amsterdam. the first european city i was able to see from the small window on the plane. i was awestruck upon first glance for what i first saw of the netherlands was their progress of wind farms in the north sea. i look out to see what resembles fields of wheat or another crop in the united states, but they are ten by about twelve rows of enormous white windmills, the contemporary style of course, miles from shore providing wind power for the nation. beyond words explaining their magnificence, these monstrous sources of power made a cargo ship or barge beside seem to be two inches long. when we finally flew over land, the windmills continued every quarter mile or so, yet their appearance did anything but mar the landscape. the most amazing thing to me was seeing the countryside overtake the land. i knew that the netherlands would be expansive and undeveloped in most areas, but before the airport i was able to see seven cow pastures. the cows appeared tiny from my window, but because i could see the brown and white patterns on each cow, i felt like i was there on the ground with them. the pastures came up and bordered the runway in amsterdam and immediately felt at home. in fact, it still hasn't hit me that i'm not simply in a part of the united states i've never ventured to before. the actual amsterdam airport was so foreign to me though. they had a casino, attractive looking security checkpoints, and it was furnished by ikea. from here we flew to heathrow on a small plane. the flight is the same length as the one from jacksonville to atlanta, but the experience was completely different to anything i would have expected. they gave us small european cookies, produced by kraft, but they put american food to shame. it gave me so much hope for trying new things while i am here. when we taxing to our gate in heathrow, the pilot, in a very sad voice, announced the score for the england/germany world cup match, and upon his declaration of germany being up a goal, the entire plane except for our group let out a unanimous moan of disdain. from here, the next adventure was customs which was a breeze. then came leg three. the train.
we took a free train from heathrow to paddington station on a luxurious train that marta look as if it was made one hundred years ago and never maintained. we had wifi, luggage holders, and tinted windows for the fifteen minute ride. when we arrived at paddington station and bought our tickets for oxford, we had around a half hour to kill before our train boarded. i was extremely tempted to by a real paddington bear, however i think i'll save that for my next trip to the station when we arrive in london for the last bit of the trip. the train to oxford was less modern and up kept, but it was still first class compared to anything american. one has to push a button to both open and close the doors saving both power and letting the conductor know when the train has filled. the ride was an hour in length, and this is where carly and i met sophie. she was fourteen, looked eighteen, and resembled keira knightley in a staggering manner. she, a very well educated individual, told us what we needed to experience with a great emphasis on shopping, and what she loved about london. she made me question if i was that approachable when i was her age, and if i, now, sound that intelligent and formal when i speak. when the redding stop came, she and her parents left, but not without a friendly goodbye. soon thereafter, we arrived at the oxford train station, met dr, collins' colleague, and walked to our accommodations at venneit close. they are flats with fully stocked kitchens, a washer and dryer combo, and, most importantly, absolutely no hot water. apparently it is just the room duckie and i are in, but it was reported to the head of oxford university's housing, so it is supposed to be back on here shortly. we have two foreign roommates, a young man from asia that does not talk and stays in his room, and a really friendly young woman from the netherlands named ester. after getting settled in our rooms, we went as a group to this amazing restaurant near the heart of oxford called giraffe. the food was amazing, all natural, homegrown, and tasted incredible. i had a salmon filet on wasabi rice and steamed bok choy paired, very nicely of course, with the most beautiful mango and lime daiquiri i have ever seen. we then split as a group where a few of us stayed out later and got the feel of the town, and it was here i discovered it. the crunchie bar. the most amazing thing i have ever tasted. it is a candy that tastes like a heath bar without the sticky feeling that leaves in your mouth. it is a chocolate bar with a wafer center, in fact it may be the same wafer used in a twix, but this wafer comprises the entire bar and is the same thickness as a three muskateers in depth. the middle of the wafer has been injected with some sort of honey mixture thus giving it the sweet factor, quite simply put, it's amazing. oxford does have other amazing aspects however.
one, most everyone here walks or ride bikes. i love this. if i could, i would live like this forever. i love actually being productive and leaving little environmental impact simultaneously. thankfully, dr. collins has gotten us all gym memberships which will be nice the next few weeks.
