a few hours at the pub The Kings Arms. We were playing that game from the Quentin Tarantino movie Inglorious Bastards where you write the name of a person (real or fictitious, dead or alive) on a piece of paper and pass it to the person next to you. They display it on their forehead and ask yes or no questions until they can guess what's on the card. Every 20 minutes or so, a British person would approach us and say "you look like you have having fun, can you explain the rules," or "can you teach us and can we borrow some paper?" By the time we left the pub, there was at least 3 different groups of 8 or more people playing the game! It was amazing! That's also the night I discovered my favorite drink thus far! Black Cider, recommended by the bartender, and rightfully so! 

Freshers fair! WOW, so many many many societies and clubs, so much to do! The fair took place in the Examination School and consisted of many many many rooms with many many many (can you sense a theme here?) people trying to get you to sign up for many many many societies and clubs! I got guilted into a few (as soon as you made eye contact, game over), but quite a few I was genuinely interested in. Consequently, I am on the mailing list for many many many things! Noteworthy are gliding (in a plane), caving, wine tasting, walking society, and a bunch of political and law related societies. Each one also did have "taster" events where you could try things out for free. I already tried archery (which was awesome)!

Saturday I attended the taster to let us see what Mansfield Rowing is like. They put us in a boat on the river and off we went! I was told I was number 4 (out of 8), which got confusing when the cox was shouting commands for Bow 4 (the 4 in the front ) and Stern 4 (the 4 in the back)... I thought she was talking to me the entire time, but apparently not. I am soooo bad, I even "caught a crab" which is basically where your oar tries to kill you and plasters you down so you can't move. My life flashed before my eyes...

I also met with my primary tutor (Economic Decisions Within the Firm) for an informational meeting. Another visiting student from Mansfield and I are taking it. We walked through University Parks, which has the Quidditch field, in order to get to Lady Margaret Hall (another Oxford College). Remember, I picked these tutorials before I was accepted and without any course description. Turns out this course is not what I thought it was. It's a class with 12 students (a lot considering a normal tutorial is 3 max)  and covers Advanced calculus, Linear Algebra, Systems, Programming, etc. Stay tuned to see how that tuned out!

The week ended with a BOP (which, rumor has it, stands for Big Organized Party) Saturday night (And in case you were wondering, my paper was finished and handed in by this point. More on that later)! The theme was Disney. A friend from Dale (where I live) and I decided to walk to Renault (SO FAR AWAY) to get ready before the event. I don't know how (it's a straight shot! No turns!), but I found a way to get us completely lost. Did I mention it was raining? Did I also mention I had done that walk at least 3 times before? Anyway, once we miraculously made it there, we were able to get beautified for the BOP! 

All I was missing was spots! "And your little dog too!" (wrong movie??)

Hair cred to Lucy, fellow Dickinsonian! 

The motley crew! We got Piglet (and / or the cheshire cat), esmeralda, Cinderella, Me, Meg (Hercules), and a modern day Bell 

Bop 

Apparently it's a Mansfield tradition to end the Bop by playing Robbie Williams song Angels and everyone gets in a giant circle with your arms on the shoulders of the person next to you and sing at the top of your lungs. Then during the chorus, everyone runs into the center of the circle, arms still wrapped around each other. It was fabulous! 

Keep in mind that is all Week 0! SO MANY MORE THINGS TO SHARE! Stay tuned! 

3 Days in London

So, on more than one occasion and by more than one party, I have received such positive feedback on what a phenomenal blogger I am for leaving my readers in such suspense, wonder, and awe... well it was worded more like "YOU ARE FAILING AT BLOGGING" and "there hasn't been any new blogs in forever" and "update the darn blog!" Sorry to keep you all in limbo... as you can imagine, SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED! I am going to try to write about it all and break it up into sets of blogs, so bare with me. Also, excuse the lack of pictures... I have officially become an oxford resident, meaning I feel it is no longer necessary to have a camera in hand at all times (it also doesn't help that I lose things--including cameras-- and / or forget them all the time). But fret not, I have a friend who loves taking pictures and I've gotten on her about how she needs to take more to make up for my lack of picture taking!

So I believe I left you just before my three day adventure in London. That was 2 weeks ago!

