Colin Dexter!
Hello everyone!
So, seeing as I have now been here for 6 weeks and only have 3 left for this term (eeck!), I decided I was long overdue for a blog update. Things have continued to be fantastic here. The work is challenging and i am still trying to strike a good balance between school and my social life, so it is stressful, but also wonderful. Although the last 6 weeks have flown by, I feel like I have been here forever. I have made an excellent group of friends both in my college and course and am beginning to meet folks from different areas. I am picking up British slang, mostly Northerner slang since those are the folks I hang out with. Love them. Making lots of travel plans with my great new connections including Italy, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Dubai, and Austria. My spring break and summer are going to be very busy. Dubai, Turkey, Italy and South Africa are absolutely happening. You have to love friends with international connections.
I attempted to start riding with the club team and made it to one practice, but it was a 5 hour ordeal to get to the barn, ride, and get back and the lesson was not that great. Needless to say, at this moment it is not worth that amount of my time. I am thinking about looking into other barns in the area and taking private lessons, so that might be an option in the spring/summer.
In keeping with the theme of this month, our MCR recently had elections for 2009 committee positions and my friends and i dominated. Kip is President, Sophie is Vice, and Claire and i am Co-Social Secretaries. This means I get to organize cultural and art outings, trips to London, Paris, etc., and I get to plan and host a lot of cocktail parties and theme parties. How perfect is that?!?!? I think this job was made for me, and with the amazing partner i have in Claire (the amazing, Australian Elle Woods) and a budget increase of 5,000, it is going to be an exceptional year at St. Hugh's. I am excited.
I also had my first Rugby experience and went to Twickenham to see England play the Pacific Islanders. It was really fun and I must say I prefer it to American Football. On Friday night I went to a panel discussion with Philip Pullman (The Golden Compass, etc.) and Colin Dexter (Inspector Morse). It was very enjoyable and Colin Dexter, bless him, is an absolute king! Hysterical.
I am currently still thinking about continuing here for another year and earn the MPhil. It just means another year's research and an additional, longer thesis, but I would get to stay on longer. One year just doesn't seem like enough. This place is truly amazing and so are the people. I can't believe I ever considered not accepting my place, but hind sight is 20-20 as they say.
On another note, election week here was amazing. I am sure it was even better back home, and I have to say, all of the Americans were extremely emotional and very homesick that whole week, but it was great to see everything from here. So exciting. I still tear up when I think about it. I do wish I had been at home though. I am also in charge of Thanksgiving dinner for 25 people. That will be FUN. I do have a lot of help though, it will make for an exciting day. Pray for me.
As I write, it is a rainy, mild fall day out. Typical England. The boy's novice rowers are preparing for a race on the Isis and praying the river level rises to high and the race is cancelled because they have too much work. The yellowed, fall leaves are cascading down an landing in massive, golden piles on the green lawn. The sky is that "lovely" white-grey color it always is when rain is in the forecast, which is nearly everyday, and makes me want to listen to Simon and Garfunkel while drinking tea and reading "Alice in Wonderland" or some other iconic Oxonian piece of literature. Unfortunately, I have other reading to attend to concerning "the gift" and material culture.
Well I will leave it at that. Miss you all! Come and visit!
We have had formal halls, bops, and all kinds of fun shenanigans, so please enjoy the photos!
Much love from Oxonia,
Allison
