So sorry for taking forever with this post, but things have been a little hectic here, what with all the parties, and the essays coming in, and the whole cultural adjustment thing.
This past week is what Oxford students call "Freshers Week", which is exactly what it sounds like. The JCR (Junior Common Room) leadership, sort of a student council-esque group, put on events all week long to help freshers get to know each other, the older students, and generally have a good time. There is some sort of themed party in the bar every night, and discounted nightclub tickets were sold to allow students to go out on the town. Needless to say, this is slightly different from GAC. I do believe the Ohle administration would shit itself at the idea of a bunch of 18-year-olds being not only encouraged but practically required to drink copious amounts of alcohol on a nightly basis. But this is not Gustavus. This is Oxford.
The truly beautiful thing about the afore-mentioned bar is that the English government subsidizes all of the alcohol and food we consume. The British taxpayer buys approximately half of every pint and drink, and I eat lunch for around £1.85 every day. That's about $3.50. Dinner is £3.43, and involves a grand nightly affair in which we are all seated in the Hall here at Catz and served a three-course meal. This meal is aptly referred to as "Hall". For those on the run, "Scaff" is served starting at 6 PM, and is more along the lines of a regular cafeteria-style dinner. Everything served is delicious: last night we had a curry soup for the first course, curried beef over rice with roasted vegetables for the second, and a chocolate mousse for dessert. Not bad.
All in all, the adjustment has gone very well and I never want to leave. With just seven short weeks to go, however, I am diving in as much as possible. I've written my first essay and have another to write today, in addition to singing with a choir of my choosing later today. I need to decide, and quickly. Lincoln, Keble, or Pembroke. Problem being Pembroke hasn't actually told me whether or not I've gotten in at this point. It'll all work out, I'm sure.
With all that said, I'm off. Need to get started on that essay. Ta.
