This is the first time I'm sitting in front of a computer with internet access for nearly two weeks!
Ahem.
On with the report.
The flight went very well. As I was really early at the airport I got a seat in the very first row in this cutest little airplane I've ever been in, Fokker 100. It looks bigger in the picture, it has only 21 rows.
I arrived at London Stansted, got my luggage without any problem but missed the bus to Oxford for just a few minutes. As it was a Sunday, this meant having to wait for one and a half hour to get the next one.
But at least I had a lot of bus ride in the end; due to several construction sides (or was it only one really large one?) around London, and of course due to the London evening traffic, it took me 4 hours of bus ride to arrive. -.-
Luckily the charming Lodge Porter (he really is) was expecting me, so I had no problems getting my keys even though I arrived at nearly 11 p.m., in the midst of the welcoming party...
I'm sharing rooms with another Fresher girl, she already helped me finding my way around a bit and is generally very nice. I have to pester her a bit more about laundry facilities tomorrow.
As the Sunday evening was rather short for me (I didn't catch up with the drinking on the party, so I thought I culd go to bed as well), Monday was just longer.
From 9:30 to 17:30 I was at the Orientation for International Students which provided talks about different helpful topics, general information, financial management, safety and security (the police officer who did that talk looked very alike to Markus Maria Profittlich), welfare and all that jazz. Afterwards we had a walking tour in small groups with a graduate student who showed us the best places to shop and to eat.
In the evening there was a first clubbing but I didn't stay very long as I was already tired from the travel the day before.
Today I attended some talks at College, mainly information about college doctors, chaplain, general studying techniques and of course the introduction to this wonderful computer room. :)
Tomorrow I'll have an introduction session to the Taylorian Library, as this is the main library I'll have to use for my subject, and in the afternon I'll meet my tutor for the first time. I'm rather daunted by that, I don't know if this is a "just-want-to-meet-before-work-starts"-m
Another thing I have to do tomorrow is shopping for a gown. ^^
On Thursday I have to meet the Rector of the college to sign the college register, and you are only allowed to step in front of the rector when wearing a gown. Quite daunting again, do I only have to sign something somewhere or do I get a rethorical clap on the shoulder as well? Questions and even more questions...
I have to ask for a bit more patience concerning pictures.
I'll get my laptop connected to the college net on Monday (hopefully!), and then I'll start posting pictures.
Up to now I'll try to read emails every day in the evening, so I'm available again! Hooray!
The introduction to the library this morning was cool. Just imagine a baroque style cupola roofed building, up with books from floor to wall, with a spiral staircase leading 6 metres up, then you've got the Taylorian Library. And it's all mine! Well of course not but it's my subject specific library. And they have an extra section only with General and Applied Linguistics! If the place hadn't been so grand I would have squeed. ^^
Afterwards we went to Moo-moo's for milkshakes. Those are really dangerous things. I was so stuffed I skipped lunch (but was starving again at dinner time).
Then I was really lucky to decide to go to the computer room and check my emails because my tutor had sent me one asking if I could make it one hour earlier.
So I went to the meeting at 3, climbed up several very narrow staircases (her office is located in the top room in one of the flanking towers of the main-side) and nearly bumped into the office door as it quite suddenly blocked the way. -.-
I'm not sure if I made a good impression, my tutor (Prof. Watanabe btw) asked me what I wanted to do specifically, I answered as best as I could but I didn't name any specific author; I had the impression I should have done so.
Then she informed me that apparently the University of Oxford has changed the rules for Visiting Students, and so I can't do my Master here. :(
On the other hand, this means I can take whatever courses I like, and I can even decide if I want to have tutorials or not (and in which term I want them). I'll take tutorials anyway but for that I have to be more sure of a specific topic.
After the talk with Prof Watanabe I went and bought my gown (graduate, as a Visiting Student) at "Walters of Oxford".
It was so neat!
Of course I don't know if the chatting and serving was "just" to make a sale, but the vendor seemed genuinely caring for me being dressed accordingly to academic requirements. ^^
So now I've got the whole set: Graduate gown, mortarboard, black ribbon tie (the vendor even gave me one of the more expensive velvet ties instead of a plain one for the same price) and white "sub fusc" blouse.
Pictures to come. ;)
Yesterday I had a full timetable. In the morning we went to the Freshers Fair where about 160 clubs and societies present themselves, and where you can join their mailing lists for more information before actually joining the society.
I signed up for
I'm unsure about Oxford Dancesport Society, I would really love to dance again but the classes take place in St. Hughes College, that's a bit far from Exeter; and I don't know about my motivation to go there when it's winter and all dark and cold...
The same goes for Oxford Student United Nations, a kind of roleplay where you can learn about the UN from actual members and practice discussing with them. It sounds so great but I'm not sure if I'm up for political debating...
