The days are flying by…
I cannot believe I’ve been here for over 3 weeks already: where’s Peter Pan to stop time when you need him?!?
Last weekend included another day trip to Oxford. I was initially worried that Oxford and Cambridge would be so similar that the trip to Oxford wouldn’t have been really worth it, but I was thankfully wrong!
Oxford is a bit more urban than Cambridge, so I really felt 
like I was in a city where people other than university staff and students could successfully maintain professional and personal lives. Some of the highlights included shackling up in the stocks of Oxford’s underground castle; Merton College, where J.R.R Tolkien was a student; the Oxford Botanic Gardens; and Christ Church College and Chapel, the inspiration for the Great Hall of the Harry Potter films.
Overall, it was an amazing day and an amazing day turned into a wonderful night as I danced the evening away to fabulous Pop songs of the 80’s, 90’s, and today. Oh, the wonder years…
My classes are finally sorted out and I successfully made it to every class, being late to only one or two of them! As we are progressing in the course material, the lectures are definitely becoming more engaging, though I didn’t think I would be marrying a history book! Much of the current material in my lectures is strong influenced and dictated by the history of British politics and media. Thanks 14 years of American history: the grass is always greener from the other side of the pond.
Overall, I’m starting to learn the nuts and bolts about the British people as well. There is a very interesting complex surrounding what it means for the people of England to be “British.” There seems almost a dying sense of nationalism here as most British do not really consider themselves European nor is there much unity among the three nation states of the United Kingdom.
Insert geography and cultural lessons that I have learned since being here: 1) The nation-states of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England make up the United Kingdom. 2) Because the people of these regions are so different, the idea of a United Kingdom is merely meaningful in for political purposes as most British consider themselves distinctly different from the Scottish, Irish and Welsh. A complex history of conquest and submission have somewhat blurred and marred the relationships of these regions. Yet, nevertheless, they are bound together by common law.
In my political communication course, we watched video’s on some of the recent Public Election Broadcast’s and I was absolutely shocked that the BBC would run this ad for the British National Party. Again, brings to light this question of what is British nationalism:
And it never fails to READily surprise me how UNOVEL it is to be an international student. In North Carolina, international students are welcomed with curious wonder and viewed as exotic and different. Here, I get the vague impression that being international is nothing to “get one’s knickers in a twist” about. That’s slightly disappointing, but I supposed I’m not really too surprised. America doesn’t have the best reputation at the moment in much of the world.
I’m learning so much about myself during this experience! I didn’t think I would have any struggles just picking up and moving to a new country, especially one that is very modern and westernized, but I’ve struggled a bit with the process. Yes, I’m meeting new people and being in a town that is so different from Chapel Hill is refreshing, but, meeting new people and being in a completely industrial town has also been a somewhat stressful adjustment. I’m beginning to see that I am simply a person who needs a bit of time before I learn to truly love a place and that’s not a bad or wrong thing! Plus, I’m sure that by the end of 4 months, I’m going to wish I had 4 more here!
Other highlights of the week included an evening song choir performance by one of my flat mates, a tarot card reading session- don’t believe too much in the stuff, but it was very entertaining to learn about British folklore and legend- and a comedy show by the student improvisational group SHRIMPS. I’m glad I’m able to do events that allow me to experience a bit of the student culture here: still working to be a part of the press organization, but they are annoyingly slow to return emails.
Well, tata for now y’all: I promise it won't be this long before I post again!
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