two, there is actually green space. everywhere. everyone appreciates the landscape.
three, the people are extremely helpful and accommodating. you do get the occasional person who is rude to you because they expect you to be the same, but most are very nice.
lastly, the vehicles are so practical! most are hatchback, two doors, and only seat four people. they all look alike, but they are not ridiculously big like vehicles in the united states. i have seen one suv while being here, a two door burgundy land rover that was probably one foot longer than our old ford festiva growing up. however, i have become somewhat homesick because of them though. especially when i see the hatchback honda civics. why is this? it makes me miss josh and his stupid little black car. and most of the cars are loud just like his. and to think i never thought a hatchback civic was still manufactured.
today has been incredible though. i woke up, got ready for the day, and happened to meet dr. collins in the hall in between our flats on my way to finding breakfast. we ended up going to a cafe called "coffee republic" and got incredibly egg and cheese bagels, but tomorrow i may stop for a croissant. we had a short class period, and when it ended and the lunch break started, i didn't eat but came back to my room to nap. after feeling refreshed, i made the twenty-five minute walk back to the school building where we had two oxford professors come and lecture to us. the first, an elderly gentleman and a ppe major (philosophy/politics/economics) talked to us about the oxford school system and the make up of england's politics. apparently, students going to one of the thirty-six, i believe that's the correct number, campuses which make up oxford university are not required to attend lectures, instead they meet their tutors, what they call their teachers, for a one on one or two students-one tutor meeting once a week. it is a fascinating system, but i think i would miss the dynamics of a classroom. the second gentleman, also an oxford tutor, spoke to us on what makes up the spirit of oxford. i was intrigued by his lecture for he talked mostly on his specialty, music. he then introduced me to a composer named ralph vaughn williams and led me to a particular piece which has completely blown me away upon listening to. i will most likely dedicate an entire post to it, so i won't indulge in its beautiful acoustics or complementary soft, flowing movements quite yet. after the lectures we started our formal tour of the town. we visited jesus college, a welsh college founded with the help of queen elizabeth the first, exeter college with its remarkable chapel, and corpus christi, the inspiration for oglethorpe university. it was a completely oglethorpe experience including the petrel, which they believe is a pelican. each school only has three hundred to six hundred students, and each receive their own room on the campus. we then walked past christopher wren's first building, the bodleian library where we will be visiting tomorrow, and a remarkable school called all souls college. one is able to attend upon invitation only, and you must be a fellow, a graduate, from another school comprising oxford university. one is not able to apply, so it is considered the greatest honor an alumni can have. we then went to christ church, a beautiful anglican cathedral, however it will be tomorrow i'm most excited for. not only do we visit the bodleian library, the library with the most rare and extensive collection of books in addition to being a filming spot for harry potter, but i will also get to attend evensong in the cathedral chapel.
after we had finished our busy tour schedule, it was then time for dinner. and what did i crave? a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. the most impossibly thing to find in oxford. so instead of going out for food, i went grocery shopping. my entire purchase was only £12.83, and that is for a weeks worth of breakfast and lunch. and it was only upon checkout that i realized my obsession with berries. i bought strawberry special k, wheat bread, chunky peanut butter, raspberry jam, tortilla chips, milk, strawberries, and chocolate clusters for my sweet tooth. needless to say, i had the dinner my body wanted back at the flat. ester ate with duckie and i, however she had made an amazing looking and smelling pasta and sausage dish. we then proceeded to watch a show called "jimmy's food factory: second helpings" that was similar to dirty jobs, but instead of working at a variety of labor jobs, he works at food factories and then makes food, such as processed cheese, back at his flat. after an enjoyable half hour of watching this, thinking of josh every second, i was able to skype with him and then sleep until now. two am here, and it is now three so i believe i should turn in about now. but i will leave with an image of jesus college, the only one i was able to take before my camera died. more will come tomorrow, but enjoy this little glimpse of my current heaven.
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