Last but not least I came across a stall about Dyslexia Research, and the friendly stallholder told me to contact the group for more information about their current researches; apparently they are looking for participants, I suppose for control groups in their research, and it would be so cool to participate in that. Currently I'm waiting for a response on my email from that research group. Of course I don't have any problems of changing my thesis to dyslexia research as well, should I get the possibility. ^^'
After the Freshers Fair I was invited to Chaplains Lunch, together with all students of Modern Languages and Classics as well. A free lunch in the Chaplain's rooms, with about 20 people and the Chaplain's cat. ^^
It was very relaxing as the Chaplain herself is a very friendly and (as it seems) caring person, and her cat is of course an ideal "ice-breaker". Although the poor thing seemed to be a bit rushed by all those foreign people, and wasn't able to decide on whose lap she wanted to be... *insert frantically lap-jumping cat, trying to be everywhere at once*
In the afternoon I had to sign the College Register, in the presence of the Rector. Yes, that means I had to wear my gown for the very first time. ^^'
But it was only the gown over my common street clothes, not too formal, but nevertheless it felt a bit weird (and exciting) to walk across the college square in a gown. I was really nervous but the Rector was very friendly as well and the whole thing was quite cosy I have to admit. Sitting down at a small tea table with the register on it, talking about what I wanted to study and what societies I was interested in, then the signing, and 10 minutes later everything was done.
No break for me though - in the afternoon I had a meeting with my advisor, Mr Herring. He was very funny and seemed to be almost more nervous than us students (we are six advisees <- I like that word, just learned it ^^), and he kept bouncing and rolling on his sitting ball. xD
He is my contact person if I want to talk about almost everything, if I want to hear a second opinion on my work before I start bothering my tutor, if I feel stupid and don't want to bother my tutor or if I have other problems and need advice (it's neat that he is a lawyer, so he definitively can give me even legal advice *gg*). This meeting took about half an hour and was quite comfortable, so all in all I feel very well indeed cared for. ^^
In the evening it got a bit more formal, and - don't hurt me - I forgot my camera. ;_;
We had an official Freshers Dinner, everyone was dressed formally and with gown. As a prelude there were drinks at the Rector's Lodgings, and then we all went over to the Hall for the dinner. This could have been a scene from the Harry Potter movie. XD
We were sorted at the tables after study subject, all standing in front of their seats waiting for the Rector to arrive and sit down. The dinner itself was delicious, I really don't know why some people have warned me not to eat too often in college. Even the "normal" food is great. After the dinner (3 courses, wine, coffee ^^) the Rector did a humorous welcome speech, everyone stood up for a toast to the college, and again everyone waited until the Rector left the Hall before sitting down again.
As I said, just out of a Harry Potter movie. ^^
The atmosphere was really fantastic and I met some nice people. We continued the evening (and the talking) in the College Bar, although we didn't drink anything (shocking, I know) - with four glasses of whine during dinner we all had enough. Not surprisingly it was rather late when I hit my bed.
Today could have been quite relaxing if I hadn't put it in my mind to do a little bit of shopping.
The only item on my timetable was yet another library introduction, this time it was the Philosophy Library (Merton Street; have you been there as well,
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chili_das_schaf?) together with a presentation of how to use the webbased research facilities. What can I say - I'm in heaven! Access to 40 different libraries, additionally to the Bodlein Library with 7 million titles, a lot of them even as online publications... *fainted wug*After the introduction I went - shopping.
First I explored Blackwell and found (another) reason why I have to send massive parcels back to Germany before I'm leaving here again. I stumbled over the General Linguistics department of that store... Everything. They have everything you can imagine in textbooks and classics. I definitively will buy "The Handbook of Applied Linguistics" and "Forensic Linguistics" sooner or later. And today I bought "The Penguin Handbook of Language" by our all friend and half-god, David Crystal. xD
Additionally I bought the third part of the Tiffany trilogy, Wintersmith. Finally a new Tiffany book. l3
My next stop was at Primark. But
chili_das_schaf, it's in Westgate Shopping Centre, as well as the Sainsbury, not in Clarendon Centre. ;)I got some basics there and sports clothes for my first floorball session next Monday. Then I bought new sports shoes as well, had a last stop at Sainsbury and then I fought my way back to college - not easy with three large and heavy shopping bags.
Then I went straight to the computer room to tell you all of my current experiences. Isn't that neat?
Now I'm overly tired, so please excuse the lack of conclusion. ;)
Yesterday was the initial bop (that means party) in the College Bar.
Oh My God.
So much fun! Everyone dressed up in costumes (I cross-dressed because I didn't bring a costume), pictures to come, and then... Well there was the College Bar, with very decent prices for drinks and cocktails. And there was cool music. And about 120 people. I guess you can imagine the rest. ^^'
When I toppled up the stairs to my room I was one of the "early leavers" - at 2 a.m.
Consequently I woke up at 7:30 this morning, as everyday in the last week, but I was able to go back to sleep again for a little while.
Today I was invited to a BBQ lunch in the Rector's garden, together with all William College students from the US. I was really nervous about that because, you know, an invitation from the Rector? In her garden? I didn't know how formal it was going to be.
