The Adventure Begins...

And so, after a rainy 4 day orientation in London, Paul an I finally loaded our luggage onto the bus and were off to Oxford. As each group of students got dropped off at their respective colleges, our anticipation mounted. At first glance, the town, which actually turns out to be a city, seems calm and picturesque. However, It is only when you reach our college, Hertford College, which is located in the center of Oxford, do you get the full extent of what Oxford is really like. Its a smaller, more historic London. Thats the best way I can put it. Buses and cabs dot the streets, hoards of bikers fly by, asian tourists are everywhere, and there are expensive clother stores around every corner. Yup, even the weather is the same. It rains. It rains a lot. And if its not raining, its overcast. Recently however, we have had some nice weather, but the locals say it should be the last of it. So whats unique about Oxford? Well, its easy, the University. It covers literally the whole city. Its not like the Universities back in the U.S. Oxford is actually comprised of 38 different colleges. In addition to these colleges are libraries, academic buildings, dormitories, sports fields, and other buildings I have yet to even discover. Its actually depressing to think about how big the University is because it reminds me how I probably won't be able to see all of it. What is exciting though, is that Hertford College is around some of the oldest and most ornate parts of Oxford. In fact, Hertford College possesses one of the oldest walls in the University, dating back to the 1200's. Everywhere you turn, something catches your eye. Its impossible to miss a University building. All you need to do is look down the street and see to large gates and large stone architecture, or look up to see the tops of cathedrals towering over the many souvenir shops. The academic buildings are elaborate to say the least. Each main entrance has a large wooden door that looks as if its right off the front of a castle from the Middle Ages. Almost every building has large old or stained glass windows and vegetation growing somewhere on it. Once you enter a college, you're greeted by a lush courtyard and more breathtaking buildings that look as if they should be out in the countryside. Theres just so much to illustrate, but I know my descriptions don't do it justice. Its one of those places you have really have to see up close to get the full affect of how amazing it is.