Biscuits and British Accents

Today I am truly having to understand the STUDY in study abroad. Yes Mom and Dad I am actually learning something here besides how to travel and speak like a Brit. Although some new phrases I have recently picked up include:

       walk = ramble

      cookie = biscuit

      dip a cookie in milk = dunk a biscuit in tea

By the way- Do not say ma’am because it is equivalent to calling someone an old hag- I did not realize how hard it would be to break my Texas manners and I got some pretty horrified looks.

Every Tuesday I have the privilege of sitting in my Major British Writers class for three hours (with a tea break in the middle of course) and listening to Dr. Kieron Winn laugh and get giddy about poetry. I have to control myself from bursting into laughter at some of the things he says and just his accent in general. I don’t think I ever want to study English again unless it is taught by someone with a British accent and diction. 

Today we studied William Wordsworth and I now declare myself to be a Wordsworthan! He was a lover of the countryside- the land of the country bumpkins where he was from in the Lake District of England. I plan on taking a trip there when it is warmer! It is said to be the most gorgeous part of England! I have learned that nothing excites me quite like the scenery of open countryside. This is exactly why I find so much peace and comfort in Port Meadows. Dr. Winn encouraged us to embrace idleness as Wordsworth did. To go and sit in nature with only our hearts and our eyes and ears and NOT a book to read. It was the first time in my life an English teacher has told me not to read. Advice I plan on enjoying. 

Some great quotes of Wordsworth: 

“in square divisions parceled out and all, with crosses and cyphers scribbled o’er, we schemed and puzzled” = playing a game of tic tac toe

“When we had given our bodies to the wind” = when we let something bigger than ourselves lead us and we become in tune with the inner workings of the world around us. My first thought upon reading it and being asked to interpret it was “Colors of the Wind” by Pocahontas. On second thought, the Greek word pneuma means wind, breath, and spirit. It is the word used when the Bible talks about the Holy Spirit...so when I give my body to the wind, I like to think of letting the spirit move and work in all I do as I breathe in the breath of life. 

Puddles

The word of the day for a multitude of reasons today.
1- Puddles is the one word that is used in a review to rate the hostel we are staying in while we are in Paris next weekend. We have been reading reviews for the hostel (that I booked) and they are all quite hilarious in the way they describe just how terrible the conditions are. Puddles. We have been enjoying ourselves trying to come up with all the possibilities that puddles could mean. It is now a popular expression amongst the group.
2. Puddles also because today was a tearful day when I found out Matt Phillips, son of two of my professors died suddenly on Sunday. It brought everything back into perspective. We never truly know when the last time we are going to see someone will be. Planning future travels to Paris and beyond felt trivial and unfair. It truly does not matter where we go and whether we have the right tickets or the best place to stay. What matters most is if we glorify God right wherever we are and that we cherish the people sharing that place and time with us. Lord be with the Phillips family in their time of great need and help us all to renew our only purpose of this life.
3. Puddles because today there were more rainy spells than sunny spells and I got to splash in them when I ran around the park. God cries too. He does not cause terrible things to happen, but when they do He rains down his tears of pain with us. Except his tears bring healing and lots of green, new, fresh, healthy life.

I have relearned a lesson today that words have a hard time describing. It has hit me before with my Dad long ago, with the passing of friends, with the bus accident. It always goes a little deeper every time and I just have to believe that God is equipping me for a joyous yet heartbreaking ministry.

I thank God for the ability to express through tears and laughter and words and music. I thank God for someone who listens no matter what. I thank God someone who turns to Scripture first when offering comfort. I thank God for someone who has complete faith in me even though I do not know what I am doing.

A quote from my Christian worship class (favorite class I have EVER taken):
      "true worship is...to make a fool out of yourself for him the way lovers have always made fools of                        themselves for the one they love."
It's time to be a fool.
For all you McNelson ladies: Time to let the flag fly real high!

Girls Day Out!

