I have officially moved
into my student flat in Oxford. I would be lying if I said the housing was
ideal. It is on St. Michaels Street, pictured above. Like all
students here it seems, I am living in a run-down four story with 5 bedrooms
and 2 bathrooms. Unfortunately, my floor doesn’t have a bathroom so it is a bit
inconvenient. The mattress brings memories of my old bed in London, and a
congruent amount of muscle soreness this morning. Granted, any bed is going to
be uncomfortable after being spoiled for years with my plush bed back in Texas,
affectionately called “The Cloud”. However, if my biggest hardship here is a
shaky flat with a poor mattress, I am in no position to complain.
For those who are
unfamiliar with what I am up to over here, I will outline it a bit for you. For
the next few months, I will be studying English poetry of the 18th and 19th
century. Think Wordsworth, Keats, the Brownings, etc. What is so unique about
the University of Oxford is that there aren’t actual classes here. Most
Americans or other international students who study “at Oxford” will have
access to university facilities, but will learn in a classroom setting with
non-British student from, likely, an American instructor. However, I have the
privilege of being directly enrolled at Oxford, and as such, will be taught in
the same manner as the rest of the degree candidates here. This means the
arduous tutorial system: a meeting once or twice a week with a leader in my
field of study for three hours at a time. I will be assigned thousands of pages
of reading and a corresponding approximately ten to fifteen page paper to be
completed by the next weeks tutorial. Then the next session will start with me
reading over my analytical paper with my “tutor”, and then move on from there.
It sounds insane…because it IS insane. But, then again, this is why Oxford is
Oxford. I am just as excited as I am intimidated. Perhaps slightly more
intimidated…
I got to Oxford around
10am local time yesterday and was able to explore a bit of the city. Luckily,
my flat, though in shambles, is in the most WONDERFUL location: exactly in the
city centre (though I learned at 6am that this also brings construction and
traffic…). Cornmarket Street, Queens Street, George Street, every main street
in the city…the intersect right at my doorstep. So, I am pretty stoked to have
such a great location. Biggest plus? There is a Chipotle-esque restaurant quite
literally on the other side of my wall. Mission Burrito. I have already eaten
there. And yes. I got a punch card. I am telling you, this place is going to be
a lifesaver this summer. Here is a picture, as a little virtual shrine for this
Texan’s God-send. My flat is that light blue building on the left!
The city looks beautiful.
It IS beautiful. I will be doing more exploring today so hopefully I will be
able to describe it more eloquently in future posts. But for now, picture this:
Take the most lovely college town you know, and plop it in England. And now,
have that university date back to 1096.
Cheers.
Elizabeth Pittman
