It's been awhile. But I was thinking over it, and I think it's worth posting here still. In case I remember something, to do some reflection.
I didn't think that China would block blogger, so that's why no updates were made from China. I did make another travel blog, but I used it rarely. I hardly had any time in China. I'm glad I went to Oxford first: it prepared me for doing nothing but work. And that's all I did.I studied probably 8 hours a day on top of 5 hours of classes. Just of Chinese. Homework, flash cards, review, vocab, grammar.
And since I've been back...forgotten most of it. Which is a shame. Though, on the bright side, I do still have all the books, so I just need to input those into anki and review them once a week. I just haven't had time to do that. My tones also improved big time. I can hear the difference clearly, and when Dave speaks, I can see the difficulty he has with it. It's interesting. China improved my ear.
As for Oxford - the sad thing is, things here have gone back to normal. As if Oxford didn't really happen, as if the friends I made weren't ever really great friends. I don't ever see Ande it seems like. I hardly see Kat. I do have class with Olivia, and I see Zach around a lot. But it's not the same. It's not at all, and I miss that. Drama and all. The tailgate reunion is coming up though in a few weeks, and I can't wait to go to that. Mrs. Bradshaw, our house mother, will be there too! That'll be so nice!
The saddest thing though is how we hardly talk to the friends we made over there. I thought I had made some great friends, great friends with the British guys. I've seen two of them, they came and visited, but I've hardly talked to any of the others. Peter ignores me it seems like, and Joe too. I thought we could be friends past Oxford, and it doesn't seem like it.
But now it's school time. Been school time for awhile, and I'm my usual super-busy self. Cut back on the extracirriculars, but research is taking up a lot of time. It's fun, just a lot.
Maybe I'll get back to this soon and try and remember specific stories to share.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Places I've gone
I figure I might as well tell about all the places I've been since I've had time to actually travel, and I very well may include pictures.
1. Brighton: "Brighton is the place to find husbands!" Ande and I said practically the whole train ride there. (It's a line from Pride & Prejudice, if you didn't know.) It was just the two of us, and we got up rather early one Thursday morning to check out this seaside-palace kind of place. We weren't quite sure if we got on the right train though because it looked more field like than sea like, but we ended up in the right place. We decided that Brighton is what you make of it. We visited the Royal Pavilion, which was quite interesting, and had lovely tea there. We then went to Brighton Pier, where we found an arcade and carnival rides. It was a fantastic day that we laughed through and probably spent more money then we should. We went to a local bar and had a beer, before heading back to Oxford.
2. Bath: The very next day after Brighton, Kat, Michael and I traveled to Bath together. We only spent a few hours there, but we got to see a fair bit of the city. Saw the Roman Baths, which were an incredible history lesson, and stopped by the Jane Austen Center, and inside the Bath Cathedral. We headed back to Oxford to make dinner at Keble.
3. London: Finally when Dave arrived, I finally got to go into London! It was nice to go back there again, but it was painful too because I decided to break in new shoes and we walked a lot! I did get to go inside Westminster Abbey, which I hadn't gotten to do before. Then just walked all over London seeing the usual touristy things. I also then got to go back with Ande two Sunday's ago to see Lion King at West End! It was spectacular and we had a nice dinner at a cafe in Covent Garden.
4. Scotland: At the end of Dave's stay here, we traveled around Scotland to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Loch Ness/Inverness. I also stayed another night in Edinburgh, but that was unplanned and spontaneous (more later). Dave and I left Oxford very, very early in the morning (about 6am) and headed to Edinburgh. The countryside (what I saw of it on the train) was gorgeous, with lots of rolling hills and greenery and lambs. We had one night in Edinburgh, and the day was spent wandering around the city. We went to the Castle, but not inside it, and walked the Royal Mile to where Mary, Queen of Scots was held prisoner. We also spent a lot of time in the Whiskey Museum, which was a lot of fun. The next day we left early again to go to Inverness, where we caught a tour group to Loch Ness. Which was probably the most gorgeous, romantic, perfect place I've ever seen. We had such good weather. And everyone was really nice. We had a fantastic dinner, and then spent a good 2 1/2 hours at a local pub, with a really nice bartender and heard some local guy singing. It was by far the best night. Then we went to Glasgow on the bus, which was god awful. But Glasgow was pretty great. A business kind of city, so not much touristy stuff to see. So found Dave a hostel, left my stuff in the train station, and went to see Star Trek in this huge Cinema that was like 8 stories tall. It was fantastic and the tickets were really, really cheap. We almost had a panic attack though because I couldn't get on the Caledonian Sleeper, so I had to take another train with like 3 transfers. I ended up in the middle of nowhere called Westerton, where I called Kat and found out that she and Ande were still in Edinburgh and leaving in the morning. So I hopped on the train to Edinburgh and met them there. I did meet a very nice Scottish man and we had a good chat, though of course I was paranoid me the whole time. Spent the night in Kat/Ande's hotel and went back to Oxford in the morning to catch the final day of the Summer Eights (the big rowing competition) where we cheered Keble on.