To start off we found the girliest event in Oxford we could and we went to a wedding fair! Katie pretended to our bride and we her wedding party. We watched a fashion show of dresses, got served orderves, and tasted the best cake I have ever had!

Then we went to the covered market and stumbled upon the best milkshakes in Oxford apparently at Moo Moo's. It has literally hundreds of flavors! We met two girls who attend "Oxford Uni"(university is Uni here) and we talked with them for a long time. They invited us to visit their church next week and told us all about how Oreo's are new here! She said, "I am already ahead of the crowd because my cousin from America told me to try them with milk." I told her to try them with peanut butter and she said "Are you sure?!" I think I disgusted her but I love Oreo's with peanut butter! The Oreo milkshake is currently the most popular flavor!

Next, Lindsay and I found a store full of yarn and I got to talk to an old lady that runs a shop all about crocheting. We got yarn and I am making Lindsay a scarf! I thought I could do without it for a while but I was very wrong. (Dad, I still sit and crochet and watch movies at night, even in Oxford.) Everything in her shop is handmade and donated and all the proceeds go to a local children's foundation. I have noticed people in England are very socially conscious and there are donation shops everywhere!

That night we went to St. Aldates Church for worship and I made friends with the lady sitting behind us. I seem to have alot in common with old ladies! She liked my Texas accent and she begged us to come back next week :) I think I shall.

Shalom

Dear Mom,

They share the same love that we do!

Fried egg sandwiches, cheese, 

and cranberry juice. 

Welcome to the fresh produce market!

Your hand me down sweater 

that got tons of compliments today!

Thank you so much for everything you have done for me for the past twenty years. In the past week here I have realized how much of what you taught me is so crucial to my daily life. Thank you for teaching me how to cook so many wonderfully simple things (my favorite being eggs which I already make here alot), how to shop for bargains, how to love Minnie and Micky Mouse and all things Disney, how to wash dishes by hand, how to love taking pictures, how to teach others and be patient, and last but not least...how to wear old sweaters really well. I love you! Thank you!

Everyday happenings...

Well in England we have discovered that flushing the toilet can be a bit of scavenger hunt. Yes that's right. Sometimes it is on the back of the toilet like normal, others a button on top, or a pull string from the ceiling, or even a button next to it on the wall. Makes for quite the adventure. Another fun fact is that there are places where you have to pay to use the public water closet (bathroom). One of my personal goals is to never have to pay to use the loo. Ha I might even consider it one of my human rights to not have to pay. We will see.

We went to the botanical gardens of Oxford today and Christ Church Cathedral where Harry Potter was filmed.  Both are well worth a trip back. The gardens were gorgeous so much so that I cannot wait to go in the spring when flowers from all over the world will be blooming. Christ Church is where the Great Hall in Harry Potter was filmed and we will go back another day when the tour is open at the right time.

Narnia lamp post

It will be covered in Roses in the spring. Solid rose bush for blocks!

Tree with red bark at the gardens

Christ Church Cathedral 

We passed by many musicians on the streets but the bagpiper was indeed my favorite ;)

Enamored- the word of the day

Many little lessons for today!

First of all, we learned that every electric outlet has a little switch next to it that turns on and off. Before Kirsten and I knew that we totally thought our fridge was broken! Nope. We just needed to turn the outlet on. It just goes to show how conscious the British are of conserving power and recycling.

I got my first two pound coin at the grocery store tonight! Kirsten and I bought chocolate milk and were wondering why it wasn't refrigerated. We are drinking it now and realizing it is more like a British slim fast than chocolate milk. Haha still tasty though!

We paused our class orientation today for tea time. Yes. Everything stops for afternoon tea. I had a cup of tea with a clump of brown sugar and milk and a biscuit with clotted cream (a mix between butter and cream cheese). Good stuff!

