So, I am finally sitting down to blog and all that is going through my mind is - What should I write? Why am I blogging? Are people going to read this? Who? What should I write? Well, I figure I will write about "Differences" for this blog post, as there are many differences between the UK and the US, between Oxford and Charleston, my apartment in the states and my flat here, and between the last time I was in Oxford and this time. Why I am blogging? So, I can document my adventures here, reflect on my time spent in this intellectually stimulating city, and share my journey with my family and friends at home. Are people going to read this? Well, I can't answer that, but I expect a few friends and/or family will read it. Who? I don't know, but I hope to find out. I don't really know how commenting works on here yet, but I am sure we can figure it out. |
I am not going to bore you with the obvious differences or my deep philosophical thoughts on the differences between these two countries. Instead, I will briefly share what I have perceived as differences of the two, as a way to share my experiences thus far. It has been quite a roller coaster getting settled, as I had to set-up my flat, finish one graduate class, start another, and begin tutoring all at the same time. It was either the travel, the busy schedule, or working with kids that probably led to a cold after my first week or so here, from which I am still recovering. So, the obvious difference would be the health care system here, which is a NHS, but beyond that the UK also allows you to get antibiotics without a prescription. I found this out, as I dragged myself to the pharmacy, after enduring a night of no sleep due to a sore throat, and the pharmacist handed me an anaesthetic for pain and a low-dose antibiotic, just in case it was an infection. Also, both countries sell an equivalent to Tylenol, but in the US it is called acetaminophen and in the UK it is called Paracetamol. Also, dealing with what we call stuff, as I was cooking I learned that what we call cilantro, is coriander in the UK. In the United States, to be of a higher class most likely implies wealth (although it can also include education and other factors), but in England, to be of a higher class has more to do with intellect and mainly tradition and formality than wealth. Finally, the meaning of an old building is quite different, as an old building in the United States was probably built in the late 1600s or early 1700s and an old building in England could be as old as dating to a year BC. Although, I believe the oldest building in Oxford was built in 1000-1050 and is probably the Saxon Tower, which overlooks Cornmarket Street.
Differences Between Charleston and Oxford
Although, I would say both cities are flooded with tourists during this time of year, the tourists in Oxford are a bit more invasive to the colleges and student life, as the schools and students are both part of the tourist attraction. It is not uncommon to see a tourist taking a picture of a student in robes, on the way to an exam, or just after when they have been "trashed," which is an interesting practice itself. "Trashing" is the practice of covering a student, who has just finished exams and is still in exam robes, with silly string, confetti, and champagne. I am not sure when this practice began, but most students have told me that it was probably in the last few decades and rumor has that it was probably around the time David Cameron attended Oxford. In Charleston, we have the beaches and waterways and in Oxford there is the Thames River, which is called The Isis here in Oxford. Although both cities have ways of getting around on water by standing and paddling, in Charleston it's paddleboarding and in Oxford it's punting.
Differences Between My Apartment and My Flat
So, the first difference would be the terminology - an apartment vs. a flat. One was built in the last few years in a modern style and the other was built in the 1890s in a Victorian style. There is a price one pays for beautiful architecture and age though...
My apartment has a washer and dryer and my flat has only a washer and now a laundry line hanging across my room. My apartment has a shared office space with one of my favorite people (Taylor Bradley) and my flat has a single desk facing the garden. My apartment has a shower head from Linens-and-Things and my flat has a mystery pipe that sometimes drips and hangs over the 'ancient' tub and finicky shower head. In my apartment the washer and dryer get a room, but in my flat the fridge has its own room.
So, this is my third time coming to the UK. The first time I visited this island country, I stayed in London in a hotel that was only a stroll across the park from Buckingham Palace. Ms. Natalie and I shared a room and took our students on non-stop tours of London, Bath, Stonehenge, Cambridge, Dover, Stratford-upon-Avon, and I am sure many more places I can't recall at the moment. My second time in the UK was here in Oxford, but I stayed to the South in Boars Hill, which is a comprised of rolling green hills, trails, tons of sheep and cows, and lovely little pubs. I was here for about a month and a half and wanted to see every sight possible. This time, I am staying in North Oxford near Summertown in an 1890 Victorian house. I am here as a visiting researcher to Oxford University and I will hopefully be working on data collection for my dissertation research in the Fall.
-I visited the Bodleian for a tour, which was amazing!!! -I have a Bodleian card and can check-out books.
Last Time: This Time:
-I just wanted to see the inside of the colleges and tour them. -I am affiliated with the colleges, participate with the MCR (Middle Common Room), have access to the college bars, and can dine in-hall (in October that is).
Last Time: This Time:
-I met a few people and we chatted about the sites. -I am meeting Oxford students and chatting about statistics, education, chemistry, history, and physics. I actually met someone yesterday who builds stars in a lab, as a DPhil student in theoretical physics while studying nuclear fusion.
Last Time: This Time:
-I was visiting the city and took lots of pictures! -I am living in the city and reading lots of books!