In the end I shouldn't have worried that much, it was very informal and the Rector herself introduced us to each other, her husband was grilling burgers for us and we all had a great time.
I met some other visiting students, Helena from Finland (Helsinki! ^^), Carolina from Sweden, and some British students who already knew former students from Bonn who had been in Oxford last year. One of them, Sue, invited me to the MCR (Middle Common Room, the room and society for graduate students) and after lunch we went there together so I could introduce myself and get my swipe card changed so that I now actually have access to the physical MCR. ^^
At the end of the BBQ lunch the Rector also invited us to her seminars, which are talks from famous people coming into college once a week, and an opportunity to talk to them after the talk. There are some big names for this term, e.g. Bill Rammell, Minister for Higher Education, or Mark Thompson, DG of the BBC, who are going to give a talk here.
Additionally she invited us to come and talk to her if we want to do an internship in a big company, so she can try and help us to get in. I'm wondering if she is able to get me a foot in the door of the Institute of Linguistic Evidence... lD
After that really relaxed and welcoming lunch I feel very well cared for here, even more so than before. It's unbelieveable what the tutors, teachers and even the Rector are willing to do for you to help you getting your university carreer successfully done, and after university even more so. Simply amazing.
Then I went for a walk to the Iffley Road Sports Centre where I'll have my first unihockey session tomorrow morning. It's a walk of 20 minutes, so especially when it gets colder I'll have to check out the bus connections.
This evening at 6 there is Freshers Evensong in the Chapel with Exeter's Choir, advertised as "Oxford's Best College Choir". I'm really curious about that so I'll go to church the first time since... Erm, Easter. And anyways, there will be drinks after that in the Chaplain's rooms. ^^'
So much for now, more to come in the next week. :)
Click here for Oxford Gallery!
You'll miss pictures of me... well, next Saturday you'll get the most hilarious pictures ever, "wug in sub fusc" (no, that's not a dessert). Just be a bit patient. ;)
Other news:
I have sore muscles from unihockey training. And now we have two training sessions a week, Monday and Saturday. Yay! This is so much fun, I even scored a goal yesterday! And I blocked at least 10 shots on my goal when I was keeper, only 3 balls got through at all. *is proud*
And I'm on serious CSI withdrawal. Just something I wanted to mention.
Well at least I have my laptop connection now, so hopefully I'll be a bit more available in the evenings.
Tomorrow I have two seminars in the morning and Beginners Latin Dance Class in the evening. After that I'll go to Rectors Seminar, Bill Rammel, Minister for Higher Education, is giving a talk.
Now I'm dead tired and will slump into bed.
I slept in, got some of my immense reading done, did my laundry (yay!) and went to Rector's Seminar in the afternoon. This time Lord Woolf, former Lord Chief Justice gave a talk about civil rights in UK and EU, and the following discussion was intense, critical and friendly. Really a well spent hour in the Rector's Lodgings.
When I went to bed yesterday I tossed around quite a bit because I wasn't really sure of how to approach my first essay. I mean in actually writing something down, not in general. I have read so much so far and now I've got some problems in getting my thoughts into line. Usually it helps me to sleep a night over it but this time I was slowly drifting away already when the digested input hit me like a brick.
I think I have quite a good concept now, and last night one piece I couldn't make any sense of fell into place, pulling some other pieces with it into new places, resulting in about four hours sleep at all and a lot of scrawled notes.
Now I just have to work up the motivation to actually write this stuff down.
That's my problem at the moment. But maybe I can get to it later in the evening, I can work always better in the evening than in the day.
( Floorball rambling )
I think I have procrastinated my essay enough, I give it a try now.
(Although I'd like another training session even better. ^^')
A sure sign that I'm settling in and get some kind of routine at last.
Ok, on Tuesday I didn't do much except writing my essay. I'm not really satisfied with it but I don't know how to change it at the moment. Somehow I have the impression that I wasn't able to say everything the way I would like it to come out, if you know what I mean. But I didn't manage to find better fomulations, and I can't blame my non-native-ness exclusively for this. Well I'll see what my supervisor has to say about it.
In the evening I went for a small Linguists Party, basically all people of he college who study Modern Languages came together for some glasses of wine and nibbles in the Rector's Lodge, quite conversationally, I met some new people, I met some people I had met before, and two hours later we were all considerably tipsy and staggered back to our rooms.
Today was a rushed day in some respects.
I overslept a little and had to hurry for my lecture at 9. I managed to be on time but without breakfast, so I grabbed a sandwich on my way home. Half an hour later I went to Somerville College where I have a graduate seminar about the poems and music by Oswald von Wolkenstein, a medieval writer. It was really cool, we are only 12 people (and this is considered a large group here!!) including Almut Suerbaum and Prof Palmer (if you study Medieval German Literature, you shuld have heard of him ^^), so we got into a rather complex discussion about one of Oswald's poems.
As this seminar ended at 1:30, exactly the time when college stops serving lunch, I had to grab another sandwich. In the afternoon I edited a bit of my essay and wrote the list of references; somehow this seems so little in comparison to what I have to write in Germany! I can't remember when I had a paper with only 6 references in Germany...
