I got my last two seminar papers back last night. A on both of them. Got my last paper for the other seminar on Tuesday: A-. My last two tutorial papers were handed to me mere moments ago. A on the one...and A on the other.
Dare I say it, I think I may have done better here than I've done in the past at Goucher! I think I may have gotten all A's from Oxford.
Although, it was much more bittersweet than I thought, ending my last tutorial today. I thought I'd be jumping for joy right now, and in a way I am, but I'm also finally starting to become aware that this is the end. Who knows if I'll ever get to work under this unique educational system again?
And I do love my dons, even if the classes themselves stressed me out repeatedly. I got a picture with my Shakespeare don and my fellow classmates, but it's my Modern Irish Lit don that I've gotten closest to. She gave me a great big hug and told me to keep in touch, in a genuine way instead of the perfunctory "I should probably say this now so it sounds polite" tradition. Invited me to visit her if I'm in England again, and reiterated that we should email. I have a really good contact in her for any grad school applications, but it's hard thinking that I won't be taught by her anymore! There's just something that being taught one-on-one gives you that can't be replicated even in a tiny 1o or 5-person seminar.
Also: I saw the queen yesterday, while I was talking to my Shakespeare tutorial with Tara. Well, sort of...I saw her car, and what I think was the puffy grey of her hair underneath her hat as she peeked out the window. There was a huge swarm and I'm not tall enough to see over people. She came to give the grand opening to the Ashmoleon Museum. And the topic for the Shakespeare tutorial was monarchy!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Pics for Grandpa
I hope these are what you wanted. It was basically deserted so I felt a little too awkward to go in, but I can try to go in at a livelier time of day and get inside shots before I leave. Very pretty little building!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Updates? What are those?
I've been neglecting this blog for awhile now.
And I only have a week left. It's so surreal. I feel as though I've gotten to know this city, its charms and its faults both. I can give you directions to the park, the train station, the shopping centers (or centres, as it were). Oxford and I got even more acquainted when Jordan came, because then I had the excuse to do the "touristy stuff," which until his visit no one at 104 Banbury seems to have bothered with.
As for the rest of Jordan's visit - we went on a bus tour, we tried (and failed) to see Oxford Castle, we ate at a couple pubs, we consumed way too much Thanksgiving food at the house dinner, and we met some of his geektacular online friends - who were incredibly nice! We went inside Balliol, Christ Church, and Keble. We went to the Ashmolean Museum, which was incredible and much more extensive than I thought it would be.
We also managed to come up with Christmas gift ideas for people, hallelujah....Oh, and Jordan got the experience of a formal hall dinner, robes and everything. Well, he didn't get to wear robes, but you know what I mean.
I also had to do a ton of work while he was here. And the stress of it was so painful. I've been trying to figure out why I'm in a constant low-grade "funk" recently, and the principal reason is so simple and obvious, yet I don't want it to be the answer: Work. I'm burnt out, more than I ever have been, and I've definitely been burnt out before. I don't really relish the idea of leaving behind the friends I've made here, and I do enjoy the opportunity to be in another country on the dollar of my exceedingly generous parents, but I'm ready to come home. Right now. No more papers, no more reading whole books in one night; I might cry with relief when I got off the plane.
The funny thing is, I've been so successful. And for that, my ego may never deflate. I got an excellent mark on my last Shakespeare paper, my highest yet, and my Modern Irish Lit. don was ecstatic with joy at my paper on Seamus Heaney. She nearly made me float through the ceiling with her flattery. Even so, the backbreaking labor it's taken to sustain this positive feedback is too much. There's a reason the terms are so short here, any more of this and the students would either violently revolt or just break down crying and fainting in the streets.
BUT, I do get to see my Aunt Louise tomorrow. I'm a little nervous because I don't exactly have a concrete plan about what I'm going to entertain her with, but I feel a mixture of pub/shopping/site-seeing will suffice.
To top this post off, here are 10 things I'm going to do A.S.A.P. when back in the states:
1. Eat at Baskin Robbins
2. Take my horsey gal for a spin over some jumps
3. Experiment with cookie recipes and whip up some fan-tastic free-range-based delights
4. Pet my puppy
5. Mourn my bunny
6. Clean my room, thoroughly and ruthlessly
7. GET DECORATIONS - I envision an embarassing number of lights, a decked-out tree, mistletoe, lawn ornaments, multiple advent calendars, holly, candles....
8. Shop for gifts, no last-minute searching this year
9. Get in touch with people I haven't seen in way too long
10. Hug Mom and Jordan as many times as they'll let me
And I only have a week left. It's so surreal. I feel as though I've gotten to know this city, its charms and its faults both. I can give you directions to the park, the train station, the shopping centers (or centres, as it were). Oxford and I got even more acquainted when Jordan came, because then I had the excuse to do the "touristy stuff," which until his visit no one at 104 Banbury seems to have bothered with.
