#oosc

[thezookeeperisveryfondofrum]

I love it when those Oxford outings help me answer Jeopardy questions

WHO IS DISRAELI?

[exceedprincess]

OutofSnootyCat

I was watching some Naruto (subbed) because my little brother, everyday runs into my room and is like.

'So Katie, let me tell you what happened on Naruto today.'

So we watched some fights, some epic fights. Like Reanimation Raikage vs Naruto, and Itachi + Naruto + Bee vs Nagato, then some other fight with Naruto and a bunch of White Zetsus

Now, I havent watched Naruto Shippuden since like episode 20, and it was dubbed. When the heck did it get so badass!? 

It was awesome! And Naruto with his sexy, cool ass Japanese voice, with his Rasen-Shuriken and shit!

Can we talk about this! My mind was blown!And Octopops is cool! and Itachi was inside Naruto as a crow! 

Wow Man.

Naruto

[exceedprincess]

//I finished my last final!!!

WHEEEEE

[exceedprincess]

//Ok! Now I have to take a programming final!

I hope I do alright....

Wish me luck Charle!

"Hmph. You are bound to fail."

...

[agallivantinggirl-blog]

So I've been acclimating for a little over a week now and the wonder has yet to fade. Every day I find new streets or pubs or bookshops or shoe stores that make my heart beat a little faster. The rest of my flatmates are swell people, and none of us have burnt dinner thus far. Last Monday and Tuesday we had our first lectures over various 17th century British things-- the art of van Dyck, the rise of Puritanism, Jacobean drama, and the value of a distinctive and clear prose style. Wednesday we wandered with Penelope briefly and Thursday I walked to the other side of the city center for my Feminist lit tutorial with a brilliant woman who's having me begin with Pope and Swift by considering whether or not they are entirely misogynistic. Friday night Andrew, Thomas and I went to The Four Candles for drinks and managed to make it home with wallets relatively unscathed-- though the kebab stand at the entrance to our road ensnared us with the smell of chips. Yesterday, the three of us ventured 45 minutes out of our way to get library cards, only to be informed that a librarian must be present and that none would be until Monday. It was a cold walk back to the flat, but stopping for groceries and getting distracted in Blackwell's (an old, sprawling bookstore) made up for the purposeless trek. I've spent today reading for my Virginia Woolf tutorial and will begin my first essay tonight. Feel free to send positive vibes across the Atlantic.

[agallivantinggirl-blog]

I spent the last three hours walking into the city center and wandering. Had a quick Brit lunch of “traditional Cornish pasties” and hot tea and then stumbled upon a Lush, where I made friends with the shop girls and got a free badge that says climate revolution. I also accidentally found one of Oxford’s libraries that I’ll get to utilise for my studies. The strangest thing I encountered was a street performer who seemed to defy the laws of physics with his body.

[thezookeeperisveryfondofrum]

I got to sit and talk with Francis and Penelope, the couple who runs the Oxford program, twice today.

I saw them three times but the first time I saw them I had been working furiously for 6 1/2 hours, had not eaten all day, and was rushing back to my apartment to finish the cookies for thesis, hopefully grab a bite to eat (did not pan out... I didn't eat until 5:30 today), and make it to thesis in time. So that meeting was a bit rushed.

Then after thesis I was walking back to my apartment when I remembered the Oxford Q&A was about to happen so I wanted to sit in and see what the slide show was like after having attended. I went my freshman year but I am positive my perception of the pictures and everything has changed. Well, no one showed up so Francis, Penelope, the study abroad advisor here, Colin and I sat around and talked for an hour. It was a lot of fun getting to catch up and chat.

Tonight there was a dessert party at my German professor's house for them. It was at 7. At 7:30 I remembered it was happening. I am not sure how many people were there before but it was a rather small crowd which pleased me. I hate big crowds so the intimacy was more productive. The group of us sat around and talked Oxford, theses, masters programs, LA, C.S. Lewis, smart phones and computers, pastry school, etc. for two hours. That was one of the best conversations I have had in a long time. 

What I noticed, though, is that every time we were talking, even when I ran into them unexpectedly in the SLTC, it didn't feel at all like any time had passed. It was the oddest sensation. I almost felt like I was down in the library at 27 talking about my tutorials or politics or literature or just life in general. I have only spoken to Penelope a few times since I have been back about business of different sorts but I felt so comfortable around them. I have to go back to Oxford and soon.

Also, Francis ate one of my green tea shortbread cookies I made for thesis and really liked it! When baking got brought up later he told everyone how good it was and that just made my day! Also, I talked to Francis about my thesis for a while (he was one of the first people I discussed it with when I was originally writing on Peter Pan and helped me change it every so often while I was in Oxford) and he was really pleased with where I am now and said I have a really great argument, one that did not even occur to him until I mentioned it. So that was quite the confidence boost!

[durnesque-esque]

Got to see the Warners again...

My sister and I were both able to stop in on the meeting about going to Oxford for interested students and see Francis and Penelope again! I also later ran into them as they were about to go into the caf to eat! I just kind of laughed inside my head thinking: "you can't take Francis Warner into the caf to eat, he's too classy!" I wish I'd had a meal plan so I could have joined them.

Francis was sweet enough to sit and chat with me for a minute though and ask what classes I was in and had just come from. I told him I'd been in Greek, translating and he asked me what. I told him we were doing Shepherd of Hermas and had just finished the martyrdom of Polycarp and he goes, "I wrote a play about that, it's in your library." I just thought: "Of course you did, Francis! And OF COURSE it is!" So tonight I went to the library to check it out. I also brought back another play of his and a copy of a lecture he lent me when we were talking about WWII back in Oxford. It's such a beautiful lecture.

It was LOVELY to see them, but I know a few people at the next school *cough* Hendrix *cough* who are going to be just as delighted!