5. Amsterdam: This past weekend, Kat, Ande and I traveled to Amsterdam. Finally another country I haven't been too since I've been here! I wanted to hit more countries in Europe but never got the chance to, which is a shame. Amsterdam though...could be skipped. The museums were pretty good, but the city was a bit sketchy and very dirty/grafetti. Our hostel was outside the city, which was gorgeous, but to get there from the main part of the city was nasty. We probably could've done more research, but oh well. We had a good time together, but had like a crazy guy kind of follow us, and may have seen a dead person in the alleyway. Yeah, not the best place to see. I'd skip it really. The museums aren't worth it.
6. Places in the near future: Cardiff and Chatsworth House. Cardiff for a day or two, and Chatsworth House is where Pemeberly of Pride & Prejudice is.
That's it for now! Gotta get ready for the Don's Party! Yeah free alcohol in front of my tutors! hahaha.
1. Brighton: "Brighton is the place to find husbands!" Ande and I said practically the whole train ride there. (It's a line from Pride & Prejudice, if you didn't know.) It was just the two of us, and we got up rather early one Thursday morning to check out this seaside-palace kind of place. We weren't quite sure if we got on the right train though because it looked more field like than sea like, but we ended up in the right place. We decided that Brighton is what you make of it. We visited the Royal Pavilion, which was quite interesting, and had lovely tea there. We then went to Brighton Pier, where we found an arcade and carnival rides. It was a fantastic day that we laughed through and probably spent more money then we should. We went to a local bar and had a beer, before heading back to Oxford.
2. Bath: The very next day after Brighton, Kat, Michael and I traveled to Bath together. We only spent a few hours there, but we got to see a fair bit of the city. Saw the Roman Baths, which were an incredible history lesson, and stopped by the Jane Austen Center, and inside the Bath Cathedral. We headed back to Oxford to make dinner at Keble.
3. London: Finally when Dave arrived, I finally got to go into London! It was nice to go back there again, but it was painful too because I decided to break in new shoes and we walked a lot! I did get to go inside Westminster Abbey, which I hadn't gotten to do before. Then just walked all over London seeing the usual touristy things. I also then got to go back with Ande two Sunday's ago to see Lion King at West End! It was spectacular and we had a nice dinner at a cafe in Covent Garden.
4. Scotland: At the end of Dave's stay here, we traveled around Scotland to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Loch Ness/Inverness. I also stayed another night in Edinburgh, but that was unplanned and spontaneous (more later). Dave and I left Oxford very, very early in the morning (about 6am) and headed to Edinburgh. The countryside (what I saw of it on the train) was gorgeous, with lots of rolling hills and greenery and lambs. We had one night in Edinburgh, and the day was spent wandering around the city. We went to the Castle, but not inside it, and walked the Royal Mile to where Mary, Queen of Scots was held prisoner. We also spent a lot of time in the Whiskey Museum, which was a lot of fun. The next day we left early again to go to Inverness, where we caught a tour group to Loch Ness. Which was probably the most gorgeous, romantic, perfect place I've ever seen. We had such good weather. And everyone was really nice. We had a fantastic dinner, and then spent a good 2 1/2 hours at a local pub, with a really nice bartender and heard some local guy singing. It was by far the best night. Then we went to Glasgow on the bus, which was god awful. But Glasgow was pretty great. A business kind of city, so not much touristy stuff to see. So found Dave a hostel, left my stuff in the train station, and went to see Star Trek in this huge Cinema that was like 8 stories tall. It was fantastic and the tickets were really, really cheap. We almost had a panic attack though because I couldn't get on the Caledonian Sleeper, so I had to take another train with like 3 transfers. I ended up in the middle of nowhere called Westerton, where I called Kat and found out that she and Ande were still in Edinburgh and leaving in the morning. So I hopped on the train to Edinburgh and met them there. I did meet a very nice Scottish man and we had a good chat, though of course I was paranoid me the whole time. Spent the night in Kat/Ande's hotel and went back to Oxford in the morning to catch the final day of the Summer Eights (the big rowing competition) where we cheered Keble on.