Eggs here at not refrigerated because they are free range and quite fresh! The British are also very into Free Trade items and knowing where their food comes from locally. Since the shops are so close and people walk everywhere, there is nothing sold in economy size and is very quaint. My knowledge of eggs is beginning to be noticed by others as of today and it was quite fun to share.
--- sidenote to lauren and elizabeth and mom: I plan on making fried egg sandwiches and beans for my floor tomorrow. They are not near as excited as I am but they don't know what they are in for yet---

The word for the day is enamored because we are still enamored by just the everyday happenings of our surroundings. Still just trying to soak it in. We took a moment of silence in the pub tonight to listen to the accents around us. So cool. Some guys made fun of me and mimicked me when I said thank you tonight. Yes, I am still an American.

My new house! #9 with blue door

University Parks a couple blocks away

Bridge at University Parks

Natural History Museum- it said please touch! That never happens in America!

1st telephone booth spotting

My new address

Here goes nothin- my first official blog since I left America. It has been quite the adventure already and it is only the end of the first day! I almost need to keep a list with me throughout the day of things that I need to put on here! Beware I feel alot of exclamations coming on because everything is so thrilling! Where to begin... I successfully made it through international security with all of my stuff without any problems and my one suitcase was EXACTLY the required fifty pounds! Go space bags (thanks Mom)! The plane flight was pretty sweet and I loved looking down as the world disappeared beneath me. My friend who was an experienced flyer was kind enough to switch with me so I could have a window seat. The world looked like ants and I feel like I go closer to God as I thought about how the earth will one day pass away and how we are created to be heavenly beings someday. It was breathtaking to watch the sky change from pink to orange to purple and blue while I was floating in the middle of it. I started watching Bolt and it was a wonderful movie until I fell asleep 15 minutes in and woke up during the credits. I thought the food was great and there might just be a tea cup from the plane in my room now. (shh don't tell). We left DFW at about 4:45 PM and then arrived in London at 7:30 AM (British time).

Best part of the airport: Kirsten and I wandered into a maze by our gate and it started making sounds! It turned out to be a "harmonic labyrinth" piece of art and we ran around chasing each other in it like little kids listening to the different sounds it made. So funny!

Fun fact about flying: I did not know is that when you sit in one spot for 8 hours straight the pressure and heat cause your feet to swell. I could barely get my shoes on when we were about to land! Talk about frieky! I survived and after walking around for about an hour or two my feet were back to normal.

Blonde moment of the day: When I went through Customs upon arriving to London at the airport today we waited in line for over half an hour and keep in mind we are all super droggy from the flight and time change. I walked up to the UK Border Patrol and he asked me where I was going to study at. I answered the UK. He was not the happiest of men to begin with. He then said, "Duh thats why you are standing here. Now where at?" I said Oxford I'm sorry. He replied, "I hope you learn something there." Lol poor guy needs a new job and silly me just helped the stereotype of stupid Americans.

The coach (bus) ride from London to Oxford was a little over an hour and immediately gorgeous! There is green everywhere you look and hills with perfect quaint houses everywhere! We moved into our houses and rooms and then went out to explore the city. When they say you walk everywhere they really mean it! And they also meant it when they said try not to get hit by a bus or a car. People drive fast and the streets are RIGHT next to the sidewalk! Dr. Morgan, one of the onsite directors, led us all over the area, showing us parks and grocery stores and buildings and museums and Harry Potter film locations. I could go on and on about all we saw in just a few hours. Then she left us in the middle of the city center with the shops and pointed toward home and said see you there later, now go explore on your own! No worries. Against all odds I found my way back to the house after getting my first British pound and buying some groceries.

FIRST TIME to eat at a pub (The Royal Oak) and eat Fish and Chips. They were delicious and I will most certainly go back! I still can't help but picture the scene from Tangled of the snuggly duckling when I think of a pub. It's ok there were no ruffians and thugs in this one.

Initial impression words to describe Oxford: Green and Quaint. Can't wait to wake up and explore more on a run in the morning. I love you all.