I woke up Tuesday morning knowing I was headed to London, but with no notion of how I was going to get there. I literally rolled out of bed, packed one bag, and headed for the bus stop. Granted, I should have done a bit more planning. Not having any idea what I was doing, I didn't buy any tickets in advance, didn't really know which bus I was supposed to get on, where it would take me, or what I would do when it took me there.  Probably not the best way to go (I honestly don't know why I thought everything would work itself out. Perhaps I had gotten so used to getting lost in Oxford and finding my way back, that I figured expanding the radius to to London would be no different).

So I slept most of the bus ride, but the scenery I did see was gorgeous (again... so many sheep)! Now I knew I was supposed to get off at Victoria Station... only problem was that I didn't know there was a Victoria Coach station and a Victoria Underground Station. Judging by the 3 hours I spent wondering around, lost and confused, I would venture to say that I picked the wrong station. I asked for guidance from some very helpful workers and some not so helpful underground workers. One gave me a map and drew out my route, the other gave me the verbal directions "left, left, right, left, right." No street names or anything (and given my sense of direction to begin with, you can imagine how helpful that was). My journey began at 9am, but I didn't make it to the hostel until 2pm (pretty bad considering the trip probably should only have taken 2 hours max!)

Hostel

I chose this Hostel because that was where Anna, the other Dickinson student (whom I had never met) had been staying. I was very impressed with this Hostel (probably not good, seeing as this was my first Hostel experience, and probably not the last. Now I have high expectations for future Hostels)! My room was 22 people mixed men and women. Sounds dreadful, but the worst part about it was the snoring! The room itself was small, but had two levels and the first level had bunk beds, the second just one layer of beds. I was on the top level.

Stairs leading up to the floor with my bed. 

My bed 

The best part about the Hostel was meeting all sorts of people. The man in the bed across from mine checked in the same day as me and was spending 3 nights, just like me! He was from Argentina and spent the last 2 months backpacking through Europe! In fact, the same day I was leaving to go back home, he was headed to Oxford. After grilling him about the best places to visit in Europe, I told him all about Oxford (After all, I am an authority on the city, considering I had spent a total of 7 days in the city at that point in time). We also tentatively made plans for me to show him around Oxford, but that fell through due to timing issues. So after I checked in, Anna  and I planned to meet up at the tube station in Kensington. I had never used the tube before or anything remotely similar, and I had no phone or way of contacting her if I got extremely lost (which was a concern), but I made it there in one piece, and right on time no less (mostly because Anna mapped out the entire trip to the T)! 

The Tube! 

This was the first time I officially met Anna. Actually, we were in a class together at Dickinson but never really spoke to each other, which is absolutely amazing to me. We spend the entire 3 days together and I honestly can't believe how close we got over those 3 days. It's incredible we met under the circumstances we did! So the first thing we did was have classic English tea  and quiche at the Muffin Man Tea shop. Afterwards, we just chatted and walked around Hyde Park. Our method of navigation sounded something like this, "Hmmm, this street looks interesting, wanna go here?" or "I wonder where this street goes, let's find out, shall we?" It was wonderful! We ran into things like this...

and this...

yes, that says Kensington Palace

and this...

and even this...

During this time, Anna and I both encouraged each other with regards to our stressful interviews. I started to freak out because I forgot a suit! So, we did what anyone as stressed as us would do... we got crepes! 

Here's Anna with our crepes... we split them. Best decision ever! 

The next day, I walked with Anna to Portcullis House to scope out the environment where my interview would take place the next day, and where hers would be taking place that day. We walked past many magnificent sites including this...

And this (which I love!)...

And of course the London Eye...

Here's Anna asking an officer for directions outside the Ministry of Defense.

 This is Portcullis House, where my interview was scheduled... Why did I not think to bring a suit! 

I mean it is right next to Big Ben and the Parliamentary Houses! A suit seems necessary! 

So while Anna was in her interview and I continued to panic about not having a proper suit, I decided to walk around Parliament square and visit the Imperial War Museum. 

