Jet Lag (Day 1 & 2)

DAY 1: TRAVELLING

     I've made it without any trouble! Some friends of mine had the escape shoot launch while they were on the tarmac...but I had no such stories or delays. In fact, I got to move seats from the middle seat in the middle row, to an aisle seat on the side! I got delicious curry in-flight and a blanket that was not napkin-sized, but in fact large enough to cover me. After 45 minutes in line for Customs and an hour-long bus ride, I was in the town of Oxford.

      Within the city of Oxford, Oxford University is composed of 38 independent colleges, one of which is St. John's College, where I'm studying. 

The view from my window (of the Northern Quad)

This is actually one of the keys I was given!

 My room! (one of the smallest given to BSAO students...)

 another view

 and another view

graffiti in my room "I am the son / and the heir / of a shyness that is criminally vulgar"

     

DAY 2: ORIENTATIONS

     Today we were given lectures on the expectations of the college, general information, and signed up for this week's excursions. Not too terribly exciting...but we also were given a walking tour of the city of Oxford, which has had the same street layout since it was originally designed, about A THOUSAND YEARS AGO. "Demolish" and "expansion" are not words you hear in Oxford. "Restore," however... 

 The first science building of Oxford University, and the site of the famous Creationism vs. Evolution debate in the 17th century.

 The entrance to New College 

 more of New College (Look familar? Lots of Harry Potter was filmed here!)

 gardens at New College

 the original Oxford wall, inspected to be sure it's taken care of in a ceremony every three years

 "the mound" in New College's garden

 The Radcliffe Camera (Oxford's most notable building)

 The Bodlean (a library of Oxford, I think the second largest library in the world, after Harvard)

 Oxford University Press

 Christopher Wren's second ever building (Sheldonian Theatre)

 backside of the Bodlean

 crest of Oxford University

 apparently Christopher Wren designed this wall...

 back of the Sheldonian Theatre

 Natural History Museum

 A cross in the street on Broad Street where 3 Protestant bishops where burned

 Oxford's only 5-star hotel

 Martyr's Memorial

 The Ashmoleon (first public museum)

    After the tour, I was in need of some Cadbury and a mobile, so off to the supermarket we went! 

 fancy, innit?

I also found this gem at the bookstore. Apparently a distant relative was once an English politician. And a fascist...