Which is why I was upset when I woke up to learn that students had displayed some disrespectful behaviors in the night. The domestic bursar (a general manager of Wycliffe) and janitor were examining and cleaning this morning from the night's disorder.
This is really embarrassing to me as a student also living in Wycliffe. The staff has kindly allowed us the utter takeover of their space: the bedrooms, dining hall, common areas, computers, and lecture rooms, all for our use. They have been so kind as to listen to our suggestions as far as food goes, and fix our housing problems to make our stay comfortable. They should not have to clean up anyone's untidiness after a hard night out.
I don't want to be seen as an unmannerly American, and hopefully the actions of few will not be assumed as the behaviors of all.
That aside, yesterday was very wonderful. I didn't make it for my walk along the Thames in the morning, but instead took a stroll under cloudy skies through the nearby University Park. After lecture I took to the top of St. Mary's Cathedral, where I saw beautiful views of Oxford. The most curious thing about my experience at St. Mary's was the oddity of the weather. As a friend and I walked to the church, the weather conditions were fine. We climbed the stairs (an narrow spiral staircase!) to the peak, and just as we reached the top it began to sprinkle, and then rain hard. Strong gusts of wind came in and pounded the sheets of rain at us. The small storm carried on, and we made our way back down to the main level. When we walked out minutes later, the rain and wind had passed. It was very strange, and gave me somewhat of a feeling of a divine presence. I would go as far as to say that.
Up to the top!
We stood right above the clock.
Views from the top, right before it began raining
To kill time before our tour of the Bodleian Library, Kayla and I visited the Museum of the History of Science. It's a small museum, and a large number of early astrological tools, and devices used for keeping time were on display. There were instruments and chemicals used during the early trials of penicillin in Oxford, Lewis Carroll's (Alice in Wonderland) camera, and Einstein's blackboard.
Einstein's blackboard at the History of Science Museum.
The Bodleian Library was a treat. For a £4 tour, you can almost feel like a student, wandering through the University's main library. I have never seen books so old in my life — the kind that you see in photos and movies. Speaking of movies, the Bodleian was the library used in the Harry Potter films. We had a really cute Parisian tour guide, that was so adorable I had to take a video of her. I am a creep!
Standing in a main area of the library at the Bodleian. Cameras weren't allowed in the library itself, as students were studying.
Our tour guide at the Bodleian. Funny!
Shopping ensued afterward. I found a nifty store with greaaaat deals, and made a few purchases. The downside to shopping is getting it home. I already know that in order to purchase things, I will have to a) ship things back to the States or 2) leave things I brought with me behind. Kind of puts a damper on shopping.
The night ended with friends at the Turf Tavern, where I bumped into some friendly folk from the U of Georgia that gave me plenty of insight on the area!
Yay!
xo
jc
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