Across the Pond: End of Orientation

Hello All,
I apologize for not having written the last couple days; to be honest, it was because there wasn't much to write about! Starting Monday, I've had orientation with my Oxford program for the whole day. We're watching videos about British History, learning traffic laws for our "cycles," learning the British style of writing an essay (completely different!), and drinking lots and LOTS of tea! That's like their snack break - in between breakfast and lunch, and in between lunch and dinner, AND even during the evening AFTER dinner if we choose. SO. MUCH. TEA. Always. But I'm really learning to like it...I didn't much care for it before, but I'm really enjoying our tea times :)

On Monday, the "RD" ("JR" here) of the other dorm, Sam, took us on a mini-tour of Oxford. He was an undergraduate here and is currently going to grad school, so he knew many of the fun traditions that Oxford students have; however, though secret societies here do exist, he refused to tell us about any of them. Because he'd have to kill us, of course. We saw many of the colleges, including Merton College, one of the arguably oldest colleges at Oxford, which was established some time around the 1250's! To give you an idea, that's more than 200 YEARS before Columbus even discovered America! Two hundred years ago, America was still a youngin! Oxford's old, yo! Actually, the second oldest in the world and the first oldest in the English speaking world, so it's pretty dang awesome to walk around and attend here! People like T.S. Eliot, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, TONS of prime ministers, Oscar Wilde, and so many others have gone here! So I must say, it is quite a pleasure to study at the same university as them.

ANYWAYS! So yesterday, after learning about British history (which is quite fascinating might I add), we rode our bikes (which is still TERRIFYING) to the Bodleian Library (1602, 2nd largest in Britain, AND where Harry Potter library scenes were filmed :) and Radcliffe Camera (1739), which are the most iconic parts of Oxford. They were BOTH there during the Revolutionary War before America was a nation! That's insane too!You can't get in without an Oxford ID, so it's quite fun to watch the tourists watch a group of American students get right in. These buildings now have an underground passageway between them called the Gladstone Link, and today we walked in one building and out another, which is pretty crazy too :) I also received the lecture list of lectures I can choose to attend throughout the semester. I am required to go to 32 throughout the term, so I'll pretty much be going to one each day. Other than that, I've just been reading and spending all of today in the library to get ready for my first 2,000 word essay that's due next week! Gah! It's going to be a lot of work but I know it'll be worth it. I'm reading Phantastes and Lilith by George MacDonald, and I'll let you know what I think of them when I'm done. Though, perhaps, you're much more interested in my more exciting endeavors. Which! is why I'm happy to tell you that this weekend, I will be traveling to LONDON! I'm quite excited since we get to see all of the touristy things, and then during mid-term break I get to travel to Wales! Looking forward to those :) Until then, though, I will keep you updated whenever there's interesting information to be written about.

Oh! I also visited the church's young adult group tonight, and it was fantastic; I'm meeting with my leader for coffee or tea next week, so I felt very welcomed :)

More differences! These are just too good and fun not to put in.

"Nappy" = Diaper. Not sure which one is weirder.

The ATM asked me if I wanted an "advice slip"...to which I pressed no, because I supposed it was advice on my banking account balances? Turns out, that means "receipt". Receipt makes a bit more sense - sorry Brits.

Running a red light = "Jumping" a red light. Neither makes sense. Perhaps "rushing"? I should run a country.

Preservatives are pretty much illegal in the UK...anything that's harmful in food, at least. Oh, and they do look at Americans as being obese...I got a magazine article read to me the other day that said something like "be sure to stay fit, rather than obese...like an American." Way to be healthy, Britain. Way to be arrogant, Britain. (Although they are thinner, so I do suppose they have bragging rights.)

Also, people here are SUPER reserved and sometimes a bit awkward. Eye contact with strangers, even if you're talking with them, pretty much never happens. I asked a manager of a store if he had hampers for dirty clothes in stock; without looking at me the entire time, he said, "No, we don't," and turned away to restock stuff. He turned in my direction, though! This isn't the case with all British people I've come in contact with, but many of them are like this. I am not this way AT ALL, so it's been an adjustment...depending on my mood, I'll either go along with it and try to make a straight face as long as possible or I make them extremely uncomfortable by smiling and making pretty strong American eye contact. Either way, I've loved being in the city walking around :)

Sweaters = "jumpers". This was actually one of the only ones where I had NO idea what they were talking about...I was looking for Osh Kosh B'Gosh overalls or a romper. They think sweaters sound gross...with good reason when you think about it. Score for the UK.