So, I officially have a cold...on the busiest week of the term, of course :) But my work is going well! Always more to do, but I do not feel panicked. We have two essays due this week plus I have lots of research to do for my dissertation. Thanks for keeping me in your prayers!
Several things to look forward to: reproductive health in Africa seminar on Tuesday, going to rugby game with John on Wednesday, dinner with my course mates AND drinks with the Rotary scholars on Friday.
This past week, I attended a lecture at the Pitt Rivers Museum with Liz, a Rotarian from Bicester and the club's website officer. The speaker was a zoologist, who related his adventures over the years as he searched for new insect species in caves, jungles, etc - places I would not even want to go. Incredible! Did you know bugs are attracted to the mixture of lager and blue cheeses? Or that the oldest existing bug pinned as a specimen is dated from 1702? It is here in Oxford, and the university threw it a 300th birthday party. Seriously, scholars from all over England came. It was so great to get outside of Africa for a bit!
We also had a great Rotary meeting with the Abingdon Vespers club at a local primary school in an area of Oxford called Blackbird Leys. People think of this city as being primarily affluent and highly educated, but the school actually draws from a population with only a 48% adult literacy rate. The headmaster (principal) related challenges and blessings in working with such disadvantaged children, and I found her passion to be completely inspiring! Plus, the school has links with a Ugandan school, so I enjoyed speaking with the staff about those connections.
Ok, I am going to finish up some work, read a fun book, and then go to sleep early! Love you family!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Election and American Night
Election Night: Literally 200 people from around the world crammed into our common room, watching CNN, and eating Haribo gummy bears. It was fantastic! Such a great memory for so historic a night! I felt very proud to be American (and a Floridian). It is definitely a moment that will make it into textbooks, and I will get to tell my grandchildren I watched it all from England.
Appropriately, American Night with the Rotary Scholars was held on Friday. I helped make fried chicken, sweet potatoes, green beans, and peach cobbler (yes I cooked!), and we listened to country music - quite southern because nearly all of us are from that region. John and Gyll attended too, so I enjoyed sharing a bit of my culture with them!!
Our Sunday trip into London was postponed, but I went to an outdoor, multi-faith service around the WWI and II Memorial in Oxford, just a bit down from the college, for Rememberance Day. It was a beautiful event with moving prayers for all those affected by conflict. It's quite humbling to think of how secure our lives are compared to most.
Now we are into Week 5 - ahhh! Lots of work to do, but I am enjoying almost all of it :) Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts.
Appropriately, American Night with the Rotary Scholars was held on Friday. I helped make fried chicken, sweet potatoes, green beans, and peach cobbler (yes I cooked!), and we listened to country music - quite southern because nearly all of us are from that region. John and Gyll attended too, so I enjoyed sharing a bit of my culture with them!!
Our Sunday trip into London was postponed, but I went to an outdoor, multi-faith service around the WWI and II Memorial in Oxford, just a bit down from the college, for Rememberance Day. It was a beautiful event with moving prayers for all those affected by conflict. It's quite humbling to think of how secure our lives are compared to most.
Now we are into Week 5 - ahhh! Lots of work to do, but I am enjoying almost all of it :) Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts.
Monday, November 3, 2008
I ran a half-marathon yesterday!
Yes, I know I am crazy, but it seems like everything here is about leaping and never looking back, about learning to believe in your own thoughts, ideas, judgment, ambitions. And I finished! My friends and I did 13 miles in an hour and 44 minutes - pretty good for not training, and there were even hills. Miles 7-9 were rough mentally, but once I made it to 10, I felt like we were on the home stretch, and crossing the finish line was such a thrill! By the way, this all happened in Barns Green (http://www.barnsgreen.com/), a lovely little town about an hour south of Oxford. After the race, we went to a friend's home nearby to shower and eat food made by mom, and then enjoyed the ride home, reflecting on a great day.
I feel so much more relaxed about all of the work now - it was great to get out of Oxford for a bit. I am still super busy, but I think I am finding a balance. And I get closer to my classmates all the time! Plus, there is such an energy here surrounding the election!! Is it really tomorrow? I am nervous/excited! The whole college is going to stay up for the results, so Wednesday might be a coffee day for me :)
Lots to look forward to this weekend: American Night (John and Gyll are attending!) and also a Rotary trip into London on Sunday for Remembrance Day. Most people have poppies on their coats; I am going to get one tomorrow from our porters in the lodge.
Love you all!! Thanks for the emails, cards, and prayers.
I feel so much more relaxed about all of the work now - it was great to get out of Oxford for a bit. I am still super busy, but I think I am finding a balance. And I get closer to my classmates all the time! Plus, there is such an energy here surrounding the election!! Is it really tomorrow? I am nervous/excited! The whole college is going to stay up for the results, so Wednesday might be a coffee day for me :)
Lots to look forward to this weekend: American Night (John and Gyll are attending!) and also a Rotary trip into London on Sunday for Remembrance Day. Most people have poppies on their coats; I am going to get one tomorrow from our porters in the lodge.
Love you all!! Thanks for the emails, cards, and prayers.
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