for students

"And at once it struck me, what quality went to form a Man of Achievement especially in Literature which Shakespeare possessed so enormously -- I mean negative capability, that is when man is capable of being in uncertainties, Mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason."

- John Keats

tendrils of fog and mist curling about me

At the moment, I have secured a desk for myself in the Radcliffe Camera with stacks of books around me. If I look up, there is a spiral staircase. If I look left, I see the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin with all its spires through the window. And the sun is shining. If I look right, I see a statue of Johannes Radcliffe and people working away diligently. If I look down, I see a paper full of scrawls which will be a 5,000 word paper by next Wednesday. Sounds simple, right?

We came back from London Saturday night after three packed days. Thursday: 8.35 am train, which we thankfully all made. Two hours later, we had left our bags at the International Student House (ISH), our sleeping accommodations for the next two nights. With the weight off our backs, we headed off to the Tower of London. The history that is there is so incredible. Exhibits of armour which dates back to William the Conqueror, names scratched into the walls of chambers, the biggest diamond in the world, rooms that are still inhabited to this day.

It's a good thing we had a schedule to keep or else we could have stayed there for quite some time longer. We went back to the hostel in order to unpack. Us girls were excited because we all were in the same room. The downside: it was the basement of the basement. I'm not kidding. It was like the forgotten dungeon that didn't exist in present memory. The nearest "loo" was up two flights of stairs to the main lobby. The nearest showers were on the third floor.

Dinner was also an adventure. Some of the girls had a copy of "London: Free or Dirt Cheap" so we scouted out a cheap fish and chips restaurant. Except we couldn't find it. Deciding that it might be a good idea to take the tube to find a local eatery close to the theatre, we jumped aboard. A group of ten is hard to feed on a tight schedule, so we split off. Some of us got lucky with good sandwiches while others landed a nice little Italian restaurant which had a cover charge (which we didn't realize until we had sat down).

Like a good day in London, it ended with a play. "An Ideal Husband." Unfortunately, perhaps due to being tired or completely missing the humour, we weren't overly enthusiastic about this one.

Tube home. For most of us. Some of us were still hungry and wandered to the nearby McDonalds. I know. In London, and we resort to cheap food which is too easily found in North America.

Friday morning greeted us with grey clouds and a whisper of rain on the horizon. Marion and Gill, the coordinators, had a full day planned for us, starting with a tour of the Globe Theatre bright and early. Ish. The current Globe Theatre is actually the third one to have been built. Personally, I am very sad because Hamlet opens at this theatre a mere four days after I leave this country.

Once the tour was over, we were let loose in London. We walked by St. Paul's Cathedral (unfortunately, Disney was playing in my head the entire time), and then some of us went to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese for lunch. Now, this isn't just your standard English pub. Ok, maybe it is, but this one is really cool. This one was rebuilt in 1667 after the Great Fire of London and Charles Dickens ate here. Yup. It's true. There's even a plaque on the wall.

Parliament was next at 3.10 in the afternoon. (Oh to have had the chance to see Westminster Abbey!) Nonetheless, Parliament was amazing. We followed the path of the Queen and saw the room where she gets ready to meet with parliament, where she puts on the crown (which we had just seen the day before). Parts of that building have been there over a thousand years. The man who designed parts of the building was about our age when he submitted his ideas. Yes, this is about the time to get cracking and get something accomplished.

Dinner was less of an adventure because we met up with Louise, one of our tutors/academic coordinator, at a place called Nando's and were given a little cave to sit in cozily together.

"The Rivals" came next, which we found to be much more engaging.

Since it was our last night in London, we decided that something should be done to commemorate the event. Across the street from the hostel was a little pub/club/who-knows-what which remained open past 11. Securing a table and stools enough for those who did come was a bit of a feat, but once again, we came, we saw, we conquered.

By ten o'clock the next morning we were supposed to be out of our room. As we were clearing things up, a woman walked into our basement suite, opened the fire exit door at the opposite end of the room, and then headed back to the main door. A girl stopped her and asked if she needed anything, but she didn't speak English. We think she worked for the hostel, but are not certain.

