Oxford Life

Now that I've officially been at Oxford for two days, it's becoming concrete that I'll be here a full year. The city is beautiful; the city centre is truly amazing with interspersed modern, but mostly ancient architecture. I passed the Old Bodleian library today, and almost teared up at the sight.

So Lady Margaret Hall, where I'm living, is on the far end of Oxford's campus. It is surrounded by gorgeous gardens, and filled with Victorian* (French Renaissance style) buildings. The sights are wonderful, the accents foreign, and the adjustment a work in progress.

The problem with being an American visiting student in England is that English and American university systems are very different. In America, four year programs are the norm so junior year is ideal for studying abroad/co-oping, etc. In England, they do a 3 year degree and rarely ever study abroad. I am living and socializing with "freshers" (incoming students to the college, most all 18 year olds) and attending the same events. So I feel like I'm redoing my freshman year of college. That's not to say there isn't something to be learned from the fresh youth of Britain, but it is a disorienting feeling.

Oxford is an institution that follows its creed. It is both an institute of high academia, and a home to those who very much enjoy alcohol. That being said, every event I have attended as a visiting student has an air of formality (and alcoholic beverages) that I have not felt at Ohio State. Whether this is partly based on my hyper-consciousness as a new student in a foreign country, or because it is in fact considerably more formal, will eventually reveal itself.

In short, Oxford is both a beautiful and mysterious place to me. Primark has become my new best friend, with Tesco as a close second. I have probably introduced myself more times in these past two days than the entirety of my sophomore year. And while I know I am definitely not integrated yet, I am on my way to finding my place.

P.S. You can definitely survive two whole days without access to the Internet.

*I originally wrote Georgian, and my English friend, David, corrected me on the time period the buildings were constructed.