Outings, a Play, and a Trip to Oxford

A few things to post about this week.

We have completed our first week of classes and travelled to Oxford University so it was, I believe, a decent week.

I hosted a dessert get-together with the students in our small flat.  I bought all English-related desserts that I thought they would never try alone. So we had jam tarts, Banofee cakes, Jaffa cakes, Millionaires, Gold's Eye cake, Madeira Cake and many more! They were really good sports at trying things. 

As you can see our flat is quite full and 2 of the 3 guys had already left when I took this picture!

The first week of classes began by class planning. All my plans that I made a year ago had to be redone. After cutting back at least half of the readings and assignments and finding new locations to use as our outings, I spent the week working in the Madison House office with Charlotte, our Resident Manager and visiting other faculty's class outings.

On Tuesday, I went with Jay Hicks' Culture by Design course as they did a scavenger hunt at Camden Stalls (or Market). If you have never been to Camden, you have to be prepared for the total craziness of it. Lots to see, lots to absorb and the horse stalls built in the 1800's have been turned into a bazaar---very beautiful.   

I thought this shop with a front of old sewing machines was note worthy.

Something for everyone.

That edgy feel. But, still, there is a KFC, Starbucks and McDonalds.

Rows and rows of food stalls.

 These bronze sculptures are all through the shopping area...and they are magnificent. 

When closed, the shop's original stall doors are so beautiful.

Sam! Watch out!

On Wednesday, we went to Rachel Barnes Art History class to the National Gallery. She was showing them the changes between Medieval and Renaissance (a Botticelli and a VanGogh) forms and colors. As the students left, I took Sam up to see the Monet, Manet, Cezanne, Seurat (my favorite) and VanGogh collection. She has no idea what she is looking at, (never heard of any of the artists) but I just thought she shouldn't miss the chance to at least see them.  

Thursday, I went to the Soho outing with the Screenplay Adaptation class...to see the birthplace and "Mecca" of modern filmmaking in London.  

Chinatown

This is a boutique hotel in Soho--I love this sculpture.

Ironic shot!

Thursday night we went to The Globe Theatre to see a performance of Midsummer Night's Dream with the Theatre class. 

We travelled by train on Friday for a trip to Oxford. 

I cannot help my fascination with doors and
amazing hardware!

Very cute old sign for a shop

We met our tour guide for a short tour and then spent time in the city looking at some of the 39 colleges. There are very few colleges that you can see directly into, one of those is Trinity College. It has these blue gates.

The Radcliffe Camera
Camera in Latin = Room
houses the science library

We arrived as the students were in the midst of sitting for their exams. 

A little trivia: All students must wear the correct dress for their exams. These are the traditional gowns. Undergraduates wear shorter ones with no sleeves (above). 

The mandatory uniform worn by students during examinations is called subfusc—a term that stems from the Latin for ‘of a dark colour.’ This includes the familiar black gown along with black trousers or a black skirt (for women-- includes black stockings or tights) along with black shoes and socks. Both men and women wear white shirts or white blouses, but men wear white bow-ties while women wear black. 

You are able to tell where they are in the 3-day process by the type of carnation they will be wearing-- white for the first day, pink for the 2nd and red for the 3rd. The story is said to come from someone who picked a white carnation for his buttonhole the first day, then to keep it alive, stuck it in his ink well, where he had red ink. Hence, as the days progressed, the carnation turned more red.        

Cambridge abolished the rules to wearing regalia. Oxford students voted with a strong 81% to keep the tradition. When completed with their exams, students participate in ‘trashing’ one another— hurling eggs and flour, confetti and champagne at each other to celebrate the end of the exam period. We saw several celebrating on the Thames as we chose our boat and began our journey. 

This young man is waiting to order lunch. He is wearing a pink carnation. 

These women have clearly finished!
You can see the flour and confetti and other
items of celebration.

A lollipop worthy of Sam's love for them!

The many doors of Oxford

In the many shops at Oxford, there is an amazing small cake shop where women were working for hours creating masterpieces. Give them any picture and they will recreate it in shape and color. 

These are just bit bigger than a cupcake. 

For lunch, a few of us ate at the PieMinister, a lovely meat pie shop complete with mashed potatoes or smushed peas with mint and an amazing wine reduction gravy.

Yum!

Gorgeous ivy

The Bodleian Library

Over each doorway into the library sections, still reads in Latin, the subject area. 

Very interesting figures!

The Ashmolean Museum
England's 1st museum

We wanted to participate in a Thames excursion while at Oxford. Originally Sam and I were going to do the punting by ourselves but 3 other students wanted to ride along (and it was cheaper to go in a group) so we took a punt, but one that had pedals as I didn't think I could steer that long punt with 5 people on it. Good choice on my part! We spent an hour pedaling and navigating around all the other folks attempting to traverse the water. It was quite exhausting, and I was mainly working the till. Looking out for people heading toward us, had me calling out speeds of pedaling, doing some pedaling and attempting to avoid yelling "Ramming speed!!" 

Quite a view

I don't think very many people understood what "starboard" meant!

That's a great deal of people to see through and steer!

Bicycle parking at the train station!
Have to remember what your bike looks like!

This leads me to conclude the 3rd week of my stay in London. A good and busy week. Since we arrived we have been averaging about 8 miles a day of walking. On Thursday, I walked 9.7 miles!!! The foot is sore but I carry on. 

Cheers!

Toni