Matriculation

Oh, my goodness, y'all. I've been here almost a month. It feels like just yesterday that I was lugging suitcases up the stairs (which I have not fully acclimated to just yet), but two weeks of classes have already passed and October is pretty much over.

In the midst of the first month chaos, I've been somewhat remiss in posting--in part because there have been things to do with settling in, classes starting, and in part because I'm just lazy. But now I'll do a few catch-up posts.

Matriculation is one of Oxford's many and varied traditions (or oddities, depending on the lense through which you see them). Even though the first week of classes had already passed; even though most students had already been in town for at least two weeks, all new students had to matriculate in order to be an official member of the University. We put on our sub fusc (ie, academic dress): white shirts, dark skirts/pants, dark shoes, and, of course, the long flowing robes, and processed down to the Sheldonian theatre. It's all very Harry Potter, minus the wands and beans of every flavour.

(Me in my sub fusc, ready to go. Though no one tells you how to tie that silly black ribbon.)

But before anyone went to the official ceremony, we had tea and biscuits at the college, signed the official register, and the dean of degrees said a few words. Then we were on our way.

(Kellogg college teacups. They made residents of college housing get there 2 hours before everything else started so I needed to do something to occupy the time.)

(We have all sorts of deans and chancellors and other hierarchical and bureaucratic figures. I'm not sure a university would know what to do with itself without them.)

Once we finally got to our location, we shuffled inside found our seats. Everyone took photos although it was "forbidden". Then the vice-chancellor of the university processed in, took his place at the front, waved his hat around, said some things in latin, gave a speech, et voila, we were officially members of the University.

(Ready to go into the Sheldonian for the ceremony! Really, really ready to be done standing in the cold and wind--the batman cape, while fun, does not provide much warmth.)

(One of the few contraband inside photos)

We then came back to the college for some official photos, a light lunch and champagne, and just sort of milled around for awhile.

Suzie and Helen, fellow Kellogg Women's Studies-ers.

More Kellogg friends--the four of us to the right all live on the same floor of a college house.

Oh, and as always, full photos are available on facebook.

All in all, it was a great day. These things seem sort of silly, but truth be told it's good fun to dress up like that and be part of the pomp and cirumstance of the University. And really, all of these rituals and establishments are part of the allure Oxford, at least for me--and I'm happy to experience them as much as possible. Until we have to drink goat's blood or something.

Freshers' Week

In addition to the eight academic weeks of the term, Oxford's calendar includes an additional pre-term week: 0th week (called noughth week, not zero-eth, as I may or may not have been calling it in my head).

During the Michelmas (fall) term, 0th week is also Freshers' week, which is packed with activities akin to those of Welcome Week at home. Pub crawls at the old stomping grounds of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein, tea and cakes with the Junior Dean, rowing on the Isis--you know, the usual.

This week was kicked off by our Women's Studies induction on Monday morning. While inductions in the U.S. often carry connotations of secret, candelight ceremonies filled with clandestine rituals, I've gathered that here it's really more of an orientation. We went through the syllabus and then just had snacks and chatted for a while. I left our meeting really excited for the year: interesting material, good faculty and, as could be expected, fab classmates. I love love love Women's Studiers--who tend to be pretty brilliant, passionate, fierce, innovative people--and I am thrilled to be back among them.

The rest of the week was one getting-to-know-you activity after another: a college pub crawl, followed by some time at the St. Cross college bar's Bond night, complete with martinis shaken, not stirred, Bond music and even the odd tuxedo (pictures below); a foray with fellow Kelloggians to G& D's ice cream; and the Freshers' Fair, ohhhhh the Freshers' Fair.

(Me, outside G& D's. Let's be honest, friends, all I do these days is creep around this fabulous city)


(Photos from St. Cross: Nicole and Sam, Women's Studies pals; Bond, his tux and his martini; Women's Studies bud Laura and Roseanne)


For those of you from Michigan, Freshers' Fair is a lot like Festifall, except it happens within several rooms of the very, very old Examination Schools, where you're corralled from room to room in a way that feels a little bit like a funhouse at a carnival. I wove my way through the maze of booths hosted by the various Oxford clubs and societies ranging from Amnesty International to Brazilian Capoeira, from Banking and Finance to the Gilbert and Sullivan society and everything in between. I signed my name on far too many email lists, and will probably be getting information from these clubs well into middle age. I'm excited about several of them, including the Oxford University Women's Campaign; Democrats Abroad; Amnesty International; and Oxford Women in Politics.



