Ode to Adjustment

Culture shock, alienation, a new landscape.

All of these things bring to mind what it's like to move to a new place. That new place may be in your home country, and it could even be just ten miles away from your old residence. Let's face it, life is a constant stream of adjustment. Everyone likes to assume an appearance of having it all figured out, of having the hang of their lives. But no matter who, and no matter where, it takes time to settle into new situations.

Most days I wake up and go through a ritual of making coffee, toast, and checking my e-mail. It's amusing because without realizing it, we inhabit a new way of life wherever we go, but with the same mannerisms we've always used. I don't think I truly realized how much Lady Margaret Hall is my home until this morning. I've been here almost seven weeks, sleeping in the same bed, using the same small kitchen day-in and day-out. But the really resonant moment was when I thought about skipping a lecture. (I did, I am a BA). I was speaking with a student from a different Oxford college over the weekend and he told me there are three sectors to Oxford life (and most universities honestly).

1) Academics
2) Social Life
3) Extracurriculars

He said you can only efficiently do two of these things with good time management. And I completely agree. If you want to get really excellent scores and maintain clubs and a social life, it's virtually impossible. I observe it with the students around me--the ones who are hard club-goers are falling behind in classes, and subsequently their health (the flu comes and goes around here like a madhouse). Those who are striving for 1sts (equivalent to an A+) and perfect essays, aren't making many new friends or attending activities. And the crux is, that no matter who you are, you cannot obtain all three sectors. Yes there are a few people who exceed what we think of as a sane schedule, but chances are they're not giving themselves enough downtime to reflect on their own lives.

So when all is said and done, I think I'm finally aware that England is my home, and it's not for a short period of time. There are glimpses when I am envious of the students who are only here for this term. They will be home with their families for Christmas, and back at their home schools by January. While it would be extremely easy to slip back into the American frame of mind, and have the security and safety of familiar faces and places, it is not necessarily what is best for me. I wouldn't want my Oxford experience to end after nine weeks here, that wouldn't be nearly enough time. And just because home is comfortable and less strenuous work doesn't mean I'd enjoy it more. Because there are so many adventures waiting, and so much living left here.

In two and a half weeks I will be traveling across Europe for a month and a half. This will be my first excursion from England since I arrived, and I'm about to experience so much more about the differences and similarities in human nature. I've been asked numerous times from British students what the biggest difference between England and the US is. But, in reality, we're all people, and we all have similar desires and needs. It's not about what's different between us that makes this experience singular, but how we're all much the same, and how anywhere you go, you can realize that.