Hello!

Hello to everyone back in the States. It is currently 11:20 pm here in Oxford and I am writing this first blog as a break from my first two Oxford papers. (sometimes your mind just needs a break)

I plan on using this site to keep my family and friends updated on my adventures abroad. First, I received my tutorial assignments and I am lucky to have received my first two choices. While at Oxford, I will be studying the political consequences of the Reformation and Public International Law. I meet with each tutor for one hour a week for 8 weeks (I’m currently in week 2) where I have to hand in a paper, explain my arguments, and discuss the assigned readings. While this may make it seem like I have oodles of free time here at Oxford, I can assure you, studying for these weekly tutorials is essentially a job. In order to do well, I am in the library 9:00 to 5:00 almost every day.

(Below is my favorite spot in Christ Church library…P.S. those book stands are EVERYTHING)

My tutor for my history course is a Chaplain and probably one of nicest and funniest religious figures I have encountered. At our first meeting we walked out in the main square of Pembroke College to look at the parts of the building James I of England commissioned since we were just discussing his reign in his office. Also, he gave me 10 pence to read the Latin inscription on the coin and told me to keep it to remember our first meeting haha. So essentially he gave me a tour and a tip for doing so well.

Plus, being a chaplain, he granted me an invitation every Sunday night to attend Pembroke’s evensong, drinks, and dinner. Of course, I have gone the past two Sundays since all of it is FREE! Plus, I get the chance to interact with students and Oxford and sit in a beautiful chapel. WIN, WIN, WIN

(Below are two pictures of the inside of Pembroke’s Chapel)

I have not spent much time with my second tutor, but we met last week at 9:00 am. She proceeded to tell me she was flying to the Hague in the Netherlands in a few short hours to work with the International Criminal Court on an ongoing project. From that moment, I knew I was going to be learning from one of the best. I’ll keep you updated!

While I am studying at Oxford University, Oxford is actually comprised of many smaller colleges. I am an associate member of Christ Church College which is one of the biggest, oldest, and most photographed out of the colleges in Oxford.

Below is Tom Tower. This is the main entrance into Christ Church. Every night, tom tower rings its bell at 9:00. However, Christ Church runs on “Oxford Time” which means it is five minutes behind London, so it actually rings at 9:05. Anyway, this bell rings 101 times ,one ring for every original student, every night. This tradition began as a curfew for students who had until the last ring of the bell to get back to Christ Church before the gates closed for the evening. For me, that just means I’m getting used to reading over the bells.

Christ Church began construction under the supervision of Cardinal Woolsey, but when he ran out of money, Henry the VIII stepped in to foot the bill. For that reason, his portrait is hung at the center of our dining hall. Plus, my tutor is friends with the Dean of Christ Church who lives in college. Since he lives in college, he does not have much of a choice when it comes to decorations. He once complained to my tutor that he hated having to see a gigantic Henry VIII portrait at 1:00 am in the morning because he doesn’t like a sociopath staring at him on his way to the loo.

Also, if the picture below reminds of Hogwarts, you are kinda right. The Christ Church dining hall was used as inspiration for the Great Hall in Harry Potter, but no filming actually happened here. In a future post, I will post some pictures where filming actually did take place.

Honestly, it is almost midnight here in Oxford and this girl has more writing to do. I will continue to post on this blog (daily if I’m good).

Thanks for reading!

…Alicia