In the evening I went to another Rector's Seminar, this time it was Stella Rimington, former Director of MI5 speaking. Wow, that was one interesting talk. :)
She told us about how the different secret agencies in the UK work together, what the difficulties are concerning legal actions and safety vs. private interests, how it was for her to be the first female Director of that agency, and she answered an awful lot of questions concerning national security issues and the strategies how the agencies deal with terrorism (not in detail though, only conceptional). She is a very charismatic person and I would have liked talking to her for some hours more than she was actually here. ^^
Even later in the evening I went to the Scientific Society to see a presentation about Computer Visualisation.
The presentation was held by an employee of the Microsoft Research Centre in Cambridge, and included basic experiments and presentation of the problems of programming algorythms for AI visual systems as well as stereo vision problems (concerning AI) and of course graphic rendering and simulating textures for Hollywood film companies.
Here you can find the detailed term card of the society for this term. I'm so happy that I found this society, I can stay up to date with scientific questions I wouldn't hear about in Germany so soon and effortless! My inner geek is drooling. <3
When I finally went back to college I discovered that my network connection in my room isn't working (therefore I'm sitting in the Balsdon Room again). I checked every possibility I could think of but it just doesn't connect me to the college network.
Well, if it's not better tomorrow I'll contact IT help. Sometimes it's great to be "only" a student, and not an IT student assisstant... ^^'
Enough stories for today, tomorrow will be a long day as well: 3 lectures during the day and in the evening it's the Film Night of the German Society in Worcester College. They are showing "Good bye Lenin"! :D
You see, I won't be bored that easily here.
My supervisor thought my essay good although a bit too much focused on the "authorship" part than on the "actual text" part.
But hey, if he gives me a topic as general as "Problems of female authorship in >Geschichte des Fräuleins von Sternheim<", I'll take the text to illustrate the things I say on the problems of female authorship.
After I read the essay to him (that felt weird...) we discussed some points I had mentioned in the essay and then focussed on the text itself.
I think I did an acceptable job in stating my thoughts and ideas but again I don't know for sure how I did. In the end my supervisor just said that he had liked the essay and found it interesting to discuss with me. Ooookay. So what about some more precise feedback?
I also don't know if he will write a report or something like that to my tutor, I know it's done that way for regular undergraduates but 1. I'm graduate and 2. I'm Visiting, so I have no idea how far I'll get into the system of tutorials here.
If you really want to read my frst essay, feel free to click here for the pdf.
On another note, I finally gave in to peer pressure and ( bought a college sweater. )
It's one of those dark blue, hooded sweaters with a bag in front, and of course it has the college crest on it. ^^
I bought it mainly because the weather here begins to turn autumn-ish, with fine spraying rain and cold winds, and I thought I could use this sweater very well when I walk to floorball training and back.
Now I'm back at work. Although my next essay is in 6th week (now it's 2nd week) I have to start reading... I got the assignment to read as much texts as I can find by Caroline Auguste Fischer, and guess what - I've found 5 novels and two editions with short prose and novellas. Something about 1600 pages worth of reading for me.
I guess you know where to find me in the next month.
I have my timetable, I have my training, I have my societies, I should be able to draw a certain kind of routine out of it.
And as soon as I think that next week's activities are planned out, I get bombarded with emails announcing yet another talk, or a film night, or a dinner or whathaveyou. xD
On Saturday evening we had George Webb in college, according to the Rector "the man responsible for bringing traditional New-Orleans Jazz to England in the 1950s".
It sure was a great evening, we met in the Rector's Lodgings and he played various pieces on the piano and saxophone, and even later in the evening some students went to fetch their own instruments and played along with him. Wow, that was an event! Such Jazz! Too bad it lasted "only" about 4 hours, then the Rector threw us out to get some peace. xD
Sunday went quite uneventful. The Rector's seminar featured Mark Thompson, Director General of the BBC, but somehow this talk didn't convince me as much as the ones had before. Maybe because I was still on jazz (did I mention the jazz party on Saturday started at 8:30? And went on for a bit more than 4 hours?) but maybe also because he had to compete with the impressions on the previous talk with Stella Rimmington. But of course it was well enough listening to him.
Yesterday I actually managed to get some work done. After floorball training I went on a library tour, returned the books for my previous essay and collecting the new ones for my next essay. I realised with horror that three of the five novels I have to read for the essay are only avbailable as facsimiles... In Gothic print (Fraktur)! Argh! I mean I am able to read that print, but it sure gives me a headache after a while.