Imperial War Museum

Afterwards I found a little cafe where the cashier discovered how gullible I am and fully exploited it to his advantage... but I didn't mind because he made a mean chai tea! After Anna got back from her meeting, we headed to Primark to buy a suit! We spent the remainder of the evening working on resumes in the lounge of the Hostel. 

So the next day was my turn. I got to Portcullis House an hour early, and just walked around chatting with Anna. The entire experience seemed so surreal! At one point, I asked Anna what time it was, neither of us realizing that Big Ben was not only sitting right in front of us, but that it was chiming the hour as well! Funny enough, just before the interview, I told Anna that no one has ever asked me why I want to go to law school. The first question of the interview was why law school. The interview seemed to be going very well. I was told I "have an attractive personality, seem confident, and can work a room"! This was all before I stood up to be introduced to an MP, bumped the table and spilled tea all over my resume... oh dear, only me... But it was fine, as the interviewer was extremely kind, had a great sense of humor, and loves telling stories (he's pretty good at all different accents to embellish his stories a bit!) He gave me many many names to reach out to for potential opportunities. 

So the whole thing lasted close to two hours. We were wrapping it up, and it turns out he lives about 5 minutes from my hostel, so we rode the tube together, and continued chatting. And, it was raining, the one day I didn't bring an umbrella (literally the first time it had rained since I arrived in the UK!)... so I shared an umbrella with him till we got to my Hostel. Then he offered to give Anna and I a tour of the area! We all got changed and met up 20 minutes later (rain had stopped) and he gave us a personal tour of Hampstead, which is absolutely gorgeous! He showed us everything from where his son was married to Robert Louis Stevenson's house! It was amazing! We even stopped for lattes and talked for hours! Afterwards, he took us to his flat to meet his wife and chat some more over champagne! We talked about everything from traveling, culture differences, the education system in UK vs US, the current state of congress, their painting and pottery collections, to baby photos of their adorable grandson! Anna and I left completely blown away by how surreal the whole day was. We left their flat at 8:30pm! He had spent the entire day with us! It was so perfect! Afterwards Anna and I went to a really nice Chinese restaurant and just chatted for hours about anything and everything! Then we roamed around a bit exploring whatever we came across.

The next day, we were going to go on a free walking tour, but we missed it. Instead, we just went exploring on our own. I suggested Regents Park, which is where we spent most of the day. I could have spent all day there. The park is filled with patches of roses, 82 different kinds with names like Keep Smiling, Ice Cream, Lovely Lady, Ingrid Bergman, and Warm Wishes! We spent much of the day just smelling the different flowers! 

There was also a couple taking wedding photos!

We also came across a wonderful park for kids! I wish I had access to this growing up! 

Rock Climbing for the adventurous little tots!

Anna enjoyed the park a bit too much... we also spent about 20 minutes on the swing sets! 

Just before I headed back to Oxford, we stumbled upon the pub The Victory, where I had my first meal of fish and chip in England. I also order a Blackberry Pimms and Elderflower mixed drink. It  had slices of cucumber and lime in the drink and that really added something extra! 

So my trip to London started out very stressful and hard to take advantage of being in London with a lot on my mind. Another added stresser was that I had gotten my first reading list and paper assignment the day I arrived in London. But the trip was amazing nonetheless and I wouldn't have traded it for the world! 

Stay tuned to find out what happened during Naught Week / Fresher's Week / Week 0 (that seems like so long ago)!

"Whatever You Do, Don't Get a Bike..."

It's Monday, marking a week since I first arrived in Oxford. This was the first day I left my room without a map or a camera in hand (not counting the time my camera died and I put it in my pocket, or the 3 times I was told not to take pictures in various museums). I am finally starting to feel like this is home and not just some luxurious vacation or amazing dream that I have yet to wake up from (I say that now, but the work has yet to begin!)

Today I met with Mansfield's Senior Tutor and newly assigned head of the Visiting Students Programme, with whom I had exchanged a number of emails over the summer. She's the person responsible for arranging all Mansfield student's tutorials, not a light feat. She's so sweet and officially welcomed me to the College.