(About a quarter of one of the dozen rooms of Freshers' Fair)

Another highlight of the week was my very first, proper British afternoon tea. My classmate Laura and I went to the Queen's Lane Coffee House, which claims to be the oldest coffee house in Europe (somehow I feel this is probably disputed by others). I had the Cream Tea, which included tea with scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam, and I think I'm hooked and looking forward to exploring other tea spots that Oxford has to offer.


(Not quite the Queen's tea, but I'll take it.)



I also stumbled upon a store at the Covered Market called Pie Minister, which sells small pies (a la Sweeney Todd, minus the human ingredients) and found some wonderful comfort food: a minty lamb pie over creamy mash, topped with peas and a red wine jus gravy. It was a wonderful moment, and now I'll share it with you:




This weekend I've mostly been lazing about. Last night I had a very romantic date with myself: I treated myself to a sumptuous, homecooked dinner and then took myself to the theatre. I told myself that I looked very nice, I held my hand, and had a meaningful conversation with myself about the highlights and lowlights of the play. I think this relationship is really going somewhere.

Today I went back to the Pitt Rivers museum & museum of natural history with college friends Narayan and Tinya. They hadn't been and I liked it the first time I went so I tagged along. Glad I did because I realized that in fact the Pitt Rivers museum, while sharing facilities with the museum of natural history, is actually its own entity. You step into the museum from the back of the other, and it's just kind of this dark expanse laid out before you. The layout of the collection seems a bit schizophrenic--there doesn't seem to be a particular logic in where everything's placed, so you turn around from the southwestern US hopi pottery to see shrunken heads from Africa; just across from the south american masks is a feather cape from Hawaii, and just around the corner are dolls and puppets from around the world. It's like stepping into the mind of a mad scientist--or at least her basement--and we spent the entire afternoon getting lost in its wonders.
Narayan took some great photos, some of which are posted below.



( I was happy to see my friend the evil bird again, and to introduce him to Tinya and Narayan)



(The frog gives us a rather rude hand gesture)



(I told you there were shrunken heads)


(Tinya and I look on in amazement)


All in all, a good noughth week. Tomorrow is my first day of classes as a graduate student, and I'm two parts excited to one part nervous that I've forgotten how to be a student. After class I'm meeting with my graduate supervisor, and then the first meeting of the women's campaign meets in the evening. Crossing my fingers for a good, full, first day.

xoxoxo
Amanda

Events and explorations...

Hello, friends. Updates: Yesterday I finished the bulk of my settling-in shopping with kitchen supplies: pots, pans, dishes, cups, cooking and eating utensils. The things I bought were pretty cheap, but I think they'll suffice for the purposes of one lone grad student.



This is the extent of my kitchen supplies. Dishes...fit for a five year old?

Our shared cookspace. And finally, the dining area.

Last night was our college's coming up dinner. For those unfamiliar with how Oxford works--it's a collegiate University, so it's made up of a collection of a few dozen colleges. Each student is a member of the University/an academic department and then also a college. Though academics are somehow connected through the colleges (I have yet to figure out exactly what that is), one of the primary functions of the colleges is to take care of student life related things--accomodations, social life, pastoral care, etc. So I am a member of Kellogg college, which is made up of only postgraduate students, the majority of whom are international students, and the focus of the college is heavily on nontraditional students, lifelong learning, etc in additional to traditional students and program(me)s. It's affiliated with the Kellogg foundation in the US.

Okay so that's explained...so the college has lots of social functions for us, including the coming-up/welcome dinner last night. We heard from the President, the Junior Dean, the Chancellor (I'm not really sure what her function is?) and the university-wide student welfare counselor, then had a lovely dinner and drinks. I met some very interesting fellow students, as well.




(Some of my housemates, Seung-Min and Shiira before the coming-up dinner)

Over the past few days, I've been exploring the city...day one I doubted whether I'd ever properly navigate its winding streets, but I think I've got down at least a few paths from my house to the city centre and then around the city centre and back, so that's not too bad for five days in.
Today I went to the University Parks, which are quite close to my house, and the Pitts Rivers Museum , which deals with natural history-ish things. I'll take you on a photo tour:

Welcome!

