I've Never Been More Sore!

So finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, Paul and I got out of Oxford for a weekend. This past weekend, Paul and I traded in our books for helmets as we travelled to South Wales with the Oxford University Caving Club. To say it was an amazing experience would be an understatement. This was no tourist exhibit. On Friday, we got our kit which consisted of a helmet, helmet lamp, thermal suit, over suit, belt, and boots. Then it was off to South Wales. Don't even ask me what the name of the exact location because I couldn't learn Welsh if my life depended on it. Friday night we arrived at our hut and planned who would be going on what route. After a good night sleep and a hearty breakfast, we got assigned our team leaders and set off. Sadly, due to the intensity of our routes, Paul could not come into the caves. He was bummed, but after I told him what I went through, he was glad he stayed behind. Saturday was definitely the toughest out of the two excursions. Simply put, I never knew my legs could spread that far. To start, we crawled our way to an opening where the river had run for thousands of years. So of course our next task was going against the current. Oh, and it should be mentioned that the other groups abandoned this route because it had just rained and the water levels were high. Straddling the flowing waters, we shimmied our way up the path for a good half an hour. Once we reached dry land, we took a break and turned off our lights to experience a darkness like you've never experienced! I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face. After a quick snack, we scaled a wall with nothing but a rope and traversed over a hundred foot drop with nothing but a cable to keep us to the wall. This was followed by some more crawling and squeezing through holes that you can't imagine leading to anywhere until it was time to descend. However, the only way to do this was through, pardon my french, the "Elephant's Asshole." The "Elephant's Asshole" is basically just a big shaft in the ground that is impossible to safely crawl down. To get down, we had to wedge ourselves against the walls and slowing slide down. Finally, after over 3 hours underground and a full body workout, we climbed the multiple ladders to be greeted by sunny skies and smell of horse poop. After a night of caving games such as the squeeze machine, which is just two pieces of wood that you tighten and then try and fit through, we woke up to do it all over again. This time we drove a bit farther to another place I had no idea how to pronounce, but was on a mountainside so the view was fantastic. However, yet again, the route I was taking, named Aggy, was too constricting for me to bring Paul, so he had to stay in the car. Of course, before we went into the cave, we had get our kit on. This was probably the worst part of the weekend because all the clothes were still wet and cold from the day before, but with a little encouragement from Paul, I got through it. It really didn't matter how wet or cold I was before we got in the cave because the moment we stepped in the entrance, we were on our stomachs and in the water again. This cave was definitely the more scenic of the two, but it was still exhausting. After tons of climbing, sliding, squeezing, and rock hopping, we entered a huge open area carved out by the water. This was unbelievable! I mean huge! From this point it was a very easy walk around the cave. On the way we stopped to examine some crystal-like formations and then our leader took us to a part of the cave that shows how deep it actually is. Standing on a ledge, you couldn't see the ceiling and barely make out the rushing water at the bottom. We then turned around and went back the way we came until we reached the open air. A quick change into warm clothes and we started back to Oxford. I must say that I have never been more sore in my life! Places on my body hurt that I didn't even know I had. Regardless of the pain and oncoming cold from the freezing water, it was an amazing weekend. Just looking around and feeling the walls of the cave, its unbelievable to think how they were all formed by water over thousands of years. Everybody was encouraging and willing to help in any situation. So I guess the only question is will I ever do it again? I hope to. If not here, then maybe back in the states. But I think next time I'll do something a little less intense so Paul can come along too.

Oxford puts the STUDY in Study Abroad.

I believe the saying is, "Every rose has its thorn." Oxford is no different. For all its beauty, Oxford is still a school. With school comes work. Sadly, I'll probably be spending more time running from library to library than travelling England during the term. Therefore, I thought I would I give a quick rundown of my everyday activities thus far. First off, my schedule. I have two tutorials, meaning once a week, and once every other week, I have a sit down with a professor to discuss the essay I have written. The meeting usually lasts for an hour and consists of my professor countering my argument and asking questions about the various sources I used. That's about it. You'd think I would have tons of free time, yet it's the exact opposite. The way the schools over here work definitely test your ability to be diligent with your time. In between my tutorials I usually start my days by saying good morning to Paul and start my reading. After a quick breakfast, usually mini wheats, I read some more. This is followed by more reading until lunch. After lunch I go to a local shop called the Fudge Kitchen for my daily free sample of fudge and then quickly exit before the clerks try to sell me some. This deviant act is then followed by a case of bewilderment as I try and navigate myself through another seemingly endless library. Real talk, the Bodleian Library by itself has access to over 9 million books. Its absurd. Anyways, after this riveting excursion I either go back to my room and read or wander around the streets to see if anything new catches my eye until dinner. After dinner I usually relax and sing duets with Paul or attempt to make progress on one of my essays. Occasionally, after a hard days work, I'll reward myself by going out to one of the thousand local pubs and bars. However, this period of tranquility is always cut short by the fact that once I wake up the next morning, I'll have to start all over again. I'm sure this routine will get monotonous after the first couple weeks, but all this said, every time I walk down the street to Hertford and look around, I say to myself, "I go to school here," and it makes everything worthwhile.

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.

Orientation London Style

So Paul and I made it. Once we landed in London, we were picked up by the Butler study abroad staff and swept away to our hotel. Now of course because it was orientation, we did spend a good portion of our time sitting and listening to how to make sure we aren't the victim of petty crimes and what to expect in terms of work load. But, on our off days, the other students, myself, and obviously Paul, went out and explored the city. It only takes a second to realize that London is like another New York City, only with more sites to see. Being the history buff that he is, Paul naturally wanted our first stop be to the British Museum which was conviently right around the corner from our hotel. After pictures with the Rosetta Stone, Tombs, and various busts of famous Romans, Paul decided that we should go out and see some of the more renown sites. We crossed the River Thames to try and get on the London Eye (the big ferris wheel), but by this time the line was out the door and it had started to rain so the view just wasn't worth it. After this lost cause, we crossed back over the Thames to the famous Big Ben. I hate to say it, but Big Ben got old really quickly, so we crossed the street to Westminster Abby. After a short stop for some pictures in the cloister, we were off to our last spot of the day, Buckingham Palace. I hate to say it again, but Personally, the Palace itself isn't much to look at. Its big. That's about it. In fact, I saw more pictures being taken of the gates rather than the Palace itself. After sitting in square staring at the windows to see if we could catch a glimpse of the queen, Paul and I decided to pack it in and head back to the hotel. We didn't get see everything we had hoped, but who does in only one day? I'm sure we'll return to London in the near future, but as for now, in the morning we would be leaving for Oxford.

Forever Grateful

I only feel its appropriate to start off this blog by saying thank you to some of the people that helped me get here in the first place. Lauren Gannon, thank you for everything. From suggesting Oxford when we first met, to helping me, basically, step by step through the entire application process. I could not have done this without you. Thank you Prof. Ford and Prof. Kay for the recommendations on such short notice. And finally, thank you to my family and friends for the encouragement throughout the whole process. If I forgot anybody, sorry. Its nothing personal, I just had to get this first post out of the way before I left for the library.