Beginnings

I like it here. To settle the most important things first, yes I have been inside the Eagle and Child pub, and yes I have already drank about three pots of tea. The English sun isn't fierce enough for the English clouds, so Oxford is overcast, but as yet we haven't had any English rain.

I arrived in Oxford on Friday, early afternoon, at 8 Crick Road--my new residence. There are about twenty or so other students in Crick, and forty more who live in The Vines, which is a thirty minute walk from Crick. All the students here are from Christian colleges around the U.S. After unpacking and meeting some of the other students, I joined a group of girls on a walk to Port Meadow, a lovely area just outside of town. We followed the towpath along the Thames (!) for a ways before heading back. Our junior dean, Jonathan, who lives in the house year-round, prepared an excellent supper for Crick residents that evening. Supper was followed by a brief house orientation and meeting some of the other SCIO (Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford) staff who dropped in. With virtually no sleep in thirty-two hours, I was heartily thankful for the thirteen hours of sleep I got that night.

Saturday was a low-key day, with only a barbeque at the Vines on the schedule. Some of us explored the city a bit more, passing the Radcliffe Camera, the Bodleian Library, and Balliol College (which I believe is about the oldest one here--Oxford is made up of many colleges). We also passed through the university Parks, which lie on the banks of the Cherwell. Oxford is situated between the Cherwell and Thames rivers, and yes, it is believed that oxen used to ford here. I have not yet seen Emma Watson or Richard Dawkins, but I will let you know when I do.

This morning several of us from Crick and Vines walked to St. Andrews (Church of England) for the 8 o'clock communion service. The people were very friendly, and I made the aquaintance of several elderly ladies over croissants and coffee after the service. For lunch I got my first taste of pub fare, which was a delicious bacon and brie sandwich and a few sips of an apple-raspberry drink (I spilt most of it). This pub was called the Gardener's Arms, and after leaving it, Eric and I went to Port Meadow and followed the towpath for a couple miles up to Godstow lock.

Orientation continues Monday and throughout the week.

Thanks for reading, all. I have no plan for scheduled posts, so keep checking in.

-Elsie

NB-There's a five-hour time difference between here and Georgia, so when it's noon in Oxford it's 7:00am in Georgia.