5. Amsterdam: This past weekend, Kat, Ande and I traveled to Amsterdam. Finally another country I haven't been too since I've been here! I wanted to hit more countries in Europe but never got the chance to, which is a shame. Amsterdam though...could be skipped. The museums were pretty good, but the city was a bit sketchy and very dirty/grafetti. Our hostel was outside the city, which was gorgeous, but to get there from the main part of the city was nasty. We probably could've done more research, but oh well. We had a good time together, but had like a crazy guy kind of follow us, and may have seen a dead person in the alleyway. Yeah, not the best place to see. I'd skip it really. The museums aren't worth it.
6. Places in the near future: Cardiff and Chatsworth House. Cardiff for a day or two, and Chatsworth House is where Pemeberly of Pride & Prejudice is.
That's it for now! Gotta get ready for the Don's Party! Yeah free alcohol in front of my tutors! hahaha.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Changing Times
There are those things in life that changes a person. Sometimes you can feel them, like the wind in your hair, and other times they are barely perceptible, like the Earth spinning below you. I didn't expect much when coming here. I expected hard work and perhaps making some friends. I didn't expect to fall in love with the city, to become so attached to this house, to these people. I didn't think I would change, and needless to say, I have changed. I feel like a different person then when I came here - but the question is, do I like that new person?
I have done a lot since I last posted, and so it's hard to figure out where to start from. I've visited Brighton, Bath, London, Edinburgh, Inverness, Loch Ness, Glasgow, and now Amsterdam. I'm finally getting to see the parts that I wanted to see. This weekend coming up I am going to Chatsworth House and Cardiff, Wales. I, hopefully, will get to see Dave for another 24 hours or so before parting ways for the rest of the summer until we meet back again on August 11th for the flight back home.
It's all gone so fast! I hope the next six weeks will be like that (well, the six weeks in China, that is).
My computer is acting strangely. So, for now, this is all and hopefully in the coming days I'll have some time to spare for more details of my travels and classes.
I have done a lot since I last posted, and so it's hard to figure out where to start from. I've visited Brighton, Bath, London, Edinburgh, Inverness, Loch Ness, Glasgow, and now Amsterdam. I'm finally getting to see the parts that I wanted to see. This weekend coming up I am going to Chatsworth House and Cardiff, Wales. I, hopefully, will get to see Dave for another 24 hours or so before parting ways for the rest of the summer until we meet back again on August 11th for the flight back home.
It's all gone so fast! I hope the next six weeks will be like that (well, the six weeks in China, that is).
My computer is acting strangely. So, for now, this is all and hopefully in the coming days I'll have some time to spare for more details of my travels and classes.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
I thought I already did this...
While I'm waiting for either Kat to show up or call or to go to dinner, I figured I might as well actually explain the stuff that's been going on over here.
Seminars over: I don't think I need to explain this one. Finished last Thursday, turned in my last paper on Monday, and that was that. Thank goodness they're over. For serious.
Tutorials: Well, I have my first tutorial on Tuesday, and my second one today (Thursday). They are so different than anything I've really done except for research with Dr. Tessman. I have also learned that I know nothing about comparative politics. I was quite embarassed during that class, but hopefully I'll learn quickly. My International Conflict class on the other hand was quite wonderful, if I do say so myself. I knew more of what I was talking about, and when he prompted me for further answers, I could at least get most of it. Both my tutors are very nice too.
"The guys": Chris, James, John, Joe, and Peter. They're adorable, and we played Risk (well three of them did) and basically they're hilarious.
First club ever: I actually don't remember what it was called...Risa! That's it. It was...icky. My dress got wet, my shoes were sticky, and at one point I almost passed out from claustrophobia. Meh. Hopefully the other ones will be better? I did dance though, which is unusual for me.
