A rollercoaster named Oxford

These past 36 hours have been a range of emotions and activities.  On Thursday night I went to a debate at the Oxford Union. It was absolutely incredible experience in and of itself. You go into a room and hear debating from an opposition and proposition of a proposal. In the case of Thursday's debate it was "This coalition believes we have strengthened the British University system by the increase of fees." There is name calling random yelling and pretty much everything we would consider unacceptable debate behavior. Imagine Joe Wilson at last years state of the union about every ten seconds. It was an amazing experience and a lot of fun and something you can never see in the US of A. However after that I had my first tutorial. It was quite informative but quite disappointing in all honesty. This had nothing to do with tutor but more of the lack of quality work that I created for her judgment. We spent an hour going through every syllable and it was a surreal feeling. My self-esteem took a beating but I learned an incredible amount and I know more about the creation of the BBC than I could ever imagine. Then on Friday night I had my first school entze (party) and it was wonderful. The theme was london underground so I went as King's Cross which was quite a hit. I had a blast and met a lot of great people. The rest of the weekend was fun but nothing worry of your time. That is all and now the week starts again. I've had my cider and off to bed. Goodnight everyone and a special shout out to Chris H. and Chris C.

bent= gay

Walking into an ambush

Today was the realization of the fact I came here to work. I have been spending more time in the library in the past week than I probably did in the last semester at JMU. It is so much work. My first tutorial is tomorrow and I am very scared. I feel like I am going to a slaughterhouse. I feel like I am trying to argue with the President of PETA while eating a double cheeseburger at Five Guys. Its nearly impossible to win at points.  I will take what I can get, but everyone that reads this please think of me in t-minus 21 hours.

Beginning of first week

And so it begins. I have my first week of tutorials and it is certainly going to be a good one. I have all of my ten books and this is a light week. I am excited for this adventure to begin. When you are here you really understand the opportunities that are shown before you and how I have a responsibility to myself and my family to make the most of them. As my tutor said "Unlike the US system we are not here to teach you what to think, but instead on how to think". I am ready for this and feel like a sponge just purchased about to be used for the first time. I know that certain weeks more elbow grease will have to be applied than I am used to but that is test for me that I must get through.

Today also served as a big day because I officially joined the Oxford rowing team and am now on the novice team. It was so hard. I took the 2000 meter test and averaged about a 2:05 average split, i believe this is proper lingo.While this is fairly good I got a long way to go. However, this opportunity serves as a quintessentially Oxfordian sport and I have never been more excited. Who needs a gym when you can row on a beautiful river surrounding by buildings and castles that are easily 600 years old? These next six months are only a small glimpse of what is next in life, but I have never looked at anything with some excitement and bewilderment.

First Post

To whom it may concern:

This is the first of many, or so I hope, posts that I write. As you are hopefully aware I am in Oxford for the next six months studying at St. Catz, or Oxford University as we know it in the states. I have now been in England for two weeks and I must say that I grow more and more fond of my homeland every day. The weather here does suck though. I think that I went 7 days without sun and when I first saw the gleaming light I wanted to get on my knees and thank St. Michael, shoutout mom. The city of Oxford is beautiful and the perfect size. It is so weird to think that the buildings I visit and the streets I walk on are older than my country. Now for what my friends care about. The pubs here are great. The cider is awesome and not a girly drink at all unlike the US. Have met some great English people and most* are very receptive to Americans. There is a pub crawl coloring book in our lounge that is a giant poster with all the pubs that we have to color in after we are done, six down 9000 to go. Now for what my family cares about. I am so excited for my term. I met with my tutors and can't wait. One is a really old english guy that seems very smart and my other tutor, I believe, is a 2007 Rhodes Scholar and an alumni of Georgetown. The work load is intense.  I got my first assignment and it is hefty. Seven books all about the European Union and this is for just one of the two tutorials. I am so ready though to get started. Well this is good for now I will try to update this tomorrow when I meet with my second tutor. Also, I promise to make the other posts shorter.

bloke= dude. Can be good can be bad