Into Third Week

The term is moving so quickly! I am busy all the time, but classes are going incredibly well. The work is really starting now - my friend and housemate, Marbre, and I were just talking about how we are over the "Wow, we're at Oxford" phase and are now thinking "Wow, we actually need to do Oxford work." But everyone is in the same position, so the free time is that much sweeter. And we definitely still have fun! One of my favorite things about the collegiate system is the small community; someone is always around to talk or hang out.

And Friday night was absolutely fabulous! It was Rotary Italian Evening, so the three Italian students cooked a gorgeous meal for us (pasta has never tasted so good), plus they did a slide show and performed a monologue describing the Italian family. I love my fellow scholars!! They are just such great people, and I feel so connected to them because of the Rotary link. I am glad we have so many events planned for the year. Next is American night, but I am not sure how we can top the Italians....

And there is such excitement here about the election! It is ridiculous how much people know about American politics - puts me to shame sometimes. Everyone knows FL is a swing state, so it is great fun answering questions. Needless to say, if the world could vote, it would be a landslide for Obama.

The weather has gotten very cold in the last couple of days. I hear it is pretty cold in the panhandle too, but please send me warm mental vibes!

And I have a meeting with my dissertation supervisor this Friday, along with a presentation. Thank you all for your prayers! I feel like it is all falling into place, as much as it can at this point.

Also, family, you will be happy to know that my housemates and coursemates are very considerate of my allergies. It's actually quite endearing how concerned people are when I tell them! :)

In Birmingham by the canals with Margaret and Sandy

Punting - I was not terribly good

Some of the girls from my college

In the Rose Garden at Blenheim Palace - For Nins

Matriculation and More

I am officially a member of Oxford University! On Saturday, we all dressed in sub fusc (black and white with gowns and bows), marched to Exam Schools in rows of three (six of us African Studies students were together, so it was a fun walk), and listened to a few phrases in Latin. It was a quick ceremony - maybe only 10 minutes - but I loved the tradition and ceremony of it all! I felt like I was part of the great history of this university and the long line of students who have gone before. Plus, we had a fabulous brunch in college, though I still am not used to having beans with breakfast instead of grits :)

Afterwards, ten of us went punting (sort of like a gondola boat) near Magdalen (pronounced Maudlin) Bridge. The sun was out, the leaves were falling - it was perfect! A very Oxford day, indeed.

On Sunday, eight of us Ambassadorial Scholars got together for an informal brunch (two brunches in one weekend = happiness) and to discuss our group project for the year: we are going to try to work on raising money for lapdesks for children in South Africa - more to come!! I am enjoying getting to know the other scholars because we all have a deep interest in public service and share a lot in common.

In the evening, with a few friends from my house, I attended Evensong - an Anglican service famous for boys' choirs. A few colleges have it, but we attended Christ Church, where Harry Potter was filmed (and other - arguably - more important events have occurred, I am sure). The atmosphere was incredible, and the choir soothing.

And Monday evening was my first presentation to a Rotary Club! The Haddenham members were incredibly welcoming, and the environment was relaxed and intimate - we met in the back room of a great little pub. I had a blast! Everyone even participated in my interactive lesson in southern phrases! It was a truly great place to give my first presentation, and I hope to see some of the members again at other events. Plus, I loved seeing John and Gyl! They give me such a great feeling of warmth and of being at home.

And, of course, I have been attending class and doing lots of work. My preconceptions are being challenged every day!

In case you can't tell, I love Oxford!!

End of Week One

Wow! What a great week! I was busy everyday, all day - with schoolwork, seminars, social events. The days have just flown by, and I know it will be the same for the rest of the semester (except even busier!).

My classes - just ten people led by a professor - were incredibly thought-provoking; I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the opinions of my course mates and dissecting our readings. On Thursday, in Researching Africa, Dr. Helene largely allowed us to follow our own conversation flows, focusing primarily on ethics. Today, Professor Anderson gave more directed points, but we still interjected our opinions and brought out different points in the material (I actually was the first to speak in both my classes!). We discussed colonialism, so it was important for him to provide a base of knowledge. I am learning so much!!

And not just in classes - also in informal conversations with my peers and in seminars. For example, I attended a great lecture last night on negotiating statelessness in Somalia. It's almost impossible to process all of this information!

Plus, the weather has been very mild; I've kept my window open almost all week and had some great running experiences. As I write, the sky is a vibrant pink, much deeper than a beach sunset.

I am so grateful for these opportunities!