As for the rest of Jordan's visit - we went on a bus tour, we tried (and failed) to see Oxford Castle, we ate at a couple pubs, we consumed way too much Thanksgiving food at the house dinner, and we met some of his geektacular online friends - who were incredibly nice! We went inside Balliol, Christ Church, and Keble. We went to the Ashmolean Museum, which was incredible and much more extensive than I thought it would be.
We also managed to come up with Christmas gift ideas for people, hallelujah....Oh, and Jordan got the experience of a formal hall dinner, robes and everything. Well, he didn't get to wear robes, but you know what I mean.
I also had to do a ton of work while he was here. And the stress of it was so painful. I've been trying to figure out why I'm in a constant low-grade "funk" recently, and the principal reason is so simple and obvious, yet I don't want it to be the answer: Work. I'm burnt out, more than I ever have been, and I've definitely been burnt out before. I don't really relish the idea of leaving behind the friends I've made here, and I do enjoy the opportunity to be in another country on the dollar of my exceedingly generous parents, but I'm ready to come home. Right now. No more papers, no more reading whole books in one night; I might cry with relief when I got off the plane.
The funny thing is, I've been so successful. And for that, my ego may never deflate. I got an excellent mark on my last Shakespeare paper, my highest yet, and my Modern Irish Lit. don was ecstatic with joy at my paper on Seamus Heaney. She nearly made me float through the ceiling with her flattery. Even so, the backbreaking labor it's taken to sustain this positive feedback is too much. There's a reason the terms are so short here, any more of this and the students would either violently revolt or just break down crying and fainting in the streets.
BUT, I do get to see my Aunt Louise tomorrow. I'm a little nervous because I don't exactly have a concrete plan about what I'm going to entertain her with, but I feel a mixture of pub/shopping/site-seeing will suffice.
To top this post off, here are 10 things I'm going to do A.S.A.P. when back in the states:
1. Eat at Baskin Robbins
2. Take my horsey gal for a spin over some jumps
3. Experiment with cookie recipes and whip up some fan-tastic free-range-based delights
4. Pet my puppy
5. Mourn my bunny
6. Clean my room, thoroughly and ruthlessly
7. GET DECORATIONS - I envision an embarassing number of lights, a decked-out tree, mistletoe, lawn ornaments, multiple advent calendars, holly, candles....
8. Shop for gifts, no last-minute searching this year
9. Get in touch with people I haven't seen in way too long
10. Hug Mom and Jordan as many times as they'll let me
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Madrid, Numero Cinco
The first part of the rally was for general peace, but the tail end seemed to be devoted to representations of specific nationalities. Very cool, everyone was dressed up in traditional finery from wherever they were from.
One of the last glimpses of Spain. Adios, Madrid!
One of the last glimpses of Spain. Adios, Madrid!
Madrid, Numero Quatro
Outside the Museo del Prado!
After we were done at the museum (which was amazing), we happened onto a huge peace rally. It was so cool, it had so many factions representing different causes in it. Sort of seemed like a big deal really, had police cars and went on forever and was very loud. From what I could tell, the general themes were tolerance, equal rights and global unity, along with non-violence of course.
After we were done at the museum (which was amazing), we happened onto a huge peace rally. It was so cool, it had so many factions representing different causes in it. Sort of seemed like a big deal really, had police cars and went on forever and was very loud. From what I could tell, the general themes were tolerance, equal rights and global unity, along with non-violence of course.
Right near the peace rally was a smattering of stands selling souvenirs, but unfortunately I didn't find anything during the entire trip that I thought anyone I know would want. Pretty much every plate, postcard, print and T-shirt had an image of a bleeding bull on it, and, just....no. Sorry, Spain, but no.
Madrid, Numero Tres
Couldn't help but take a lot of pointless architecture shots, I was enchanted.
So we're walking through a big, bustling square on our way to get food, and we see...Mickey Mouse.
And then we see a wedding! We totally creeped on it, we continually inched closer to get better pictures. We theorized that the woman in the gold dress is the mother of the bride, and she was absolutely stunning. Her hair was done very traditionally and she was radiant.
The bride on her way in.
...And after all that, on our way back we saw this creepy fellow, a beggar dressed up as a sparkly goat.
So we're walking through a big, bustling square on our way to get food, and we see...Mickey Mouse.
And then we see a wedding! We totally creeped on it, we continually inched closer to get better pictures. We theorized that the woman in the gold dress is the mother of the bride, and she was absolutely stunning. Her hair was done very traditionally and she was radiant.
The bride on her way in.
...And after all that, on our way back we saw this creepy fellow, a beggar dressed up as a sparkly goat.
Madrid, Numero Dos
The cathedral was so gorgeous it was almost painful. I got so many good pictures from this trip, but the cathedral shots might just be my favorites.
Outside the royal palace.
