I woke up at 3. Left at 3:30. Got
on the bus at 4. Got to the airport at
4:45. Did not get on the plane at 6. It was canceled. It had no crew. I
was angry. Truthfully it was a bit ridiculous because there was only one
counter with two people who could change ticket status and a giant line of
customer who were supposed to leave on my flight. After asking just about
everyone around if they could help and them saying no, I reverted to standing
in line for 45 minutes. However, once the people behind and in front of me work
some magic at a side counter I decided to give it a try (I didn’t have much to
lose I had already stood in line for about an hour and a half). I asked and the
guy told me that flights to America and Asia were priority but he asked for my
passport. He also told me that usually he could change flight, only the agents
could. Well, he did change my flight to a 7:15 to Munich with a connection on
to London. I would be there 1.5 hours late but that was the best he could do.
So, finally, I was on my way. I had a small scare though going through
security. I forgot to take my pocket knife out of my purse… I know but I carry
in around just in case. I don’t know how this happened but it got through
security… but my lap top had to go back through. This is kind of scary actually
in retrospect but it is what it is. The
rest of my travels were uneventful, I swear I just have back luck with European
planes! There is some conspiracy against me! I had book first class so I could
check two bags for free (and I was using reward points anyhow so the actual
dollar amount was the same). I really didn’t notice a difference between coach
and first class except that I got a magazine for free J. The Economist which I
really liked and had wanted to check out for a while now. (Just a little hint…
I know Christmas is very far away and all but if everyone wanted to chip in and
get me a subscription for The Economist for when I am back it the states it
might just be the bestest Christmas present like ever!! ; ) Anyway, my flight
were a little delayed but only by 10-154 minutes and I was able to catch the
next bus to Oxford with only ten minutes to spare… see the buses don’t conspire
against me!
So the bus ride I spent reading
stuff for Blackfriars (my actual Oxford University course) and once we got into
town I start speaking with the driver and the guy in the seat over. They were
very nice and started pointing things out like the main shopping area, main
streets, where Harry Potter was filmed, where Tolken and Lewis Carol were
inspired and so on. It was very interesting and when I got offer bus the guy, a
professor in medicine from New Zealand, I was talking with offer to show me the
way to the school since he was going that way. Another guy, a professor of
bio-physics from Slovenia, also asked directions and he was going the same way
so we formed a small caravan. Eventually I got tired and said I could make it
on my own (this was already after the professor from Slovenia had split from
us). So I sat outside a nice little church for a while, feeling the nice cool
breeze. Then set off on my way (which felt like forever). I think from getting
up super early and only eating on the plane (and some crackers I had), I wasn’t
able to walk too far without taking a break. Finally, I reached the school, a nice
little building on a quaint road. I got all of my stuff and was told I would be
staying with a host family… I didn’t know this! I had put it as my second or
third choice because it was a cheap option but as I think about it I think I
will enjoy a host family more than staying in a dorm. I will get to know the
city better and the culture. Also, my theory from the start has been to not to
hang out with the 70 or so kids from San Diego… I can meet them in San Diego! I
want to get to know England. After I got all checked in I was told that my host
family was at a wedding and that they couldn’t pick me up until later that
night and so I have about 3 hours until the dinner at the school. This was
perfect though because my friend, Selena that I met in Slovakia, was having a
flat (or apartment) warming party. I freshened up a bit, got a map and some
direction from the nice people in the office and was off. It was about half an
hour to her flat and I got to walk through downtown Oxford and right past the
Blackfriars building! I made it there and after figuring out the system, I rang
her apartment, asking for Selena… she wasn’t there. How peculiar. I started
walking away… turn around and rang the apartment again, asking “Isn’t the flat
warming party today?” “Next week. See you then!” Well now what to do I had
about two hours but I started walking back anyway. On the way there, I had seen
a nice little canal path and decided to take it on the way back to the school.
It was lovely. Truly a little canal, littered with house boats, bridges, and
ducks! I walked this for a good amount of time and decided to get back on the
main road so I wouldn’t over shoot and get lost. It worked out perfectly and I ended up on the main road just a few
streets away from Bardwell, where the school is. I went back to the school and
still having about an hour, I asked to use the school computers. I spent this
time uploading pictures and similar such things. I was then told that for the
dinner that building would be locked so I should more my bags over to the other
building where we would eat. I decided to do one bag at a time and luckily I
ran into this guy who offered to help. His name is Stew (I don’t know about the
spelling) and I had seen him doing the carpools earlier that day from the
school to the dorms. He helped me and we got to talking so I sat with him for
dinner. He actually works at the school teaching English which was surprising
because he is really young, around mid-20s probably. After dinner, I still had
some time before my host family was to pick me up so I sat in this lounge area
and worked on my computer. Finally, the woman came (Guadalupe, a short little
Mexican women all dressed up saying let’s go) and so I grabbed my luggage.
Thankfully she called to her son, Vincent who is 22, and he came to help with
the bags. We drove to their house which is a little ways out of the center but
easily reached by bike with a bit of a longer walk (say 30-40 minutes depending
on speed.) Their house is a cute little two story on a nice lane. They have an
apple tree in the front and a pear tree in the back. The house itself is really
nice and I have my own room with a bed, dresser, desk, and closet. Guadalupe
showed me around the house but was going back to the wedding and Vincent was to
drive her. I asked to go for the ride so I could see some more of the town and
chat with them some more. She seems pretty protective but nice and Vincent and
I got along very well. He has just graduated from university and majored in
international relations but focusing on HIV and aids, really interesting stuff
(I hope to talk with him about this more). We got back, chatting for a while and
then I unpacked, getting settled in, did some laundry, and talked with Vincent
more (about things in the house and Oxford as well as about the demographics of
the US verses the UK… I think we will learn a lot from each other). I found out
that they have been hosting students for about 15 to 20 years and that they can
host 3 students at a time but prefer only two. Also, apparently most students
live with a host family to improve their English. This is funny to me because
Guadalupe definitely speaks with a Mexican accent but Vincent speaks like a
brit, what a contrast. After all this conversation, it was off to bed for me at
11:30. It was a long day.
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