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.