A little tour... maybe some sightseeing?

I went for a nice walk today around the
University Parks. It was absolutely gorgeous. And the ducks were huge.
Were they swans? One can never know these things.

The Marsh

I also found a bridge... I went over it and found another path reaching into somewhere else... a mysterious place I had never been. I turned around.

I have a graveyard just south of the old hospital I live in.

This is the hotel right next door to me. It is called the old parsonage hotel. This is the dining area outside. I want to go there but I hear you can't unless you have a boatload of money.
I went to Christchurch college today. I originally went there for a colloqium on Heidegger and philosophy of religion... I got a little bored partway through so I left and went to the chapel. They were talking about living religion instead of putting it in various intellectual boxes. I heard the organ from the chapel calling me and I was out the door the next break. I really am learning a lot here.


Very wonderful indeed. The strange thing about going to a place like Christchurch or many places in Oxford that say 'no visitors beyond this point please. You know what that means! It is basically pointing out the fact that I am very special. 'Chelsea, please continue forward, as you have key and a student body card.' Oh it is very affirming.

Anyways, here is the church, and here is a tile of John Locke. I am going to send this to my philosophy professor Uzgalis, because he is definately a locke scholar, and he will like it.

Alright Harry Potter fans. Here it is.... the dining hall at Christchurch. Being set up for dinner for the witches.

A few general streets as I was walking home. This is basically what everything looks like here. Pretty boring really. I could really use a minimall or a Costco right now. Ooh or a walmart that just took over the local drive-in.

I want a coffee. I think I will go get one.

So anyways, things are going quite well for me here at Oxford.

ughh

I hate computers.

OXFORD

The 'I need a photo for my mom' photo. Full subfusc attire, in front of my college, Keble. Holding my 'mortorboard' hat, which we had to carry around all day for the formality of matriculation. The mortorboard is only allowed on the head for graduation, and students apparently are able to be fined if seen wearing it prior to.


In my room before matriculation... and then later that day, you know, using a little photoshop.



Beyond the Bodleian library, after the ceremony, with some of my acland site graduate houseing MBA friends.











No joke, I took this picture of our dining hall today before brunch. Apparently Harry Potter wanted to use our dining hall (Keble College) because it is one of the longest, however we refused to take down the paintings, and we had a conference going on at the time. This is the story going 'round...
















The magnificant Sheldonian Theatre. Matriculation was held here today... in English and Latin. I guess matriculation is a sort of 'rite of passage,' a formal welcoming into the University. Our name is added to 'the list' of Oxford students. If you do not matriculate, you are not a student.














Street signs. Well, they are more 'that place is over there' signs, instead of having the street names. The street names are, at times, conveniantly displayed low on the corner of buildings. You could almost call it exciting when you get off a bus with three 30-60 pound bags and are trying to find your way to your hostile the first day.


















These are everywhere and I love them. I am assuming for cleaning the bottom of your shoes.














I live in an old hospital (Graduate Housing). It is sort of quaint, charming, and unnerving all at the same time. There are whole wings that are sectioned off, and abandoned. There are random locked doors, staircases, and secret passageways up to the roof. The elevators are not in service, and all but two of the doors to the outside world are permanently shut unless you break the fire alarm. This is the cooridor, in the middle of the two courtyards, that I absolutley love in the daytime, and will not cross at night.














My room. Simple and nice, with a bathroom to your left. I also have a 'nurse call' button on the electrical pillar on the left there. Just in case.

Almost gone

Before I left I....














I spent time with Eric,














And some friends and family. Eric arranged a very nice "get together" for my going away. It was perfect, so... thank you honey. This is my brother Scott and his girl Neecoleee.














We also went to the beach, where we did some ferocious kiting.
Which means we had to run really fast to keep the kite in the air...
NO WIND on the OREGON COAST that day.