Day 2: Jason and BBQ

I've gotten some questions from a few of you, so here are some answers. Jason Keith and I have been friends since our freshman year at Clemson. He lives here in Oxford working for our government on a 3-year stint - this is a picture of his home. He lives in a town called Bicester (pronounced "Bister") - apparently the British dislike enunciating all the letters in the names they create (hence "Worchestershire sauce"). I'm learning that the pronunciation is usually about 2/3 of the letters in the word. Anyway, Jason was an electrical engineering major at Clemson and has worked for the US government in DC since graduation. He got the opportunity to come here to Oxford and has been here a year now. He invited all of us friends to come stay with him any time - and when I joked I'd just stay for a year or two to take some classes at Oxford, he said he would be happy to "host" me as long as I wanted to stay. When I did some research and found the British Literature Summer Programme online, I asked just how serious he was about allowing me to come over and he graciously agreed to host me for a month. He’s quite the gracious host in every respect, especially since Benjamin Franklin's adage states that fish and visitors smell in three days. I'll be here longer than 10 times Poor Richard's recommended visit length! Jason’s place is great - I get my own bedroom and bathroom! I've really enjoyed getting to catch up with him and see what his life is like here in Oxford.

Today was a low-key day. Jason and I drove out to IKEA in Milton Keynes (a small city near Oxford) and then visited the British version of Wal-Mart where I bought a very European -and inexpensive- shirt (I'll take a picture later). Then we headed off to his department's Independence Day party at his boss's house. Most of the folks there were Americans who work here, so it was a classic Fourth of July BBQ. The only difference was that we had lobster claws and boiled shrimp as an option in addition to the hamburgers and hotdogs. Yum! I enjoyed meeting Jason’s co-workers; it was a good opportunity to socialize with almost 200 people I’d never seen before. =) The party was a big success despite the weather – it didn’t get over 60 degrees today and it drizzled the entire duration of the party. Right now it has been pouring for about 3 hours straight. I keep hearing that the weather will get better. I’ll believe it when I see it! =)

Date: Saturday 30 June 2007
Location: Bicester, England
Adventure Status: Low-Moderate: Putting my conversation skills to work was semi-adventurous. I had to answer the same questions repeatedly and fend off those who automatically assumed I was either 1) Jason’s girlfriend, 2) a new hire at the office, or 3) crashing the party =)
Highlights:
- Seeing how much everybody at Jason’s office loves him. Of course that doesn’t surprise those of us who know and love him, but it is still cool to see.
- Noting that IKEA is just as crowded in England as it is in Atlanta!
Thought of the Day: I did NOT pack enough cool-weather clothing. Yikes! And you know, Mark Twain did say that clothes DO make the man since naked people have little or no influence on society. =)

Day #1: Jet Lag is GONE!

I'm here, I love it, and the jet lag is over! My flight out of Atlanta to Newark was cancelled, but luckily I had arrived at the airport early enough to be placed on a flight before my original time of departure (thanks Mom!). Once I made it to Dublin, I had a few hours, but it was very hectic there. The airport there was SO crowded - I think half the island was flying out that day! (see the picture that captured only a portion of the insanity) From Dublin I took a commuter flight to London’s Gatwick airport. My pal Jason Keith, a friend from my days at Clemson, picked me up from the airport and we drove towards Oxford. Once we got to his town home (more on how cool it is later!), I unpacked and finally relaxed. I tried to stay up as late as I could in order to get on the right schedule, but since I had slept only about 3 hours total since the morning I left, I was asleep by 7:30 p.m.

This morning I awoke refreshed and ready for my adventure at 7 a.m. Jason dropped me off at the bus station for a “practice run” of my daily routine that will start Monday. At my request, he gave me no direction or information – he just said, “Have fun!” and left me there. I am proud to say I figured it all out and navigated successfully throughout the day (it really helps that the people here speak my language!). I made my way to Oxford’s city centre, located the correct college of the University (Exeter College), purchased the items on my list, toured the city, spoke with lots of new people, and made it back to the original bus station with no problems at all! I feel quite self-sufficient. =)

Date: 29 June 2007
Location(s): Atlanta, GA; Newark, NJ; Dublin, Ireland; Bicester, England; Oxford, England
Adventure Status: High: navigating a new city, riding a double-decker bus, eating a lunch that consisted of a “traditional Cornish Pasty” from a stall in the market – that’s right: pasty, not pastry =) Imagine draining beef stew in a colander, taking the “chunks” left over, encasing them in a pastry crust, and cooking it until crispy. That’s a Cornish Pasty.
Highlights of the day:
- Walking past the Cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin (the oldest recorded church in Oxford) and hearing beautiful music from within. I went inside and sat for about a half-hour listening to a boys’ choir practice for their special performance this weekend (see picture)
- Having the freedom of time to be able to sit and listen to a boys’ choir for a half-hour!
- Finding the Oxford Botanical Gardens and purchasing a season pass so I can go there whenever I want! It is beautiful and peaceful, and I am looking forward to going there between classes and reading on a bench (see my chosen bench in the picture).

