A view...
So here I am in Oxford, which despite its similarities to the U.S. has its definite differences.
When we landed we went through immigration at Heathrow, then I took a bus to the " general bus terminal" at Heathrow, then I took another bus to oxford. The bus driver was the nicest human being on the planet, he spoke so softly and was so kind, he helped me with bags, gave me directions and where to go. When we got on the bus he said into the microphone " hello everyone, its a lovely day, we'll be getting on to Oxford now, but if you could please just put on your seatbelts, I'm sorry about it, but it's the law"
I was thinking wow... if we were in New York that bus driver would be a total dick.
Air conditioning is pretty much unheard of in Oxford. they open the windows and double doors wide, they just sweat, and then they have a drink.
Instead of for rent they say " to let" instead of " yield" the signs say " give way"
The drains in my room have no stick.. they were both down when i got here... they rotate diagonally to let the water out.
Bottled water is sealed CRAZY TIGHT over here. It takes me like 10 minutes to get it open.
There are a TON of Spanish and Portuguese people here.
on Sunday.. good luck finding ANYTHING ( even a simple convenience store) open after 11 pm.
Event the fast food restaurant serve the food and drinks on china plates and in real glasses.
I have one friend thus far, his name is Paulie and he is a bartender at a place called Kazbar which serves drinks and tapas. He is extremely skinny and scruffy (it is sort of the hot thing over here to be scruffy) he is studying to be an architect and perked up when he heard I was from NY. He has informed me that Magdalen (where i am to study) is the nicest college in oxford he said " every inch of the glass is cut just show and people will be walking about drinking pimms" He also told me that the library was the one they used to film Harry Potter in. " You'll feel like your in Harry potter" he informed me.
The oxford students take there tests in special testing halls and they have to wear robes when they are taking a test ... much like the robes in harry potter.
The guest house where I am staying is very nice... but not at all like a hotel in the states. the keys are these odd things that look like mini shoe-horns that slide into the door and then you twist the knob. They are having a tennis camp in town and a lot of the kids are staying here. When I went to breakfast in the dinning room this morning there were like 20 kids in the the room and it was still very quiet, only some subdued talking and polite request... everyone is polite here, even the children.
On the street nearly everyone will say " good morning" or " good afternoon" when you pass them.
the only people being rude I have seen thus far were a group of American college kids in a cafe being loud and obnoxious to the waiter who was a very handsome Spanish or Portuguese guy ( i couldn't tell because he was speaking English) who was a very nice, good waiter... either that or he was flirting with me. On my way way out he said ( in cute accent) " you are very sweet and I hope you will come back" -- I couldn't tell if he was being sincere, or if he just says that to everyone.
There is construction going on around the backside of the building I am staying in, I hear a lot of noise and cursing in cockney most of the day, but I rather like it because, as I suspect is the case for most people-- cursing to me by people of another culture is less offensive, and more amusing. I.e. "have you got the sodding thing?!" Last night Spanish people sat on the back steps and talked very loud and very fast.. Sometimes it seemed like they were all talking at once and I don't know how they could even hear one-another.
I was too tired to be bothered by it.
anyway... I think I'll take a nap before dinner/ orientation at St. Edmunds.
When we landed we went through immigration at Heathrow, then I took a bus to the " general bus terminal" at Heathrow, then I took another bus to oxford. The bus driver was the nicest human being on the planet, he spoke so softly and was so kind, he helped me with bags, gave me directions and where to go. When we got on the bus he said into the microphone " hello everyone, its a lovely day, we'll be getting on to Oxford now, but if you could please just put on your seatbelts, I'm sorry about it, but it's the law"
I was thinking wow... if we were in New York that bus driver would be a total dick.
Air conditioning is pretty much unheard of in Oxford. they open the windows and double doors wide, they just sweat, and then they have a drink.
Instead of for rent they say " to let" instead of " yield" the signs say " give way"
The drains in my room have no stick.. they were both down when i got here... they rotate diagonally to let the water out.
Bottled water is sealed CRAZY TIGHT over here. It takes me like 10 minutes to get it open.
There are a TON of Spanish and Portuguese people here.
on Sunday.. good luck finding ANYTHING ( even a simple convenience store) open after 11 pm.
Event the fast food restaurant serve the food and drinks on china plates and in real glasses.
I have one friend thus far, his name is Paulie and he is a bartender at a place called Kazbar which serves drinks and tapas. He is extremely skinny and scruffy (it is sort of the hot thing over here to be scruffy) he is studying to be an architect and perked up when he heard I was from NY. He has informed me that Magdalen (where i am to study) is the nicest college in oxford he said " every inch of the glass is cut just show and people will be walking about drinking pimms" He also told me that the library was the one they used to film Harry Potter in. " You'll feel like your in Harry potter" he informed me.
The oxford students take there tests in special testing halls and they have to wear robes when they are taking a test ... much like the robes in harry potter.
The guest house where I am staying is very nice... but not at all like a hotel in the states. the keys are these odd things that look like mini shoe-horns that slide into the door and then you twist the knob. They are having a tennis camp in town and a lot of the kids are staying here. When I went to breakfast in the dinning room this morning there were like 20 kids in the the room and it was still very quiet, only some subdued talking and polite request... everyone is polite here, even the children.
On the street nearly everyone will say " good morning" or " good afternoon" when you pass them.
the only people being rude I have seen thus far were a group of American college kids in a cafe being loud and obnoxious to the waiter who was a very handsome Spanish or Portuguese guy ( i couldn't tell because he was speaking English) who was a very nice, good waiter... either that or he was flirting with me. On my way way out he said ( in cute accent) " you are very sweet and I hope you will come back" -- I couldn't tell if he was being sincere, or if he just says that to everyone.
There is construction going on around the backside of the building I am staying in, I hear a lot of noise and cursing in cockney most of the day, but I rather like it because, as I suspect is the case for most people-- cursing to me by people of another culture is less offensive, and more amusing. I.e. "have you got the sodding thing?!" Last night Spanish people sat on the back steps and talked very loud and very fast.. Sometimes it seemed like they were all talking at once and I don't know how they could even hear one-another.
I was too tired to be bothered by it.
anyway... I think I'll take a nap before dinner/ orientation at St. Edmunds.