Luckily I have almost all texts on this nifty CD ROM I bought, Deutsche Literatur von Frauen. So I can read most of the novels quite comfortably on my screen rather than in miniscule Gothic printed pocket books... And I actually got to read 2 novels on yesterday! Yay! Only 3 more to go (not counting two books with novella-collections)! -.-
Today I had only one lecture on "Feminist critiques of Western Philosophy". It's in the lecture series "Theory on Women's Studies" which usually is a great and varied set of lectures. Last week it was a lecture solely on Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex", and it was one of the best lectured I have ever heard so far. Today was quite ok but not as intoxicating as the one about Beauvoir. For anyone who has done some work about the natural vs cultural discourse in modern philosophy this lecture was pretty basic but nonetheless quite interesting. I'm using lectures like that as a repetition for my coming final exams in Germany... ^^'
After that lecture I met wih the other three Bonn students at the Taylorian, and together we walked out to St. Hugh's College to meet our ERASMUS departmental coordinator.
That meeting was rather funny and informal, and I realised how lucky I am that I have come to Exeter College. The other ones are in different colleges and apparently not as well cared for as I am... They have worse rooms, confused tutors who don't know what to do with them and on top of that worse meals in college. While I can eat everything that comes out of the college kitchen, they told me that sometimes they can't even identify what the thing on their plates was in a previous life. And their colleges aren't as active as Exeter, they don't have Rector's Seminars and their MCRs seem to be not as active either.
Of course we talked about all that with our ERASMUS coordinator today, Tom Kuhn, and he also told us a lot about Oxford University's bureaucracy... This reminded me strongly of Pratchett's UU, as it seems that in Oxford a lot of things are being made up and settled while moving along. xD
All in all we spent a good part of the afternoon in the SCR with Tom talking, so I realised too late that I was missing a talk organised by the German Society. Ok, the topic (Schiller's Aesthetics) is not really my cup of tea so I was not too shattered by missing it.
Tomorrow and Thursday will hopefully be more "regular" and without suddenly appearing dates and meetings, and on Friday we Bonner are invited to a Guest Dinner at New College where Anna (one of the Bonner) is studying.
For now I'll go back to reading my novels...
On Friday I went to the Guest Dinner at New College together with Anna and Marc. It was really stylish, with candles as the only lights in the Hall, massive silverware on the table and of course wine and table service. You really get pampered here. ^^'
First course was mussels in saffron sauce, not really my taste but I tried them anyway. I ate two of five mussels, then my stomach quite rolled over and I gave the rest to the guy opposite of me. But the main course was delicious, sirloin beef with Dijon mustard, caramelised potatoes and courgettes. Then dark chocolate truffle tart and coffee as dessert, and the evening was complete.
After the dinner we went into the MCR for a few drinks but as they were quite expensive and the music wasn't too hot either, we called it a night at around 1 a.m.
Yesterday I skipped floorball training because of my still upset stomach. I guess the second mussel wasn't too agreeable after all... So I just went for a walk through the city, enjoying the golden October weather, and tried to get some work done (not really successfully).
In the evening I met with Mari, a Finnish girl I first met at the orientation programme for international students in 0th week.
That was a great night, we managed to tour three pubs, The White Horse, The Turl Tavern and Mertons Bar (very good cocktails!), were we got swept out with the sawdust at close to 2 a.m.
I've never been happier about the ending of summertime, meaning the clock being switched back for an hour and giving me one hour more sleep. ^^'
But it was so great talking to Mari, as we are closer in age than the undergraduates, and so we covered nearly everything from contemporary politics, literary theory (she studies Russian literature), TV shows, movies and I don't even know anymore.
Today I won't do much.
I still have to read stuff for my next essay (who would have guessed that), and I'm still waiting for an available washing machine to do my laundry. Nothing too exciting for me today, please!
Upwugging events:
Monday:
Floorball training in the morning
Meeting with Katharina (from Bonn) for a coffee in the afternoon
Tuesday:
Appointment with hairdresser in the morning *insert viola-screech from "Psycho": eekeekeekeeeeeeek!*
Ok, enough of that obscure intro, and a little parody instead:
Yesterday night we had a fire alarm in our staircase (6). At 1:30 a.m.
So, totally bewildered, my roomie and me grabbed our coats and keys and left the building. The other occupants of 6 joint us shortly after in the Quad, and there we stood, in pajamas, coats and bibbering from the cold.
The alarm shrilled over the whole Quad - and the porter leaned out of his lodge, saw us standing there rather clueless, and hollered:
Oy! What happened?
We: The alarm went off.
Him: I can hear that, but what happened?
We: Nothing! We were sleeping! *goddammititsalmost2inthemornig!*
Him: So who set the alarm off?
We: NO IDEA! Make it stop!
Him: So there isn't a fire?
We: Nooooo! If there were, we wouldn't be freezing!
Him: Alrightalright, let me check my board... It says the alarm went off first in room 6!
Girl from 6: No way! I was in bed! *cue some dirty jokes*
Guy from 7: Um, I was smoking... But I smoked in the room before, and the alarm didn't go off...
Porter: Nonono, on my board it says room 6!
