Musings + climbing photos

I love Oxford. I am so privileged to study here. I love going to school in a city! Especially one that’s quaint but also busy, and is a tourist attraction. It makes me feel special that so many people flock here everyday just to see and take pictures of the exact buildings in which I go to class, study, attend lectures, etc.

Since I’m taking classes at the Said Business School, I attended the inductions (what they call orientation, essentially) last week, and they kept telling the SBS kids that they’re the brightest in the country and that it was very selective to get into the SBS undergrad program, which is true, but–if that’s not a way to instill arrogance and condescension into your students I don’t know what is….I wonder if the same happens at Harvard, or Yale, or Wharton? Do all the orientation programs continually reinforce aloofness and disdain of those who didn’t get accepted….? This is slightly concerning to me.

I do, however, still love Oxford! And am reminded every day just how privileged I am to be here and enjoy my time in the way I do. Privileged to have parents who have the money to pay for my tuition. Privileged to have the money to try all the restaurants that I’ve tried. Privileged to have the money to afford a monthly bus pass and not have to bike everywhere–though also privileged enough to afford a bike as well. Privileged to have the money to partake in the OUMC (Oxford University Mountaineering Club) and acquire not only new experiences but new friends. It makes me pause and think of how different my study abroad experience would be if I didn’t come from such a place of financial privilege.

I also love that Oxford accommodates bikers (or cyclists, as they call them over here; bikers are those with motorcycles–definitely not me) to the degree that we have a special green light at traffic lights, and it turns green before the light for the cars do, so we get to leave first and minimize danger. And I love how all the cyclists are one huge cohort. We use all the same hand signals and we stick together as we go around the traffic circles and it’s so clean and functional and I just love when everyone abides by an agreed-upon communication/rule system! It’s works beautifully. I also love that I am hardly ever biking alone; there’s always someone in front of or behind (or occasionally, passing) me. And oh my goodness every bike rack in the city is overflowing with bikes! Outside the business school, outside the Social Sciences building, outside the Bodleian Library, all along High Street…There are definitely more bikes than cars in this town. I think.

I’ve also realized (and this sounds kind of obvious when I say it now but I admit I was ignorant before) that it’s important to go to a foreign country with humility. To learn their ways, and their culture, and inform yourself. To ask questions. And not just blatantly charge in with your own customs, in ignorance. One OUMC member I met recently said, “Ah, you know what sixth form is! You are an informed American.” 🙂 And then proceeded to correct my usage of “biker” when I kept referring to my cycling habits. Oops. Haha.

I’m also discovering that the traditional period of “settling in” that I developed while moving around in the States (to Wellesley, to Berkeley, to Cambridge) also applies while abroad, but just elongated a bit. It normally takes me a maximum of two weeks to get settled in a new place in the States, and by this I mean figuring out the local grocery stores, finding people to spend time with, figuring out the local transportation, developing a routine, etc. But–it takes a bit longer while abroad, and comes with a bit more frustration. But in the end it’s all still quite fun. Type II fun, they call it.

For instance, it actually took me a while to get acquainted with biking everywhere. And understand that a 10 minute bike ride is really 15 minutes because you have to factor in time on either end to store, and lock/unlock, your bike. My apartment complex also lost wifi for 48+ hours. Whilst I had an essay to write. I also don’t have a bank account. And my pay-as-you-go phone/SIM card is running out of texts. I’m also not familiar with the currency so every time I pay for a bus ticket or groceries I hold up the line as I slowly flip each coin back and forth, trying to read whether it says “twenty pence” or “fifty pence”. I’m also learning that 21:00 means 9:00pm, just in military time, which is used almost ubiquitously here. My apartment’s radiators also weren’t on for the first week or two, so my housemates and I shared 2 space heaters between the three of us, and downstairs and upstairs. I’ve also finally figured out the bus system, kind of. Oh and I got locked out of my apartment at one point because my keys (which are electronic) ran out of battery.

See. These are things you just can’t prepare for. Well, some of them you can, but some you can’t. And it can be (and was) frustrating. But in the end…I don’t know. Perhaps I just think it was “fun” because I’m really actually just feeling proud of myself for having dealt with all of these things and come out the other end fine. Who knows. I just know that I’m not unhappy is all.

I also love British people’s sense of humor. It’s so dry it can come off as offensive, except for the fact that they spend more time insulting themselves than you. I mean, the level of self-ridicule these people are capable of blows my mind (and cracks me up). They are great conversationalists. I need to learn how to be witty like them. And I think it is important to be able to laugh at oneself.

Anyway, in short, I’m really enjoying my time here. Oh! And my winter break plans have been solidified! Or did I already tell you about them. Wait yes, I think I did. Well never mind then.

Oh and I found a milk tea place in Oxford!! Made me so happy!! Except it’s like £4.25 per cup which is like $7 and I can’t afford that on a frequent basis. Sigh.

But I should end on a positive note. How about some pictures from my climbing trip! 😀

This is Mark, the club president, on the wall: