A Slight Difference

For those of you who don't know I graduated from Northern Arizona University. I loved NAU! It was beautiful, green, peaceful, and I had some of the best times of my life there during my four years. So it was with fond memories that my TA (teaching assistant from Germany that is here on a grant)and I ventured out to explore some of the colleges in Oxford.
Oxford is unique in that they have dozens of colleges that make up the university. The other universities in England do not follow Oxford and Cambridge. It is a similar arrangement at Cambridge (boooo!, our rivals here in Oxford) but the rest of the universities in England are similar to the style seen in the USA. This makes Oxford all the more incredible because each of the colleges here in Oxford have their own style and feeling. When I took a bus tour at the beginning of my stay here I heard about the different colleges and the history of each of them. Some of these colleges are hundreds of years old and have buildings dating back to the beginning of the founding of Oxford.
This particular weekend it was a festival in Oxford called "Oxford Open Doors" where many of the attractions in Oxford open their doors and allow people to explore for free. Normally the colleges are locked only to be gazed at from afar. But this weekend many of the larger colleges were open for people to explore. The three in particular that I was eager to see were Magdalen College, New College (not very new at all though), and Trinity College.
With understanding that Oxford has a few hundred years on NAU and that it is one of the foremost universities in the world, I understood that it would be grander. Grander is not even the right word.
To start with Trinity College has a garden area that is the size of many of the parks that you would find in the USA. This garden is just for strolling, picnicking and general enjoyment of the students. What I don't understand is how any of the students can get any studying done with a garden of that in their backyard. After enjoying this college it was off to New College. New College knows how to present a garden as well but it was not this garden or intricate cloisters that captured my attention, it was the dining hall that was so intricate and formal that any 4 star restaurant would be put to shame. All this beauty in a dining hall for 18-22 year olds, it is almost comical. The students are required to where their formal university attire and are treated to a three course meal. The "eating plan" is an extra expense to the students but I asked one of the students that was playing host to the college and she shared with me that their meal plan was well worth the additional expense. Finally it was off to Magdalen College where I witnessed my greatest surprise... gardens, yes...beautiful dining hall, to be sure...fantastic chapel for worship, but of course... but a deer park, this I was not expecting. This college boasts of a deer park that is significant in size to have the deer live comfortably. It was said that years ago each professor was aloud to have a deer as a present for their Christmas meal. Now a days they lounge around eating the grass in one of the meadows, drink from the river which flows through the college grounds or have a nap under one of the beautiful stone bridges that surround the area, not a bad life for a deer.
As Romina and I chatted about life at Oxford we both realized that although we remain faithful to our alma maters (go Jacks!) it would suffice to say that we could have survived a year or two attending Oxford. At least I would have done it for the sake of appreciating the work that has been put into these colleges to provide for one of the most incredible learning environments that this former student has ever seen.

A Look Back

As I sit here watching reruns of the British version of the office (which I find even more funny than the American version) I have time to reflect over this last week and the reason that I am here... to teach an adorable group of 6 and 7 year olds. Until this week I have been settling in, exploring, learning Oxford and meeting people. This week I went back to school... the party was over.

I went to an inset day on Wednesday and had my first official day of tears. Between trying to get ready, understanding the nice British man and his data, trying to understand the acronyms (there are plenty in the British school system) and working through the list of things that need to be done, should be done, should have already been done and things I have forgotten to do but then remembered to do... I was a bit overwhelmed. Luckily teaching is not a profession that is by any means lonely. My team and fellow teachers at Phil and Jim pulled me back together and helped me to get ready for the infamous FIRST DAY.

For those of you that have never read it there is a book called "First Day Jitters". It is a wonderful book that goes through how the character won't get out of bed, has to be coerced to get dressed, dragged to the car and lead to the classroom. In the end you find out that it is not the student that had the first day jitters, it was the teacher. I can relate to that book. I defiantly dragged that morning, did the speed limit, had an extra cup, and walked a little slowly through the corridor.

So how does this story end, like most good stories, with a happy ending. Students are students no matter where you go. They are quiet the first day, coming out of their shells the second, and chatty by the third. They make pictures for you, tell you that you are pretty (and that you have a funny accent in instance), and are confused how to get home. They are special from the very beginning. This will be my class from England, my group of parents from England and the staff that helped me survive my year in England (there is a special place in heaven for this staff, they are getting through each day). In the end I look back at my first week and think about all the things that had me stressed. I know that those things will fade away and that I will eventually learn that I need to know (and then it will be time to go) but it is the kids that I won't forget. I have 29 precious students and I realize now that they might be my favorite thing about England.

The Differences

Although I have only been here a short time (not even a month yet) it still doesn't seem as though I live here. It just seems as though I am on a long vacation and that after a certain amount of time it will be time to pack up and go home (not the same I bet with my exchange partner). But one of the things I have started to notice is the subtle yet fun differences in my little life here.

Tea... this is not just a drink, it is an institution. There are entire aisles dedicated to this drink and the condiments that go with this drink (biscuits, digestives, scones, you name it). I have to say that until I reached England I was not a tea drinker, I preferred my heavily loaded cup of coffee with all the frills. I have now crossed over and I am enjoying a cup as I sit here and write this blog. Alison shared with me that tea is a soothing and sympathetic drink and I have found this to be true. Tea is drunk throughout the day whenever, wherever and with just about anyone. I am reminded of the book I read "Three Cups of Tea" and it talks about how the first cup is an introduction, the second cup means your a friend, and by the third cup you are family. I hope to have three cups of tea with many people while I am here.

The Landscape... as most of you know I can tend to be a very talkative person (stop the snickering and laughing). But lately, I don't think you would have recognized me. I sit in the car literally dumbstruck by the landscape and amount of green I am surrounded with as we drive. I am not just talking in the country, I mean everywhere. In Alison's hometown the town hall is covered in baskets of gorgeous flowers hanging from anywhere they can hang them. Outside my front door is a lawn with a garden surrounding it that would make any gardener proud. I have to quote Alison's uncle Peter in saying "The green is easy on the eyes". On sunny days I have to remember that although I think Arizona is one of the most beautiful places in the U.S. that there are so many different types of beautiful, and I have found one of them here in England.

Driving... I am not just talking about the other side of the road (which turned out not to be as much of a problem as I thought it would). I am talking about the differences in the road, rules and general knowledge of what the heck I am doing. First, I have to say that I miss the STOP sign. Here we just "GIVE WAY". As soon as I figure out who's turn it is to "GIVE WAY" I will be a much happier person. This ties in closely to the "roundabout". This concept is not tricky in itself, you simply look right and hope that you can join the mass before you get a rude gesture. I am talking about knowing which lane to join once you get in the roundabout. In any roundabout you can see between one, two or three lanes. Yesterday while driving I got in the wrong one and had to make the circle twice white I eased myself over to the lane I thought was correct (my navigation system was very upset with me over this). I know that this to will come with time, but I am grateful for the two "P" plates (plates that you put on your car to let people know you are a new driver) because it means I only get overtaken and stared at less than a normal driver.

I have included some photos of my new home which I am settling into because my travels (Bristol, Bath, Hereford, Cardiff, Wells, the Black Mountains and others that I am forgetting) are quietly winding down. It is time to go to work and start the idea of living. I have also included a picture of my "Mr. Darcy" which I met outside the Jane Austen Centre in Bath.

So What Now?

First of all I apologize for the long time since my last post, I finally have internet access that is consistent.

I don't how many have spent time living overseas... until now I can only say I had spent some time "living" away from home. I remember when I went to college and I felt so homesick that I actually thought I wouldn't be able to stay. I cried, prayed and waited to talk to my parents every moment I could. Eventually I settled came to find out that college was the best experience I could have asked for (but only time will tell if that continues to stay #1). But I can now say I think I have found the secret to a successful integration into a new society... go and live with a family that has just lost a daughter and that is willing to adopt a new one (a least for the first week). My current example is the Williams family which I have been living with (and will return back to on Wed.) for the past week. This gracious and incredible family hasn't given me the chance to feel homesick because of there constant love and patience that they have given me. I have been fed, walked around, taught (I can now officially say I know how to drive on the "correct" side of the road) and looked after since I arrived in their home. I challenge any hotel to provide half the service that the Williams family has shown me. I have returned to Oxford for only a couple of days and I already miss my new dad, mum and sister. If you ever have the opportunity, reach out to someone that is new just as this family has done for me. It is the one of the greatest gifts I have ever received and I only hope that I can return even half the kindness that they have bestowed upon me. I also want to give a major shout out to all of Alison's friend who have called, taken me out, picked me up and sent me welcoming cards. Again this is a perfect example of a gift which I could have never expected but found so amazing!

I have included some pictures that I took of the incredible garden and area around their home along with a sign that shocked me... I can't believe we haven't thought of offering it in the U.S. as an incentive.

Well this is it! "All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go" the funny thing is I hate this song but it rings more true than ever now. I have had my disaster, arranged the little things (they didn't feel little at the time), said my goodbyes a thousand times (some more tear filled than others) and now I just want to go. I had a wonderful time at the Fulbright Conference and realized now more that ever how much people around the world share my love of the international adventure. Image going to a place where everyone feels the same as you and is about to embark on adventure similar to yours. We laughed, we cried, and paniced together (some days were great, other days we asked ourselves... is your brain also feeling like it has been put in a blender???) and yes, we even bonded over shared cups of coffee and tea (which I am realizing I like just as much as coffee). I am going to get on a long flight now and try to sleep so I can be picked up at the crack of dawn at Heathrow (thank you Emma) but before I go I am going to quote our Fulbright leaders in saying.... ALL WILL BE WELL.