I did absolutely nothing productive today. I woke up at around 9, the latest I have woken up since I got here and I felt that my legs were angry at me. I decided to just stay in and wear my staying in jeans and shirt. Joanne made some biscuits and I had some. It was YUM :] I attempted to read but I ended up trying to figure out what to do for my break (which still isn't resolved, by the way. It's a sore subject.). I fell asleep at some point (when I began reading) and woke up at around dinner time. Yep, completely unproductive.
The highlight of my day was drinking the Fanta out of that Fanta bottle pictured above. It is absolutely amazing. Fanta here definitely wins over the one in the US. Yes, hands down. I'm not a big fan of soda but if you try UK Fanta, you'll be absolutely amazed at how natural it tasted. It basically tasted like orange soda, orange juice with fizz, basically. It didn't taste artificial at all. If you all saw the color, it totally looked like orange juice.
Tomorrow, I'm going to be more productive. My legs are starting to warm up to me again, finally.
We met up with Lieren, as decided. The three of us had breakfast in G&D afterwards and then Suzanna and I helped Lieren set up her little surprise for her roommate, Jaqueline. We got to express our creative side with a hint of resourcefulness. Afterwards, I dispersed in order to do the free Oxford Canal boating experience. I waited in the queue for an hour and I was kind of disappointed with what we saw but not completely. It was still relaxing and nice but I wanted more.
I then walked around and ended up climbing the Saxon tower again, which was from where the picture was taken. I'm absolutely loving this city. I climbed down and listened to the choir that was playing and I walked by Cornmarket, where I saw a 70% shoe sale and I stopped myself from buying 3 pairs of shoes. I also visited the Bod library and All Soul's College. I ended up walking around for a bit and then I headed back. Although, I didn't go straight home. I ventured for a bit further down Botley and found the Aldi's and a Chinese takeaway place where I got my dinner. I headed home, ate and then fell asleep for about 4 hours.
So now, I have messed my sleeping schedule UP because I'm up at 1:37 AM and writing this entry. Haha.
It was Oxford Open Doors and I began my day at 7:30 in the morning. I left the house at 8, walked all the way to the North East side to get to the Rhodes House which was my first stop of the day. I over estimated my time so I got there at 9. The House is not supposed to open until 9:30. I decided to walk down the street. I saw Mansfield College, The University Science area and the University Parks which was absolutely serene and beautiful.
I headed to Rhodes and it was beautiful. The Rotunda, when you come in the house, was awe-inspiring. The gardens were AMAZING and it simply took my breath away. I headed down to Broad Street for my next stop, which was New College. I was going to meet Joanne and Debra but I got there early. I decided to go into Blackwell and have some breakfast. I was still too early so after taking pictures in the Bod Library Quad, I walked into the Old Indian Institute, which is usually closed to the public, and the Museum of Science, which houses the blackboard with Einstein's theory of relativity. I ran into Debra and Joanne and the three of us headed into New College.
New College is the college I'm affiliated with here in Oxford. The moment I stepped in it, I knew it was the right fit. I walked in and I just fell in love. We went inside the chapel and it was absolutely gorgeous. The Cloisters, which has its 5 minutes of fame on the big screen b/c apparently that's where Draco Malfoy was turned into a ferret, is one of the most moving places I have ever been here. The dining hall was small but it was stunning. The gardens , which is lined by the old city wall, is going to be my favorite hiding place. I felt like I was in the secret garden walking around. The picture is the entrance gate to the garden. I love how the weather turned beautiful the moment we were there.
After New College, and a fiasco in my itinerary, I met up with Suzanna. We walked around the Botanic Gardens, down Magdalen Bridge and around the traffic circle in East Oxford. We then met up with Jeffrey and the three of us headed into Magdalen College and its Gardens. Magdalen College is also a gorgeous college (I just didn't feel at home in it as I did in New). My camera died along the way but it's alright. My Bod card will allow me entrance so I can go in and take pictures of the wonderful garden path. We then headed back to Cornmarket and climbed the Saxon Tower where we got to see the city, birds eye view. I was absolutely in love with the view. However, my camera died and it was only able to sputter 2 shots.
Afterwards, Suzanna and I did some errands while Jeffrey went to tour some more. We headed home, ate and rested and then met up with Lieren for a bit (where we made arrangements to go to mass together tomorrow). We got back, hung out with Debra and Joanne for about another hour and called it a night.
I was planning on going punting to start the day. However, I ended up staying inside, editing my paper and just hanging with Joanne and Debra. I was definitely freaking out a bit. I mean, it's my first tutorial and I get first reading of my essay. I didn't know what Dr. Ward wanted and I wasn't confident enough with what I wrote. I mean, it totally makes sense to me. But does it makes sense to everyone else? I was never confident with my style and my, I guess, logic. And I'm afraid that I would end up stammering and not being able to defend the paper I wrote.
Tutorial time came after a bit of an adventure with Debra and Joanne (this story, and details of my tutorial is a personal story, I'm afraid). For a whole hour from 2:30-3:30, I had a tutorial. I REALLY had a tutorial. It was one of the most rewarding, scariest, aggravating, exciting experiences in my entire life. It was everything I expected and yet it was still slightly overwhelming but I felt like I was flying afterwards. I mean, I know I didn't do perfect on the paper. However, I know that I learned something that will stick. I can't wait for the next one, to be honest.
After the tutorial, I passed by the travel agency to inquire about Spain tours. Not very helpful but I got a bit of a direction. I then walked down High Street and just ventured aimlessly. The picture above was taken at the Grand Café, which, I was told by "Friendly Man", is one of the best restaurants in town. I headed back, purchased about 300 grams of candy (I got over excited. I felt slightly guilty afterwards) which were displayed in the middle of Westgate center and spent the night looking for Spain tours.
