Hilary (Spring) Term almost over

After a brief study break to celebrate St. Paddy's Day last weekend, we had 5 days of cummulative exams. Left is the Examination School where we turn in our assignments and normally "sit for" (rather than take) our exams. This term 225 of us dressed in black and white (see matriculations photos) invaded a small "suburb" of Oxford, Summertown. Now we are all scrambling to finish our final term papers before we scatter across the globe for the next few weeks. Check out what 2 of my classmates are doing with their breaks in the Business Week article.

High Street - Oxford

My Silver Chariot

one of the rare occations for blue sky!

Said Business School

The Said Business School, my home away from home. While Oxford has been "educating leaders for over 800 years" the Business school is just 10 years old. You will notice it is very modern compared with the traditional architechture of Oxford. With 18 hours of class a week, plus countless group meeting and endless studies, its safe to say I spend a fair amount of time here.

Worcester Place - Where I live

Here is some pictures of where I live. My building is tucked on a quiet street down by the canal. The area of Oxford I live in is called Jericho. The area has some delightful shops, restaurants, pubs and home to the famous Oxford University Press.

View from the Thames

Big Ben

Masquerade Ball

To the right: winners of the costume contest.
Below:
Some of my friends from Worcester (pronounced Woo-ster)
Masquarade Ball

Radcliff Camera - Oxford 

Oxford Sights

Right: Christ Church (where they filmed the Harry Potter Dinning room scenes)
Below: Bridge of Sighs (Hertford College)
The Bodliean Library (The "Bod")

My first day at Hogwarts.

Matriculation

Barcelona

Gaudi Architechture

Barcelona

Stockholm

View from our hotel window



Right: Changing of the guard in front of the Royal Palace

Oxford v. Cambridge Varsity Match

Twickenham - Home of England Rugby

Oxford Rowing

Torpids Rowing

Archived Email: December Travels 2005

I had the lovely privilege of going with two good friends of my to Shepton's Mallet (where they brew Blackthorn Cider). From there we took day trips to Bath, which is lovely old city, much like Oxford except more hills. It was lovely walking the old cobblestone streets. I was reminded of how "Americanized" everything is becoming, when you walk out of the ancient Roman Bath's you size a big Ben and Jerry Ice Cream Shop!
Then we went to the Town of Wells - a true hidden treasure. Smallest city in England. In the Uk in order to be a city (not a town) you must have a cathedral. There was a local market going on that day and it had some delicious cheeses! We toured the old palace which had a mote and proper draw bridge.
Then we head to London where we walked the entire city! Tate Britan past Westminster abby, to Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus and up Oxford Street (good shopping) to Covent Gardens. Its great to explore the city above ground (not by tube).

Then this happy girl headed to Texas for 3 weeks!

Archived Email: October Matriculation 2005

Howdy yall!
First, thanks to so many of you who have called and emailed me this week! It has been a whirlwind. My classes are all incredibly hard but incredibly interesting. I have some really good professors who, amazingly enough, keep us relatively entertained for the entire 3.5 hour period (that’s how long each of my classes are!). I may start having my mail forwarded to the business school – because I feel like I live there.

So the biggest event this week was Matriculation, which was today. This is a right of passage type program. Similar to a graduation ceremony, but schools like Oxford and Cambridge have these at the beginning of the term to officially induct you into the University. Up until about 100 years ago, students would have to take an exam in Latin during this ceremony to prove the University had selected quality students – thank goodness that is no longer a tradition!
It’s a lot of pomp, but you will see the funny outfits we all have to wear. We parade through town with your college and all the tourists took pictures of us. The theater where the matriculation happens is beautiful and right in the heart of Oxford. Following the ceremony we took a group picture and had a tasty lunch at Kellogg College. Anyway, enjoy the pics!

Hope you all have a nice weekend!
Miss you,
Christina

Archived Email: Thanksgiving 2005

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. Surprisingly, I was able to have a proper Thanksgiving meal with Turkey and pumpkin pie! I was invited to a formal seated dinner at one of the old college dining halls. While the holiday is clearly not observed here, the chamberlain of that particular college spent 9 years at Princeton so he and his wife became fond of the holiday. (they also said they like hosting thanksgiving b/c they get to dine with American students who are much more fun and interesting that the English students!).