Mansfield 

I returned to my room to be greeted with an email saying our welcome packages had arrived and were ready for pickup! So, back to Mansfield it is! This was the first time I had to wait in line at the Porter's Lodgings. It seems to be about that time when students are starting to arrive (we were given about a 3 weeks time frame for move-in. I seemed to be in the minority by choosing to come the earliest I was allowed!) I waited as the Porter directed each student one by one to the college office to get their ID cards, the same thing I had done the week before. When it was my turn for the porter's attention, he told me the welcoming packages were in the college office as well. I made my way across the quad (not on the grass though) and found all the students the porter had directed to the college office standing outside a locked door with no idea where to go or what to do. I used my key, opened the door, and led the flock in the right direction. It seemed crazy to me that I was actually the one pointing people in the right direction, when only a week earlier I had just stepped foot in this country for the first time!


After I got my welcome package (which only consisted of some documents... no free tee shirts like you get in the States when you even so much as look or walk past a college), I hit the streets. Walking for the sake of walking in Oxford is truly a beautiful thing. I happen to run into one of the students I helped to find Mansfield's college office. She is studying for a PHD in history and had lived in Oxford for over 40 years. We exchanged stories and she warned me, "Whatever you do, don't get a bike!" Apparently 1 in 5 bikes get stolen everyday in Oxford, not to mention it is terrifying to ride them on the street. BUT, getting a bike was my mission on day 3, and I always complete my missions!

Here she is! I got my basket, my lights - front and back (because it's illegal not to have them) and most importantly, my lock! 

It's not that I necessarily need a bike, but some of the streets and little alleyways in Oxford are just too gorgeous not to bike down. I also think it will come in handy when that UK rain starts, although so far the weather has been gorgeous! Hasn't rained yet!

I did take it out for a spin the first day I got it and I learned very quickly that it's safer to ride on the road than on the sidewalk. I don't have a problem riding on the left side of the road (probably because I am so spacially challenged to begin with, my brain never got too attached to the whole drive on the right side of the road thing), it's the hand signalling I need to get used to (and the big buses everywhere)! I can't exactly ride a bike without 2 hands on the handlebars at all times, which makes signalling difficult (okay, it makes signalling impossible...) But there are people riding bikes here without any hands... Okay, stop showing off and go get a unicycle already! With practice, who knows, maybe I can ride with no handlebars in a year's time (just in time to sell the bike back...)

After my chats with the senior tutor and the grad student, I just got so excited about being at Oxford (as if I wasn't excited before) and ran out and bought my academic dress robes (stay tuned for pictures)!

Tomorrow I am headed to London for three days. I am meeting a fellow Dickinsonian who is studying in Germany, staying at a hostel (my first hostel experience), and on Thursday, I'll be meeting with a magistrate to discuss possible law related internship / job opportunities over the breaks and the summer. I am very anxious about the whole trip, mostly because I am not entirely sure how the whole transportation thing is going to work. I have a vague idea of where I need to be and how to get there, but the key word there is vague. But I am also ridiculously excited! Wish me luck!

Museums, Libraries, and Colleges, Oh My! (Part 3/3)

The next day, Grace was arriving! She's a History student from Boston College I met through one of the many, many, many Oxford Facebook groups. She is literally in the exact same boat as me - second year her college has sent students to Mansfield and never met the other student from her college coming. Although her year abroad counts toward her GPA and she already got a reading list from one of her tutors - 34 books!

You remember this photo of my bed from day one, right?

Well it turns out, it's actually supposed to look like this...

Grace pointed out that what I had been using as a sheet for the past 5 days is actually a duvet cover. My lack of common sense scares me sometimes...

Anyway, I showed Grace around Oxford and took her too Boswells, Sainsbury, Christ Church meadow, introduced her to Ben's cookies (I had a triple chocolate... definitely a contender for my favorite). I did pretty good with getting around, but the minute I felt like I was finally getting the hang of it, I needed the map! I took her to the French Panini place my Dickinson adviser told me I absolutely must go to. We both got the special - artichoke, basil, pesto, tomato, and some kind of cheese I had never heard of before on ciabatta - easily the best meal I have had yet!

