Lovely Adventures with a Hardcore Swirl: Week 2

It has been so long...although really only like two weeks! Everything has gone so fast and feels like such a magnificent blur. I'll highlight what I can remember at the moment, but I'm not promising any sort of comprehensiveness. Also I think pictures are more fun anyways :D

0 week - was the week that all the freshers (freshmen) came, it was awesome, we got to eat in the dining halls, which are really gorgeous. And go to the activities fair, which puts Stanfords' to down right shame. SHAME.

So... one night we were thoroughly disappointed with the college food, so we went to go buy ourselves cookies to make ourselves feel more satisfied. WORST COOKIE EVER. And I never thought I would say those words ever... who puts chocolate chips OUTSIDE a chocolate chip cookie? Who? But seriously... we are making cookies next week. for tea. Will let you know how that venture goes :)

Shruti and I went to London the first weekend. We went to a gorgeous market recommended to us by Mr. Olives (The french owner of Olives Cafe across the street), and we took ridiculous pictures on the london bridge... in front of buckingham palace and hung out in St. James park. Literally, I think that is my favorite park in London, though I haven't been to many others. Then I met up with Sam H. and got a tour of her college! We also went out for Indian food and had a complete meal for 10 pds. Totally worth it. Then met up with Shruti's friends at a gay bar. fantastic :) Especially the dancing. We didn't get back into Oxford until around 3am. O dear :D

That week I also went to Ultimate practice...mostly probably because I miss being at home. Good thing because the team was mostly Americans haha. That was followed by a plea to my mother to send me my "boots" (cleats) from the states...not a cheap feat I might add :( But with my care package I also got M&Ms! Absolutely fantastic...they'll go well to supplement mine and shruti's challenge, which is to eat a different english candy bar every day. We will then compile a list and publish it for any future UK travelers. Useful :D

This past weekend we went to Greenwich with our architecture class, which was ridiculously awesome. Although we're studying renaissance classicism we got to see a couple of Baroque pieces and the elaborateness literally made me gasp in awe. Intended effect...achieved. Also, our professor is just awesome. We saw the millenium dome (is that what it's called) from across the Thames...it's this giant (ugly) post modernist building with huge spires coming out of it. And Apparently...a college in cambridge just bought the rights to it. huh. go figure. Also...in the course of that day we found out that I attract the health care reform conversation. LITERALLY, every person I talked to that day it came up...

Care to share your views? Just kidding. Unless you want to. But maybe when I get back.

Also we went to Stratford upon Avon on Saturday which was a lot of fun! After visiting Shakespeare's birth home and being ushered through a far too campy museum (unfortunate because we probably would have really enjoyed it for its historical attributes if it wasn't so easy to be entertained by it's corniness)...we got tea, and indian food AGAIN.

Have to have a picture of shruti eating

Then we went to go see 12th night at the theatre. Some amazing things happen at theatre let me tell you. Not only did we get to see an amazing production...but Alan Rickman and Ian McKellan were in the audience. SNAPE AND GANDALF were sitting in the SAME ROW. As if the day wasn't awesome enough already. I love england. Also, we were just talking about how awesome alan rickman was earlier that day. Creepsies.

The rest of the weekend and week were spent in the library finishing/starting really my second tutorial paper which was one...the importance of the introducing the biomedical model into developing countries health care systems. Basically the crux of what I wanted to do. Instead of writing that paper last night though stav, sam and me went to St. Hughs formal hall instead! Totally worth not sleeping last night and being a little groggy for my tutorial this morning...

In anycase. the dinner is a formal dinner blacktie and cocktail dresses. And eating with forks and knives. Oh boy... I never realized how uncivilized I was until I tried eating salad with a fork and a knife. It would have been intolerable any other way. But our host was awesome and we went down to the college bar after and had a laugh before trekked back. So really...every college here as a bar, which is a great meeting point for people to just hang out, drink a beer and relax. The social life ends up being so laid back. It's fantastic. Additionally, because everyone has their tutorials on different days there are things happening on random tuesdays and wednesdays! Mmm yes...definitely a hard working mentality though given HOW many hours I've spent in the library over the past four days. haha :D But you do what you have to do...

Right...also weird thing about dinner. Without any warning at the beginning of the meal everyone stood up, and slightly in shock and watched the important people walk into the meal. A prayer was said in Latin (Latin?!?) and we all sat back down. It was all normal...but I mean WHAT?!? I love the little things here that surprise me so much :D The people here are simply amazing.

Anyways... i should go. Samantha and I are going caving this weekend! It should be awesome...pictures to follow. Additionally, on friday we're getting a historic tour of the London plague. cheery.

right. also new favorite phrase : "fancy a toastie"
new favorite game: "Pennies"

More later...

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