Dancesport: Is a lot of fun! I've always wanted to learn how to ballroom dance, and so I went on Monday and learned! I learned the cha-cha, the waltz, and the quickstep. Peter was pretty hilarious, and couldn't remember most of the stuff but he picked up the quickstep well...quickly! So the people asked us if we would perform in the cuppers (the competition here) for the quickstep! I'm nervous and excited.
Anyway, I'm bored with updating that stuff.
Tonight is May Day. Basically, everything is open until 5 or 6 in the morning, at which point you go to Magadlen Bridge and watch the sunrise, and then listen to the choir sing on the tower. Hopefully we'll make it through the night. I sure hope I do at least! And I'll try and post most pictures soon...
Seminars over: I don't think I need to explain this one. Finished last Thursday, turned in my last paper on Monday, and that was that. Thank goodness they're over. For serious.
Tutorials: Well, I have my first tutorial on Tuesday, and my second one today (Thursday). They are so different than anything I've really done except for research with Dr. Tessman. I have also learned that I know nothing about comparative politics. I was quite embarassed during that class, but hopefully I'll learn quickly. My International Conflict class on the other hand was quite wonderful, if I do say so myself. I knew more of what I was talking about, and when he prompted me for further answers, I could at least get most of it. Both my tutors are very nice too.
"The guys": Chris, James, John, Joe, and Peter. They're adorable, and we played Risk (well three of them did) and basically they're hilarious.
First club ever: I actually don't remember what it was called...Risa! That's it. It was...icky. My dress got wet, my shoes were sticky, and at one point I almost passed out from claustrophobia. Meh. Hopefully the other ones will be better? I did dance though, which is unusual for me.
Dancesport: Is a lot of fun! I've always wanted to learn how to ballroom dance, and so I went on Monday and learned! I learned the cha-cha, the waltz, and the quickstep. Peter was pretty hilarious, and couldn't remember most of the stuff but he picked up the quickstep well...quickly! So the people asked us if we would perform in the cuppers (the competition here) for the quickstep! I'm nervous and excited.
Anyway, I'm bored with updating that stuff.
Tonight is May Day. Basically, everything is open until 5 or 6 in the morning, at which point you go to Magadlen Bridge and watch the sunrise, and then listen to the choir sing on the tower. Hopefully we'll make it through the night. I sure hope I do at least! And I'll try and post most pictures soon...
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Quick Update:
To be explained more later.
Seminars over
First tutorial today
"The guys"
First club ever
Dancesport
Trinity Choir Concert
Cat run over...
Bike
I think that's about it!
Seminars over
First tutorial today
"The guys"
First club ever
Dancesport
Trinity Choir Concert
Cat run over...
Bike
I think that's about it!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Seriously?
I cannot believe it's been a week. That tells you that I am actually working my butt off almost all the time. So much so that I cannot help contemplate writing up a "what am I doing over here" thing.
What have I been up too?
Writing papers, reading - the usual. The last Archer paper I did was just confusing. I did so much research and it just confused me more! I think I ended up doing it alright, and it at least sounded good. I suppose I'll get my grade back tomorrow, but who knows. I know a lot of people didn't finish it - mainly the Bradshaw kids. I am so glad I'm not one of them. They just read and read and don't have time for anything else.
Friday though, Kat did talk me into going out. Not all of us went (see Bradshaw comment above), but I went out and met some Keble kids, and had some drinks, and had a pretty good time. We then got kababs and went back to the house. Some people were so drunk. It was pretty amusing. I played Dawgopoly with two of the Keble guys and Zach, one of the guys here. I wanted to play Risk but they scoffed.
Saturday was retail-therapy day and sleeping-in. Especially because we've been staying up until like 4am (7am in Kat's case). We went shopping at Primark and bought lots of stuff! I spent 60 quid...in clothes. But I go a lot! I got 2 pashminas, 2 pairs of shoes [one flat, one boot], 2 pairs of pajamas, socks, seamless socks, a loufa, a pencil skirt, a rain jacket, a cami, and linen shorts. It's pretty awesome at Primark. I also bought a bike from one of the grad students for 30 quid, but I have to go have a tube replaced. So that'll be happening tomorrow. Saturday night I didn't go out, though most other people did. I stayed in and watched three movies and went through the grad students leftovers and got like four bottles of liquor. It was pretty good.