I told Grace about my adventure into the colleges and we decided to try Magdalen College. The Porters at the door were really nice, but not the one who caught us in an area we probably shouldn't have been in (okay, we definitely shouldn't have been there). Grace likes to check and see if doors are locked too! I absolutely LOVE the black and white stain glass windows in Magdalen's chapel (of course this would be the day that my camera died... I'll just have to go back and get pictures at a later date!) Magdalen is also famous for its deer park. What's a deer park, you ask. It's a piece of land with deer and reindeer (no, like many areas of Oxford, you are not allowed on this grass either... just the deer). There was one who had a stick stuck on his antlers and couldn't get it off! Took him 5 minutes, but he got it! Just before he got his antlers stuck in another tree... poor guy.

We also took a detour to Mansfield and got the porter to show us the dining hall (which is currently in the chapel, yes, we eat in the chapel because of construction on the old dining hall), because it hasn't been open.

Afterwords we tried to find the Renault house, which was the other option for housing (where both Dickinson students lived last year and where the other Dickinson student this year is living). We walked for hours, but i'm not quite sure we ever found it. Perhaps it's because we didn't know the address, or even what street it was on. All we had to go off of was that it was about 15 minutes from where we live at Ablethorpe, also known as Dale. I am starting to really get attached to Ablethorpe, (minus the drunken chanting at 4am). It's a great location - easy access to the city and the ethnic food on Cowley Road. Earlier Katherine showed me around the building a bit more. It's basically like a maze. It's funny I did all this exploring in Oxford but not in the building I live in. Turns out my staircase is the only one that doesn't spiral! Who knew?


The next day, Grace and I started with the Pitt Museum - The strangest Museum I have been too! The set up inside seemed like a display in and of itself. The lighting seemed to be more for aesthetics than for function. I thoroughly enjoyed that Museum, it definitely had character. One of the highlights was in the gift shop when a little British girl, about 7, got so excited about the Egyptian cat earrings When her friend reminded her she didn't have her ears pieced she said, "Damn!" swiftly put down the earrings , and with equal enthusiasm, ran over to the next trinket the shop was selling that caught her eye.

The artifacts were either tagged with writing you needed a microscope to read or the writing was written directly on it! I couldn't believe it! 

I started taking pictures of the empty cases there because it seemed like such a rare anomaly!

There were even drawers under the main displays that you could open and see more things. SO MANY THINGS!

Outside the Pitt Rivers Museum, but in the same building, was the temporary location for some of the displays from the University Museum of Natural History. I believe the sign said there are 12 or 13 different locations spread across Oxford.

In the gift shop, next to the robot that sweeps your floor...

Then we headed to Christ Church. On the way, we saw the making of some kind of film production. There was food for the crew laid out and people in costumes everywhere.

Finally we made it to Christ Church College, and it was open! I had tried 3 other times to see the place where Harry Potter was filmed and it was closed each time!

The line in the picture above is where they make you pay. Luckily, if you have a Uni ID, you are free! And you also get to take one guest in for free as well. Any takers?

Inside the doors

Look familiar?

Inscribed with "The leaves are for the healing of all nations."

This look familiar?

How about now?

I love the ceilings! 

Harry Potter dining hall!

More Harry Potter dining hall!

Did I show you a picture of Harry Potter's dining hall?

Can't walk on this grass either...

After we explored the College and the Church, we came back later for the evening song at 6pm held in Christ Church Chapel. We had seats right next to the choir. I wasn't expecting little kids to be in the choir, but it was fantastic and in such a beautiful setting. I am planning on seeing New College and Magdalen College's Evening Songs at some point at well.

Where we sat during the Evening Song.

Again, I love the ceilings! 

Still part of the College

this too...

and this...

and this... it's where the students live

Still all part of the College... it's huge! 

This is where the porter sits.

We also got into Christ Church picture gallery for free with our Uni IDs!

I got this picture before I realized we weren't allowed to take photos!

Afterwards, we bopped over to Oxford's Modern Art Museum. I didn't understand anything in there (and I'm supposed to be an artist... I just don't get modern art). I still liked the first gallery. The artist was clearly very talented; I just didn't understand the concept. Not a fan of the second gallery... it was a green light and a blue light on opposite corners in a room. That's it.

Again, another illegal picture before I realized I couldn't take pics. The green on the floor is part of the art, for the record.

And this is just a picture because I love the little alleys in Oxford!