I made a deal with myself. I'm going to work on my essay from 8-5 and "turn it in to my boss" at that hour. In other words, I locked myself up in the house once again. I got up at 7:30 in the morning and worked on my paper on 7:45. I wanted it done. Granted that my tutorial is at 2:30 on Friday, I just wanted it done.
I was writing, pacing, writing, pacing, reading, caffeinating, writing, complaining, sighing, writing. Suzanna, Debra (Debra already went in and out of the house 3 times) and Joanne all left and I was still in my room, on my desk, writing. Suzanna left and came home to find me still at my desk. It was around 4:00 in the afternoon and I was finishing up my conclusion. I got excited. This means, we get to go to dinner tonight to Fire and Stone (£4 pizza night! Jeffrey texted me about it too). The night before, I told Suzanna, when she posed this question, that I will only go out to dinner if I finish my paper (same thing I told Jeffrey). And I did. By 5:00, I had Suzanna read over my paper and proof read it a bit.
At that point, I really needed a break. I was glad that we did decide to do dinner. I haven't been in the city for about 36 hours! Dinner ended up to be Jeffrey, Lieren, Mike, Suzanna and I. It was a fun little table. We all enjoyed our pizzas. I'm glad Suzanna and I discovered the deal our first week here. I had the Byron Bay pizza, which is pictured above. (Lieren had it too.). They had all had their tutorials and we talked about them for a bit. There was also a discussion of what we were doing and have been doing the past week. In the end, it was a good time.
On the way home, Suzanna and I also realized that Mike lives opposite our street on Botley Road, which was funny. I realized that as much as I love my flat and the area around it, I really prefer to be in the hustle and bustle of things.
It took me a while to figure out which picture to post.
I had all intentions of just posting a picture of the blue couch by our flat's printer (its toner costs £ 90, btw. Can you believe that ?) where I sat all day with my laptop and books trying to write the essay I have due on Friday. (I'm up to 500 words. I need 1500 more but I'm more confident than I was when I took the picture I would have posted.) I also did my laundry today and hung my clothes on the clothes line because we don't have a dryer. I took a picture of that and thought about just posting that.
However, at around 17:00, I started freaking out. The nerves and the daunting idea that I was going to read my essay out loud started to get to me. I don't even have the essay yet. However, I was starting to lose my Zen and the confidence that I should have in myself. My head was just getting filled with scary thoughts and silly situations. I mean, I'm going to read my essay to an expert on C.S. Lewis. Me, Nicole, who has barely read Lewis? A lot of things can go wrong with that. I was starting to tremble and I can't think straight. Therefore, I decided to save my sanity, leave my couch, and take a walk outside.
Instead of going to Botley Road, I went to the other side, to the fields. Suzanna had mentioned that there was one before but I haven't really been in it yet. I'm glad I decided to go today because I definitely got to see one of the most gorgeous places in my whole entire life. The fields were amazing. It was calming and peaceful. I'm glad I brought my camera with me during my walk because I got to take some of the most gorgeous pictures I have taken in my life, at least in my opinion. It was an undisturbed piece of sanctuary that I will definitely visit again.
The picture I finally chose to post is a picture of the horse I saw further down the first road on the fork. I felt like the white horse is somewhat symbolic of my walk "saving me" from the distress I was in. I was a damsel. I was in distress. And a white horse and a knight in the form of fields, armed with grass, trees and vast sky saved me.
I definitely found my piece of sanctuary from the city and the stress.
My 8-hour work day schedule failed today. Because of that, I decided to relax and just take the day as it is. I was kind of mellow. I had my breakfast and lunch at the flat. I do cook so I cooked myself some stir-fried noodles for lunch. I spent the morning reading. I was basically glued to our living area from 9:00 to 12:45. Suzanna and I headed into town at 1:00, got there at around 1:15-ish and ran our errands. We met up at Greens at around 2:00 (I was there by 1:45) and worked. I left at around 5:30 and ran errands, once again. I bought a few things at the grocery and a box of band-aids because I got myself a small wound, no biggie. I went to Boots and I wasn't very pleased with its arrangement. It reminded me of the perfume section of a department store and I was so confused. I found my band-aids, nonetheless.
I headed home and waited for Suzanna. She and I were supposed to meet up with Lieren to go to the St. Giles Festival in St. Giles that night. She got back at around 7, had dinner and we headed out at around 8:30. Yes, it was dark out but we found out that our side of town is a safe walk. It was quiet and well lit. Lieren ended up staying in because of her paper, which is totally understandable. I was personally exhausted from all the reading and I just wanted to be out after the whole day of going all out reading. I'm glad Suzanna went with even if she wasn't exactly feeling it.
We got to the St. Giles festival and it was AWESOME! Whoever set the festival out went all out! The whole feel of it was amazing. I love the feel of festivals in general. This one, however, was just…WOW! I felt like I was in Disneyland. I can't believe I was still in Oxford and that I just passed this street 7 days ago, in a taxi cab, and it didn't look like that. There were rides, food booths and games everywhere! There were multiple fun houses, bumper cars, twirling thingamabbobbers, etc. The picture above, as hazy as it is (which I love), describes the whole festival. I felt like I was transported into a different world. I was undeniably in complete amazement.
Suzanna and I ended up just walking through the whole festival, which was enough for me. I didn't want to partake in the rides nor spend money on the food and the games (I was full from dinner and I was content with people watching those who did play the games and ended up bringing around big stuffed toys). We got back to the flat at around 9:50, ready to do some more reading in order to crank up my paper tomorrow.