We: Ok, we'll be in the MCR in the WARMTH, waiting for the alarm to be switched off. *in single file into the MCR*
From the windows of the MCR we could watch the porter and his assistant running in circles while trying to figure out what set the alarm off and how to stop it again. Apparently they had forgotten to cancel the alarm as a false one with the local fire department, because 5 minutes later a fully equipped fire truck with a team of 8 firemen arrived in front of the main entrance (in Turl Street; how a fully grown fire truck fits into that little street is beyond me).
The poor porter discussed with them for about 20 minutes that it was a false alarm, but the captain of he firemen insisted of checking the rooms themselves because the alarm hadn't been cancelled.
So we watched while 8 firemen in full armor trodded into our staircase, up the stairs and into every room.
They didn't find a fire of course but a rather smoke-filled room 7.
Yes, the guy had been smoking in his room without a problem before - he did, however, fail to realise that a cigar, whith which he was celebrating his last finished essay, does produce more smoke than a simple cigarette... And the porter mixed up the rooms on his board. Just imagine the firemen had foamed room 6 when indeed a real fire had been in room 7...
The kicker in this story was that the firemen, after inspecting our rooms in search of the non-existant fire, brought down another girl from room 6. She had managed to sleep through all the alarm bells, shouting, trappling and rattling that was quite fitting for the Night of the Dead...
Of course she got horribly told off for staying in her room during the alarm, and her roomie (who had come down with us!) got a quite decent verbal smacking for not waking her.
All in all, we were allowed to return to our rooms and sleep on at 2:15 a.m.
Did I mention it was fucking cold last night? And that I had a lecture at 9 this morning? Right, screw that lecture. xD
Tuesday I went to Graduate High Table Dinner here in College, basically all graduate students and the Rector enjoying a 3-course dinner with wine (dessert: cardamon ice cream! xD), in formal clothing with gown. Lots of fun, I met some new people and talked with them all evening long. It is a difference if you are in college and 18, or if you are 24... At least the graduates are closer to my age. ^^
Wednesday was kinda rushed, after my lecture and graduate seminar I had some time to read for my essay, then I went to Rector's Seminar in the afternoon. This time we had Alan Bennett as speaker, he was at Exeter College himself. This was one great talk, he didn't say much about a specific topic but more or less told us how he happened to become a writer for theatre (very funny). The rest was made up along as we were free to bombard him with questions, and I have to say that now I'm really curious about the film-adaption of "History Boys". Maybe I can find it on DVD around here.
Even later on Wednesday evening I went to the talk of the Scientific Society, they had invited Steve Jones. He titled his talk "Why Intelligent Design is for Stupid People", and it was hilariously funny. Of course he shot the one or other witty remark towards the supporter of Intelligent Design and Creationism, but he also explained how cunning those people's argumentation is structured, and that indeed evolutionary science is faced with some principles that can't be explained within biologists terms. He also managed to argue convincingly against ID with various examples and biological facts without ridiculing the whole debate, as it is indeed alarming how often this happens (offering the ID people even more polemic stuf to brag about).
I think it was a very fair presentation about the conflicts between ID and evolutionary biology.
Today I managed to attend all my lectures. Hooray! I really felt like just staying in bed this morning, thank you very much.
After my second lecture I went for lunch with two of my fellow Bonner (the third one still hasn't emerged yet O.o'), and we tried the Noodlebar so many people keep telling me about.
It was so delicious! I was nearly unable to decide what I wanted, and opted for a Chinese Curry with chicken in the end. Wow, that was just great. I have to go there again to try all their other stuff. Noodlesoups, curries, stir fry... I start drooling when I think about it.
In the evening I went to the second rules evening for floorball - and I was the only one. O.o'
Poor Didier appeared quite annoyed but we decided that, once that we were all there (haha), we could as well talk about deliberate offenses in floorball. I don't know why the other ones don't take this opportunity to learn about floorball rules, it's not like you never encounter them! At least now I know the reason why I get sent off for an offense. Not that it has happened so far. ^^
Now I'm left with my essay that's begging to be written. Well. Ahem. I just tried, and gave up again after my first sentence snaked its way over 6 lines (without being finished, btw).
I'll go to bed now, and hopefully I can write intelligible again tomorrow.
I just talked with my tutor today, and she told me that she doesn't need me to stay longer than 8th week, as we have already moved my last essay to beginning of next term because my tutor doesn't have time this term.
Anyway.
I can't stay in college because they need the rooms for the future students who come for their interview in this term's vacation. Usually I could get a room in one of the gradutate's houses to stay for the two weeks or so they need the main college rooms. The accomodation officer however told me that if my tutor doesn't require me to stay, I could as well safe the money and go back two weeks earlier. Next vacation I guess I can stay in college because there won't be interviews then.
So I took the option of packing my stuff away in boxes and deposit them in the college's trunk room. Yay for well equipped colleges! This way I can travel with only one suitcase and don't have to worry about my stuff, as I can basically can leave everything here in the trunk room. Phew!
So, here you have some nice and calm pictures of my current living condition. ;)
( Because they are huge and pretty )
Next time I go into town and the weather is at least a bit like it, I'll take my camera with me and play tourist, I promise!
