Oxford - Part 2

9 September 

We spent the next two days primarily at Balliol College (founded in 1263), which hosted our seminar. This weekend was initially planned for various University presidents, but this year, only President Westmoreland and the president of Anderson University in South Carolina were able to come. Since the event was already planned, they decided to invite us to participate, so that an opportunity would not go to waste. They altered the seminar accordingly. They called it, The Oxford Tradition: How One University Has Shaped Wester Thought and Culture. 

Sunday evening we had a reception in the "fellows garden" of tea and little scones with these two presidents and the man who organized the weekend, Dr. Knapp, the director of Samford's center for ethics and leadership. 

Delicious little scones and clotted cream 

Fellows Garden, Great Hall in the distance

After our reception we had dinner in the Great Hall, where we would have all of our Oxford meals. However, this first dinner was formal. So, instead of it being cafeteria style, we had a three course meal served to us at the high table (the professors table - again, think Harry Potter). I couldn't believe that we were there - in the oldest university in Oxford - eating dinner at the high table - when we weren't initially intended to be there at all. I kept having to pinch myself. 

We stayed in the Balliol dorms, which are actually located on the outskirts of the university (about a 10 minute walk), since they are severely restricted as far as building room. Most of the people who live in the historic buildings are professors or graduate students.

10-11 September 

 

The rest of the weekend was split between seminars and field trips around Oxford. We learned how the British school and university systems differ from ours and about how Oxford itself functions. Professor Flowers led us in a discussion on Percy Shelley. He is claimed as an Oxford Alumnus, though he never  graduated - having been expelled for his Atheist treatise. Other topics included the pros and cons of monarchy and the "town and gown" controversies of Oxford (the historical and contemporary conflicts that Oxford the university and Oxford the town have faced). 

 

 Our seminar rooms

Our excursions included a visit to Oxford's museum, the Ashmoleon, a tour around Oxford's canals (Roger's tour was leagues better), a visit to Corpus Christi College, and Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral. The latter two were, in my opinion, the most interesting. Our Corpus Christi visit was complimentary to a seminar we had on the King James Bible, since this college was instrumental in its development and compilation. The college itself was really neat, but what was really cool was that they brought out a 17th century copy of the KJV for us to see. They also showed various other manuscripts, including the hand written transcription of the compilation debates. 

Of course, we also visited places in our spare time like the Charles Dickens exhibit and The Eagle and Child (the Inklings pub).  

This is where C.S. Lewis and JRR Tolkein (among others) would meet and discuss their books and ideas. 

Finally, my first British Evensong was a wonderful finale of our Oxford trip.

Samford in London 2012 - I love these people.

Thanks Oxford! You were a marvelous surprise. 

Oxford - Part 1

9 September 

Upon arriving in London, I was informed that our whole group was getting an extra paid-for trip that coming weekend to visit Oxford and participate in a seminar with our school president, Dr. Westmoreland and his wife. When, we came down Sunday morning to depart, we found that our neighbor Roger, an Oxford alum, had decided to accompany us for the day. One should note before going on a "walk" with Roger that he "walks" with inhuman speed and he waits for no one. So, moments after we set down our bags in Oxford, he had us marching around the entire university. Okay, maybe not the entire university - we visited 9/38 colleges and and fair amount of grounds.
It was the perfect day to visit. We had gorgeous weather, a first-rate guide, and free admission. Yep, we visited on one of the very few "Oxford Open Doors Days,"when admission-which usually costs 4-10 pounds per college-was free. We visited Christ Church, Jesus, New, Balliol, Magdalen, Merton, Worcester, Exeter, and All Souls on that first day. I might be missing one or adding one, but that's my best guess. We were going very quickly. Here are some photo highlights:

Exeter Chapel

Exeter Chapel 

New College - Harry Potter filming grounds

 New College chapel 

New College cloister- think Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Malfoy's tree

The beautiful New college cloister

Roger 

Magdalen - Roger's Alma Mater

Here's Roger reading us a C.S. Lewis poem, which is written on a plaque on the grounds of Magdalen. 

What the Bird Said Early in the Year

On the grounds of Magdalen

Our group in the New college cloister

The Great Hall that inspired Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland

The Harry Potter staircase 

Caitrin and I

All Souls Library 

All Souls College courtyard

Worcester College

Really cool staircase - Roger did some persuading with his Alumni donor card. We saw a lot of Oxford with him that we probably would not have otherwise. 

The plaque which marks the site where three Protestant martyrs were burned, including Thomas Cranmer. 

In the late afternoon we parted with Roger. He went back to London and we went on to our seminar activities. It was a very exhausting day, but so fun. We hadn't been there 6 hours and we had already seen more of Oxford than we would in the next 48. 

Exploring London - Week One

The Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of my first week we spent going to markets and exploring London. 

Thursday we went to the Borough Market, which is all food and drink. You can get anything from a brownie to fresh fruit and veggies to chicken curry. Everything smells and tastes delicious. Before I get anything I like to go around and try all of the samples. :) 

                               

This past week I was back over in this area trying to secure tickets for the Richard III at the Globe, so naturally I had to go back to the Borough market. I had a duck confit sandwich for lunch followed by a large cooke (which lasted me all day) and some mulled cider. It was a perfect meal for that blustery day.

Back to week 1, the next day we went to Portobello Rd. Market to look around. It's a really neat area in Notting Hill full of antiques, books, jewelry, clothes... all sorts of things.  

That evening we ate at a really neat pub that Caitrin found called the Churchill arms. The front has a true English pub atmosphere, but the back is a Thai restaurant. It was a great night! 

The last London adventure of Week 1 was with our neighbor Roger. He's quite fascinated with the new cable car/gondola system that goes over the Thames in the East End (Olympic area). So, Saturday he took us all down there for a ride. It was a beautiful day. He walked us around the south bank a bit afterwards and we saw a few Olympic venues. We were actually there when a Paralympic basketball game was going on.

Roger 

Olympic Park

And finally, we finished off our Roger field trip at a delicious Turkish restaurant.