Thought of the day: The British really do say phrases like “Beg your pardon,” “Cheers!”, and “Right, then.” Everything sounds more proper with a British accent, except the names of little locales like “Wendlebury”, “Kidlington”, and “Squitchey Lane.” Those still just make me laugh. =)

Here I Go!

The American is coming! The American is coming! Look out England, I'm on my way!

I'll post an update of travel information once I get settled in Oxford. I arrive Thursday evening and will probably regain consciousness sometime on Friday. =)

Love to you all!

Alabama - an adventure in itself

Last night I went with my friends Chester and Jeff to a DCI (Drum Corps International) competition in Russellville, Alabama - a.k.a. the middle of nowhere. The purpose of my going was to drive Jeff's car back from the airport since they were headed straight for Japan from Hartsfield-Jackson first thing this morning. Somehow it made sense for me to just go to Alabama with them... still figuring that one out. We drove all night back to Atlanta and I dropped them off early this morning. (Have a great trip, guys!)

The DCI show was entertaining - and I got a great view from the press box. Since Jeff was a judge and Chester was a trial judge, I decided to join in the fun. I gave each group a score just to see what numbers I could come up with - and I wasn't that far off on most of the groups! I was always a little high on the scale, but I'll chalk that up to having an "everyone's a winner" attitude. I guess in the judging arena, I'm the Paula of the group (how tragic that I referenced American Idol in my blog... stupid pop culture... sigh).

In other news, I'm leaving tomorrow and I'm desperately trying to get my suitcase under 30 pounds. Apparently, I didn't read the fine print carefully enough for my connecting flight from Dublin to London (this is what I get for trying to save money!). Now I'm scrambling to make it under the weight requirement (now I know how jockeys and wrestlers feel!) and still have enough clothes to attempt to be fashionable - or at least not garishly stand out as the "American" - amidst the trendy Europeans.

Today: Tuesday, 26 June, 2007
Location: Marietta, GA (with a side trip yesterday to Nowheresville, Alabama)
Days Until Departure: 1! Ack!
Books Left to Read: One less than I did before (check Mansfield Park off the list!)
Adventure Status: Decent: I tried fried pickles at Speedy Pig B-B-Q in Russellville, I rode all night back to Atlanta on Alabama highways, and I managed to drive an X-Terra from the airport to Marietta without incident.
Recent Activities: Shopping with my sister, a "last supper" with the family (yay Old Towne Bistro!), pool time with Sky and Danielle, a random trip to our neighboring state, crazy attempt at packing light
Thought(s) of the Day: "The language of friendship is not words but meanings" - Thoreau
I love my friends. That's why I do pool aerobics and drive to Alabama! =)

Getting Started...

I've never been one to jump on the technological bandwagon, but this impending trip to England has caused two leaping experiences in a short time. Not only do I have a facebook, I am also now writing a blog. Will the insanity ever end? =)

My inspiration for this was Neill Blake (thanks Neill!), my mother's dear friend and kidney donor (thanks again, Neill - happy 5th kidney-versary!), who told me she looked forward to seeing what I was doing in Oxford through my blog--or however I planned to keep folks posted. Since I had nothing planned, this seemed as good an idea as any. So I invite you to venture with me into the cyberjungle as I attempt to write coherent thoughts that accurately depict my experiences in Oxford!

Today: Saturday 23 June, 2007 (did you notice I'm using the European format for the date in preparation?) =)
Location: Marietta, GA
Days to departure: 4
Books left to read before class starts: tooooo many
Adventure status: minimal - unless you count braving the crowds at Ikea as an adventure =)
Recent activities: Brandy McGee's wedding last night (congrats Brandy and Rob! see pictures for KMHS teachers at the wedding); new haircut (still adjusting to it - again, check out the pictures); dinner with Bethie (love the wedding pictures - yay! I'd post those if it weren't against copyright laws!)
Reflective thought on what I've learned today: Life is better when lived for God and lived in honesty with others