We all headed off to Trafalger Square, and then split up there. I went with some girls to Covent Gardens, then met up with Bethany, the girl who stayed with Lee a number of years ago, and we went to Camden Market, Kensington Gardens where I walked where J. M. Barrie walked (and definitely stopped to photograph the Peter Pan statue), and made a pit-stop at 221B Baker Street which is not at 221B Baker street at all.

It was the Green Man, an Irish pub, for dinner (about three minutes away from ISH) and conversation while waiting for the rest of the group to reconvene at the hostel so we could all travel back together. Estimated arrival home: 11.30. Going away for a few days definitely makes Charlbury feel more like home now.

Sunday I went for a four mile walk with Gill around Charlbury's countryside. The mud is definitely coming as spring is rapidly approaching. Sorry, Canada, the flowers are already popping up here.

Monday night was girl's night with Colin Firth. Need more be said?

And now it's the library for me. If you'd like to find me, I'll be in the Upper Camera.

the train station this morning

my home for the next week

a foggy day in London town

This afternoon, in our Medieval Drama class, we presented various mystery plays from this age: the best being Mak the Sheep Stealer.

The setting: out in a field, around the time of Christ's birth.

The characters: Mak the Sheep Stealer (I think his vocation is self-explanatory), Gill his wife (in this rendition, Gill was played by a male with a fake Scottish/Irish accent), as well as two shepherds.

If I can get a copy of the filmed version of our performance, I shall try to share it.

Due to the oncoming traffic of essays and presentations, I have been making use of the many resources made available in the Bodleian library. It's only been around since 1602. No big.

Monday I'm headed off to the Camera to claim a stack of books and hole myself up for the afternoon. Somehow, that doesn't sound as dreadful as it should...

But, before all the studious activity can happen, we are headed off to the city (as if there is only one here) for the weekend. Big, busy, but beautiful London. The Tower of London, An Ideal Husband, a tour of the Globe theatre and of the Houses of Parliament, as well as the Rivals. All within 48 hours with sleep thrown in there somewhere. Maybe. Saturday is our own to finish doing the really touristy stuff - if one can ever finish doing the touristy stuff in London - and it's back to Charlbury at some point in the evening.

Sometimes, it's still all a little unreal that I'm actually in England.

"what a fine thing for our girls!"

this is a picture of where I am staying

I really do love weathervanes

Cornbury Park

[more photos to the right]

The weather today was lovely, cool and crisp. And the sun came out. This clearly meant an outing with my trusty friend, the camera that now works. Hooray!

This evening we went out to a restaurant with the 'exec' students from Regent's Park College. Most of the Canadian students were rather tired and reluctant to go (as some of us had taken naps instead of enjoying the fresh air this afternoon), but after the wine had broken the ice, we had quite a jolly time. Our fake British accents were judged and were found ... lacking.

Unfortunately, I don't have a photo to commemorate this event, but today marks having spent six months together with my Joel. :)

it's a small world after all

I have just finished a fairly complete first draft of my first assignment here in England. This is impressive because it is not due for another two and half weeks.

Next on the list: deciding what to write my papers on. One for Shakespeare and and one for early drama. Any suggestions?

Today, a student who stayed with my hostess a number of years ago, came for a visit. She also went to Redeemer, studied history and english, had the same teachers (not that much changes in four years), and stayed in the same house in Charlbury. Now she's living in London, where we are headed on Thursday!

We also had our first drama practice yesterday. Let's just say that it's a good thing that we have until April.

Quote of the day: (from a friend's margin notes in 17th century lit.) "Don't be alarmed. There is just a madman running around with a sub-machine gun. Please go lock yourself in the closet." - Dr. Loney

i consider it a thought worth pondering

3 weeks. Roughly 7000 words all due on the same day dispersed among 4 different assignments. Followed by 2 exams. Exit term 1.

I came to a sad conclusion. The Globe, yes, the Globe theatre, opens with Hamlet four days after I leave the country. Four days. I am sad.