Sunday, we all worked. Played some late-night soccer outside on the lawn.
Today I woke up and went straight to the Bodleian and stayed there for close to six hours. I got to go into Duke Humphrey's Library, which is the Harry Potter Library. It was pretty awesome. Sorry though - couldn't get pictures. I did lots of research. Lots of it. Then grabbed a quick bit to eat from a nearby store before walking to the house before dinner. Yes, I ate before dinner. Dinner was alright. It's so much different with all the students here now! They got back on Sunday and dinner has become so loud! It'll be nice to get to know some of them.
I'm trying to figure out what club/athletic I want to join. I could do soccer with Kat. I could do fencing or ballroom dancing. I could just do nothing. But I want to get involved somehow. Especially if lots of others are.
I have a meeting with my tutors tomorrow and Wednesday! I'm so nervous! I hope they don't quiz me on stuff. I only know history right now! I haven't been keeping up on the news, or Chinese - there's just so much stuff that needs to be done!
And most of us are going to have papers due the first meeting with our tutors. And we'll be finishing up our seminar papers. I have one due Wednesday for Archer, and the big one that I've been researching a lot for for Ehlers due Friday at midnight.
It's just paper after paper.
But it's a lot of fun. No joke.
Dave and I are going to be on the same flight back home in August. I'm super happy about that. And now I need to work and not procrastinate via this.
What have I been up too?
Writing papers, reading - the usual. The last Archer paper I did was just confusing. I did so much research and it just confused me more! I think I ended up doing it alright, and it at least sounded good. I suppose I'll get my grade back tomorrow, but who knows. I know a lot of people didn't finish it - mainly the Bradshaw kids. I am so glad I'm not one of them. They just read and read and don't have time for anything else.
Friday though, Kat did talk me into going out. Not all of us went (see Bradshaw comment above), but I went out and met some Keble kids, and had some drinks, and had a pretty good time. We then got kababs and went back to the house. Some people were so drunk. It was pretty amusing. I played Dawgopoly with two of the Keble guys and Zach, one of the guys here. I wanted to play Risk but they scoffed.
Saturday was retail-therapy day and sleeping-in. Especially because we've been staying up until like 4am (7am in Kat's case). We went shopping at Primark and bought lots of stuff! I spent 60 quid...in clothes. But I go a lot! I got 2 pashminas, 2 pairs of shoes [one flat, one boot], 2 pairs of pajamas, socks, seamless socks, a loufa, a pencil skirt, a rain jacket, a cami, and linen shorts. It's pretty awesome at Primark. I also bought a bike from one of the grad students for 30 quid, but I have to go have a tube replaced. So that'll be happening tomorrow. Saturday night I didn't go out, though most other people did. I stayed in and watched three movies and went through the grad students leftovers and got like four bottles of liquor. It was pretty good.
Sunday, we all worked. Played some late-night soccer outside on the lawn.
Today I woke up and went straight to the Bodleian and stayed there for close to six hours. I got to go into Duke Humphrey's Library, which is the Harry Potter Library. It was pretty awesome. Sorry though - couldn't get pictures. I did lots of research. Lots of it. Then grabbed a quick bit to eat from a nearby store before walking to the house before dinner. Yes, I ate before dinner. Dinner was alright. It's so much different with all the students here now! They got back on Sunday and dinner has become so loud! It'll be nice to get to know some of them.
I'm trying to figure out what club/athletic I want to join. I could do soccer with Kat. I could do fencing or ballroom dancing. I could just do nothing. But I want to get involved somehow. Especially if lots of others are.
I have a meeting with my tutors tomorrow and Wednesday! I'm so nervous! I hope they don't quiz me on stuff. I only know history right now! I haven't been keeping up on the news, or Chinese - there's just so much stuff that needs to be done!
And most of us are going to have papers due the first meeting with our tutors. And we'll be finishing up our seminar papers. I have one due Wednesday for Archer, and the big one that I've been researching a lot for for Ehlers due Friday at midnight.
It's just paper after paper.
But it's a lot of fun. No joke.
Dave and I are going to be on the same flight back home in August. I'm super happy about that. And now I need to work and not procrastinate via this.
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