At the moment it's pouring down like nothing, so I'm glad to stay inside. And rainy pictures don't make me happy. ;)
But! There were some other things going on as well. Namley on Wednesday, after I finished writing, I enjoyed some well-earned activities together with Mari, a Finn I met at the Orientation Programme for International Students. Yes, we hang out fairly often. ^^
First we went to Rector's Seminar, this time featuring Fiammetta Rocco, a books and arts reviewer for The Economist. She also was a judge for the Booke Prize, and she told us mainly about her experiences while judging massive amounts of books, but also about what makes a good reviewer. It was nice to hear her opinion and approach to literature in contrast to what I have to do most of the time with it.
Afer that, Mari and I went for dinner to the noodlebar. Oh wowies, so much good food! :)
That was a very happy wug. And a happy Finn as well.
We managed to be in time for the talk organised by the Scientific Society, which was able to invite *drumroll*
Sir Roger Penrose!
Now if you don't know him (meaning his name in reference to his work), get out from under the stone you have lived the past 15 years. xD
His talk was about "Before the Big Bang", and he roughly explained modern theories concerning the beginning of the universe. I have to admit that I was lost sometimes, but in the end I think I have understood most of it. I know why I don't study quantum physics. ^^'
He also introduced his theories about black holes swallowing physical information (very controverse), ending with the "Pop" (in contrast to the initial "Bang") and the universe losing track of its own expansion (that was a true Pratchett moment for me ^^).
All the time he was ambling around between two OHPs as he refused to use powerpoint, shifting and exchanging slides which he had drawn himself by hand - multicoloured.
I think that was one of the most impressive and worthy to remember talks so far.
After that Mari and I had some drinks in the "King's Arms", a pub directly situated in the city and more or less the house bar of Wadham College (Mari's college). We left rather late, and I was glad that I wasn't the only one arriving late at my college because I would have needed ages to get my university card out of my bag and swipe it correctly to get entrance... Very swaying wug, one might say.
On Thursday I was rather nervous during the day because of my tutorial in the afternoon.
But, as usual, I worried more than neccessary. Although it was still very weird to read out my essay to my supervisor, she was very cute about it and told me that once I get used to it, nothing can seriously make me lose my cool when I have to speak in public. Guess she is right. ^^'
She also complimented me on my writing style and way of expressing my ideas! Whoohoo! I'm a writer! Erm, yes well.
The discussion of the essay went well too and we both had quite some fun in code-switching like mad (she is fluent in German), making up some very weird but grammatically correct embedded sentences.
After that I was totally energetic and made my way up to Wolfson College (it's quite far in the north of the city) where we had the third and final rules evening for our floorball team.
That was really funny as well, we were 4 people this time and as there are two of them who want to take the referee test next week, we decided to re-enact some situations for them to decide as referees.
Didier had brought sticks and a ball, and so Fredrick and me did freeze images of different situations during a game, and the two referees-in-training had to judge what was going on and what penalty was in order.
Afterwards Didier gave all of us a "Certificate of Attendance" for the rules evenings, all pretty much overstated and boasting with the team crest and signed by the President of Oxford University Floorball Club himself (who is Didier...) and all that impressive stuff.
We had a good laugh about it. xD
Now I'm going to read my new essay-relevant novel.
The tourist/sightseeing-like pictures are now in the Oxford Gallery. The new ones start on page 2 of the gallery.
Additionally I took some photos when I was on my way back from floorball training yesterday. I loved the evening light so I present you some pictures in the new and shiny Evening Gallery.
Enjoy! :)
I'll try and keep you updated with more photos.
I was kind of grumpy and gloomy during the morning and wasn't able to bring myself to do some actual work.
Then I got a text from Mari, who told me that she was feeling totally unmotivated today, skipped all her lectures and asked me if I wanted to go for lunch. ^^
So we met at the Noodlebar (again) for some shared ranting about how stressed we are from essay writing, research work and all those social events that keep jumping on us on short notice during the week. We managed to stay nearly two hours in the bar and it was so good to talk with someone in a similar situation about how one notices the strangest things when doing work in a different university system.
After that Mari returned (reluctantly) to the library and I went back to college. On the way I came across a street seller who sold shawls, the ones you drape around your shoulder, making you look really fancy and stylish. She sold them 3 for 10 pounds, and now I'm the proud owner of one brown, one grey-blue and one red shawl. ^^
In the afternoon I wanted to do some work but ended up reading my friends list over and over. I was still unmotivated but not grumpy any more.
Then I went to the Thanksgiving Dinner my college organised. It started with a glass of mulled wine in the Rector's Lodgings and then we went over to the Hall for the actual dinner.
It was quite funny because I was sitting between Michael (the goalkeeper in my floorball team), a very giddy medicine student named Gam (I have seen him before in college but only in passing), and opposite from me were the parents of one of the Williams students. We had a very entertaining dinner. ^^
The food was delicious. I feel like a stuffed turkey myself at the moment. Throw in the glass of mulled wine, a glass of white wine for entrance, red whine for the main course, dessert wine for dessert and fruits (duh) and a glass of college port for the concluding toast, and now you can start wondering why I'm still upright and typing.