One of the few pics of me from the trip where I'm not squinting - we're all too used to English weather now, the sun was blinding!
Outside the royal palace.
One of the few pics of me from the trip where I'm not squinting - we're all too used to English weather now, the sun was blinding!
Madrid
Shoes randomly strung up on a clothesline. This was right near our hostel, and I thought it was oddly charming.
Beautiful building that we found just wandering around the city the first night.
More gorgeous Madrid architecture. So, so different from England. Was a nice change of pace.
My compatriots.
A jaw-dropping cathedral we visited...I have many more pics of this, I'm sure the next post will be filled with them.
Beautiful building that we found just wandering around the city the first night.
More gorgeous Madrid architecture. So, so different from England. Was a nice change of pace.
My compatriots.
A jaw-dropping cathedral we visited...I have many more pics of this, I'm sure the next post will be filled with them.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Last batch!
St. Andrews Cathedral.
Random nature shot.
It was storming when we made our last few stops at an assortment of tiny fishing villages. The older adults stayed in the van while us crazy youngsters ran out and stood in the freezing rain, but only Serena, Janie and I were insane enough to go up the stairs to stand on the wall overlooking the sea.
The pics we got, while not flattering, were priceless. Serena:
Me:
Janie:
That's it for the Scotland pics!
Random nature shot.
It was storming when we made our last few stops at an assortment of tiny fishing villages. The older adults stayed in the van while us crazy youngsters ran out and stood in the freezing rain, but only Serena, Janie and I were insane enough to go up the stairs to stand on the wall overlooking the sea.
The pics we got, while not flattering, were priceless. Serena:
Me:
Janie:
That's it for the Scotland pics!
Tired of Scotland pics yet?
Look how tiny the people are...
The Forth Railway bridge, said to be shaped like Nessie.
A little town we stopped at on our journey through the Highlands.
The Cathedral of St. Andrews. Not very much left of it, but still imposing.
The Forth Railway bridge, said to be shaped like Nessie.
A little town we stopped at on our journey through the Highlands.
The Cathedral of St. Andrews. Not very much left of it, but still imposing.
Loch Ness and the Highlands
The water of Loch Ness is super dark because of the peat build-up.
Janie spotted Nessie!
This is where legend tells it the monster tried to crawl onto land, found it too steep and slid back into the loch.
General view of Loch Ness.
Getting further into the Highlands; this was my favorite part of the tour. I wanted to go on a hike through this area so badly.
Janie spotted Nessie!
This is where legend tells it the monster tried to crawl onto land, found it too steep and slid back into the loch.
General view of Loch Ness.
Getting further into the Highlands; this was my favorite part of the tour. I wanted to go on a hike through this area so badly.
Getting the rest of my Scotland pics up, slowly but surely...
Serena, Janie and I "played mad" in a dungeon at Edinburgh Castle. No idea why, I think we were a bit delirious with travel fatigue.
The Great Hall. Every castle needs one, right?
Epic foam sword battle in the gift shop. I'm wearing a hat based on the head of Scottish Highland Cows, who in their native land are called the "Hairy Coo."
In the National Museum of Scotland, we once again found ourselves donning corsets. Why does every British museum have a try-on-a-corset section?! They also had a samurai helmet and a Victorian dress, so Serena was the English damsel and I was the samurai soldier stealing her away (don't ask why a samurai would be wearing a corset...)
There's really no redeeming this picture, I just thought it was amusing that Janie shouted "Do a martial arts pose!" and this is what I came up with.
The Great Hall. Every castle needs one, right?
Epic foam sword battle in the gift shop. I'm wearing a hat based on the head of Scottish Highland Cows, who in their native land are called the "Hairy Coo."
In the National Museum of Scotland, we once again found ourselves donning corsets. Why does every British museum have a try-on-a-corset section?! They also had a samurai helmet and a Victorian dress, so Serena was the English damsel and I was the samurai soldier stealing her away (don't ask why a samurai would be wearing a corset...)
There's really no redeeming this picture, I just thought it was amusing that Janie shouted "Do a martial arts pose!" and this is what I came up with.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Scotland Pics, Third Batch
They put a cemetary in the castle for soldiers' dogs!
View of Arthur's Seat, a famous hilltop in Edinburgh.
Inside of St. Margaret's Chapel. The guide of the brief castle tour we took told us that you can get married in it still, and it doesn't matter what nationality or religion you are. The only catch is, the chapel only holds 25 people on a good day, so your wedding better be small.
Another awesome view.
The Scottish sky was generally angry but beautiful.
View of Arthur's Seat, a famous hilltop in Edinburgh.
Inside of St. Margaret's Chapel. The guide of the brief castle tour we took told us that you can get married in it still, and it doesn't matter what nationality or religion you are. The only catch is, the chapel only holds 25 people on a good day, so your wedding better be small.
Another awesome view.
The Scottish sky was generally angry but beautiful.
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