Skimming through our script for Pride and Prejudice, I realized that, in the roles of Mary Bennet and Charlotte Lucas, I dominate the stage as both characters in a single scene. Don't ask how I shall accomplish this feat - this is up to the director to decide. "All the world's a stage and all the men and women are merely players", "we are either kings or pawns" but the director tells us when to enter the stage and when to move to C5.

(Also, for those who haven't noticed, the background picture is of Lyme Park which was the original Pemberly in the BBC version.)

This morning, an Oxfordite peer and myself led the music for our Wednesday morning chapel. I've never really played music publicly, at least not with a fellow musician, but this was really enjoyable (despite the chaplain taking over the leading of the singing). So to those who do play guitar, beware. I might just ask you to join with me in worship in answer to Christ who calls, "Come."

the will of the gods

I am fated. The bookstores draw me.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, allow me to set the stage.

Our class which had been scheduled for today was moved to Friday instead, so we in essence had the whole day to ourselves. To do work in the Bodleian Library, of course. Three of the girls (Hannah, Sally and Emma) decided that they wanted to spend the whole day in Oxford, and asked me to tag along.

The train leaves at 8:35 am.

Can I point out that I made it to the train first, even after sleeping in, even after making time for a shower and breakfast? Attribute this to the walking quickly skills which are being finely honed.

We wandered around town for most of the morning, stopping for a coffee to plan our course of action, making notes of where the amazing shoes are sold, taking lots of pictures, wandering through the Botanical Gardens which have the potential to be amazing in the spring, stopping at the Bod just in time to be productive for a little while before heading off to Regent's Park College for lunch.

The food there is incredible. I would just like to point that out. Today's menu: chili on rice with a brownie for "pudding". Dessert here is pudding.

Back for some more work, and then I headed off to Blackwell's before catching the 4:47 train. This store is wonderful. Not only is it filled with books, but it has multiple floors which are filled with books, the uppermost of which is used books. This is where I come into trouble.

Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, since my copy had been deemed too shabby and was put in the litter bin.

Wilkie Collins' The Law and the Lady - I've heard good things about Collins. Wilkie, that is.

Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children because it is a must-read.

At 4:30 I looked at my watch and realized that I had better leave then. 8 minutes later (trust me, this is no small feat for short legs), I caught up with friends who were also catching the 4:47 train about a minute away from the train station.

My camera has mysteriously decided to start working again, so click here (also listed along the side) to see an album of the adventures up to today.

Now, to read As You Like It for tomorrow.

the honeymoon is over

My bags are unpacked, the closet has clothes (and shoes), the drawers are full, the suitcases have been stowed away. Now it really feels as though I'm really here for the next three months.

It's different being in a different home and staying somewhere for a week and will require a bit of getting used to but that can be managed.

Today was a sleep-in day and a pack-up day and do-a-bit-of-reading day of things such as Mankind ("Wher spekys þis felow? Wyll he not com nere?") and the Merry Wives of Windsor with little success in either but they are a work in progress. Early Modern English and a modern translation of medieval English require a lot more effort than, say, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, which might also be on the go.

My room has two bookshelves, both of them full of interesting books. My own books have been put away in the drawers and stowed in the window ledge, with a "torch" as a bookend. It's called being creative.

Tomorrow is already scheduled with a 10:30 church service at the Baptist church, and then a progressive lunch to help us figure out our way around town, as well as meet some of the other hosts and see other homes. And then it's another busy week of trains, classes, studying at the Bodleian Library, drama practice, more classes, more studying ... and learning to cook!

Yikes.

the dear stole my hart

This morning was our first drama session. Yes, the students of Redeemer and Crandall are presenting Pride and Prejudice before we come home. "Auditions" were this morning, meaning that we had to read bits out loud so that our director (who happened to be a neighbour of C. S. Lewis and met Sir Ian McKellen) can allocate us our parts. Our fate will be revealed to us in a few days. However, it sounds as though it will be fun.

Speaking of a hem six inches deep in mud and eyes brightened by the exercise, I took a walk through Cornbury Park this afternoon. Around three o'clock in January, the sun is already starting to sink down. It was once a royal hunting lodge, and now houses a deer park. A public walkway goes past the deer park.

I wish I could offer you my own pictures but my camera is not working right now.

And tomorrow is move-in day.