But I slump into bed soon enough.
( The rest of the week )
Anyways, it has been a long and eventful week, and now "only" thing is left for me is writing my last essay. Then I'll be free to enjoy my last week before Christmas vacation.
It's so late already! Where have the two months gone?!
A professional string quartett (all of them students) played Brahms at first, then we had a break for buffet supper in the Rector's kitchen, and in the second half some Exeter Music students performed, singing or playing piano.
Of course you could tell that those people didn't perform professionally, in contrast to the string quartett you could feel the nervousness evaporating from them and they reacted quite embarrassed when they got their applause. They did very well though, and I think it was a very well spent evening.
However, there was one guy who performed two vocals by Handel, and a duet with another student.
He is one of the older graduate students, he looks about mid-thirty, and he is sooo self-confident and self-centered I really wasn't surprised that he took part in the performance as well.
The only thing was - well, from his usual speaking voice I had expected him to sing as a bariton, maybe tenor. He was the first one to perform in the second half, he opened his mouth - and out came a high-pitched counter tenor!
Mari and me just looked at each other and were hard pressed not to crack up laughing.
He sounded like one of those aged soprano-opera singers who want to sing soprano again but can't quite make it to the top of the voice.
Mari kept saying he sounded like her grandma singing. xD
Yes, we had a very entertainig evening.
Sunday and Monday I wrote my last essay and slumped into bed at around 2 in the morning on both days. I don't know why this last one was so stressful, it was easier to write than the second one and I really like the text it was about, unlike the text for the first essay. Still, somehow I ended up much more exhausted after that one. Maybe because it was the last one.
On Tuesday I had the tutorial, and it was great. I think I never had a better discussion in my whole study-life. Just brilliant!
After that I treated myself to some nice clothes at the pre-Christmas sale every shop here seems to have.
Wednesday was uneventful apart from my first lecture, where our teacher brought us some 15th century paper manuscripts to look at. I love those old books, I think it's amazing to have something in your hands that has survived for 600 years or even more. After the lecture I met Mari for lunch and we went to a small Italian restaurant she had discovered some days before. Very yummy.
In the evening we went to a concert of Out of the Blue (switch on your speakers if you click the link :)!), a well-known a capella group only consisting of Oxfod students. They are so good! A hundred times better than Wise Guys. ;)
We had a lot of fun at the concert and ended up in the Turf Tavern for some hours. At one point we just decided to crawl out of the pub and back to college, and finally into bed.
Today I had an earlier morning as usual because Mari came by to deposit her suitcase in my room for a few hours. She left for Finland today already and had to do some last minute Christmas shopping. She lives in a student appartment complex quite far away, so she dropped her suitcase in my room and went into the city while I was heading for my lectures.
Only that my lecture got cancelled because the teacher is ill. I met my tutor on my way back to college and she told me nonchalantly "Oh by the way, you have Rector's Collection this afternoon, don't forget your gown".
Yeah great, a surprise last-minute test in front of the Rector was just what I needed.
My second lecture got cancelled as well, as I discovered when I arrived at the door, and grumbling to myself I asked Mari if she was up to another lunch. She was, and so we passed the time until she had to catch her bus. We fetched her suitcase, she set off to the bus station and I went to the post office. I realised yesterday that I have bought too many Christmas presents for you, I can't carry them all back with me in my suitcase, so I posted them today. Keep fingers crossed that they arrive in time! ;)
The afternoon I spent with pre-packing as much stuff as I could possibly pack, and now I just need to get hold of one or two other big paper boxes. Then I'll be all the ready for leaving on Saturday.
Rector's Collection went very well and was suprisingly short. I got called into the Rector's room where a small group of professors were assembled, my tutor told them what I have done during the term and how my supervisors graded my essays and tutorials, the Rector asked me two or three questions about the main focus of my work, and that was it. I even don't know if I was in there for 5 minutes srtaight or if it was even less. Thanks for scaring the shit out of me, dear tutor! ^^'
("Collections" are oral exams at the end or beginning of each term, and they are rumoured to be quite strict. So I thought "Rector's Collection" was the same thing only in the presence of the Rector. But it seems that those are a mere formality, as the signing of the College Register and so on. Phew! As a visiting student, I won't have to sit collections!)
What is left on my to-do list:
- Christmas party with my floorball team this evening
- do my laundry tomorrow in the morning
- organise some boxes to pack my stuff
- pack my stuff
- go to the last lecture of term
- Christmas party with my graduate seminar in some part of the city I haven't been to yet
- do the rest of my packing on Saturday morning
- shlepp my boxed stuff into the trunk room of the college
- be at the bus station around 12:30
- hop on my flight at 4:00 (BA; will I get a dose of Polonium too? *glows in the dark*)
I'm just so tired I wish I could drop in my bed and not get up until Saturday. Sadly, that's not an option.
See you soon! :)
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