A human-sized nest, under construction. When it's finished, people will be able to go in and sit in it and there will be a journal for people to write their reflections. Weird but kind of awesome.

A view to the outside.... ....and the gates out.

There are lots more photos, which you can check out on facebook if you like.

The next stop after the Parks was the Pitt Rivers Museum.

(http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/)

Here it is from the outside. Sort of an imposing structure, no?

This guy was my fave. He is obviously plotting something.

Wolverine! Looking up... ....and looking down.

Darwin 1. Darwin 2. Dude, are you NAPPING?

With my new BFF, Rupert.

Again, there are lots more photos on facebook.

After wandering about the museum, creeping and taking photos of myself with the exhibits, I headed out for more town exploration, which I'll cover in the next blog entry because that also merits a photo tour.

Having fun, but of course it will be more fun the more traveling 'round buddies I have...come visit!

Cheers,

Amanda

Getting settled...

'ello,

Today is day three in the UK, and I'm already feeling more at home. My room is pretty much all set up, as you can see below...it originally was really sad and icky and cell-feeling, but I did some rearranging, unpacking and decorating, and things are looking up.

(My room from the doorway) (My bed, complete w/hippo and pictures of loved ones)

(I have my own sink but not my own bathroom)

The view from my window! The bookcase, which is not being used for many books at present. P.S. Look who made it to England!

(My "chill out" corner with bangin' quilt and Albie the bear, a gift from my sister)



(Desk. Meh.)

The foray of the day was into the city centre to take care of several odds and ends:

1) British cell phone : check.

2) British bank account: fail. I got too confused and intimidated by how the queue forms that I just sort of sputtered around in there for a moment and turned right back around.

3) Post office: accidental check. Many postcards are going out soon...if you want one, let me know and give me your address, please and thank you.

4) Posters: sort of check. I found my way to a poster store, but since the posters there were about 35 american dollas, i had to improvise. Instead, I bought some sheets of their wrapping paper, which is actually really nice paper with fun designs, and made that work as posters. You can see it if you enlarge the photos above, I think.

5) Drugstore: check. I no longer am living off of travel sized toothpaste, shampoo, etc. Little triumphs.

Oh, and I was wandering the streets, looking for lunch and came upon this place, which I figured was a safe bet:

and ate this:

It was delicious.

I am really trying not to go into any U.S.-based stores/restaurants, which are everywhere. There's one street in particular that has almost all in a row, a Gap, Burger King, KFC, McDonalds, Starbucks and Borders...and it's not that I especially miss any of these places/even went there when I lived in the US, it's just more of a comfort/familiarity thing. I'll give it a couple weeks and maybe let myself wander in for some chicken nuggets eventually.

Other odds and ends:

• As you know, in England you drive on the left. I was trying to figure out if I was supposed to walk on the other side of the sidewalk, as well, and learned that in fact, people just walk wherever the hell they want. Middle, zigzag, left, right, and you better get out of their way because
• They all move so fast. Or maybe in my new kid on the block haze, I'm just moving incredibly slowly. I'm sure it's like freshman year where I just have "I'm not from here" written all over my face and how I conduct myself.
• I have met very few actual British people. I think this is in part due to the fact that most people I've met are postgraduate (aka, grad) students like me, and 63% of Oxford's postgrad students are international students. So far, I've met people from South Korea, India, China, Japan, Norway, Cameroon, Lithuania, Greece, Taiwan, Australia, plus several Americans. The few English people I've met are either employees of the University or in the local shops. It's interesting, and I wonder whether it will continue once the term starts.
• I finally met all the other people on my floor! It was funny because for the past few days I hadn't met anyone and then tonight I met everyone at once. We have a truly international hallway--my hallmates include a guy from S. Korea who's working on his D.Phil in Sociology (and is interested in Women's Studies and policy, holler); a girl from Japan studying education; a girl from China studying education; and a guy from India studying...I forget what. Apparently my college is very popular among the Master's of Ed students because their department is right around the corner. I have yet to meet any fellow Women's Studies students, but from what I hear from other folks, many of them are American as well.

Okay, that's all I've got. Write me lovely comments because there are still many moments when I'm terribly homesick for all of you.

Xoxoxoxoxo and look out for those postcards,

Amanda

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