This week was particularly stressful - the semester is wrapping up and its really crunch time. Lots of assignments and I’m getting ready for 6 (yes six) exams! and while it was strange to not be with my friends and family in the states, I realized I have so much to be thankful for, and I guess that really is the point of the holiday (other than football!) . Thanks to all of you for all the notes, calls, care packages. It was really to hear from so many of you this week. You have no idea how nice it is to hear from friends and family from home.

I finish on exams Dec. 14 and head to Ireland for a few days where we plan to visit some castles and the Guinness brewery. Then I head to Lyon, France for Christmas week with my family!

So I guess Im signing off, as I am about to enter a black hole of studying world. I hope to catch up with you when I emerge after exams. Know that I think about you and miss you all a lot.
Hugs,
Christina

PS. attached is a photo from my birthday outing this weekend! as you can see, my new friends let me be a birthday princess!

Archived Email: March 2006

Hey-eh (that’s how they say it in Stockholm)

Happy March! I cannot believe how fast this term is going! We have exams in just 3 weeks. And I have 4 major term papers due in the same time. I’ve been pretty busy since the last update. Ive been to Stockholm, a Venetian Masquerade ball and I have had two lovely dinners in London with friends (Steve S. and co, and Greg W.) in from Texas – its always nice to see a see a friendly Texas face and hear a “y’all” from time to time. And yes going to class and studying LOTS too.

Stockholm last weekend was cold – but very sunny. Travelling with 18 of your closest friends is always a fun adventure. Lots of laughs on this trip – and I thoroughly enjoyed the well needed – 2day break from studies. They always talk about the light in Stockholm (how it reflects of the snow and water) and it really is amazing. We toured the royal palaces including the place with Queen Christina lived! We walked around the Gamla Stan (the old city) and saw a Viking ship that was excavated in the 1950’s after 300 years underwater! It was a charming city and it was wonderful to learn more about my Swedish heritage.

I went this morning to the Torpids race – which is an annual rowing race down the Isis river. Teams from the different college race each other in this epic battle for bragging rights. Rowing is a big deal sport over here. After the races everyone heads to the boat houses for bacon sandwiches. An odd little tradition.

“They” say March is the most challenging month of the course (I didn’t know it could get more challenging!). The snow is pretty when it falls, and but has not been sticking – which is good for us bikers! But the good news is that then I get 3 weeks off after exams, and then come back for our 3rd and final term. Trinity term should be the best b/c it is all electives I am really interested in. Now all I have to do is figure out what I want to be when I grow up! I am openly soliciting career advice from any/everyone – so please send me your thoughts.

***I will be in New York March 31-April 2 for an Oxford Alumni networking event and hopefully some interviews. Then I plan to pop down to DC for a few days April 3-6 to see friends.*** Then I return to Europe for some city hopping for 2 weeks – locations TBD. Let me know if you want to meet me somewhere exotic!

Hope to hear from you all soon!

Cheers,
Christina

Archived Email: February 2006

Hello!

My first month 2006 has flown by! Looks like this term is going to be just as busy as the last one. 6 classes plus I’m working on a really cool project with a company in London as part of our new business development requirement.

I went to Barcelona 2 weeks ago. It was a great mini-break! Beautiful city, delicious food and clubs that stay open all night… literally. Two nights of 6am dancing and I really felt like a rockstar! Additionally, the gothic quarter and the Gaudi architecture were unbelievable. I even picked up some more Spanish vocabulary. Next stop is Stockholm in one month. Ryanair (the southwest of Europe ) has flights that are free --- you just pay the taxes – too all these cities in Europe. Our spring break is at the end of March travel destinations for that are to be determined….

Additionally, I moved this past weekend to accommodation very close to the business school (which really I should just move in there, b/c I feel like I live there!). A savings of 10 minutes each way on the bike in the cold and rain has been worth it!

Please send me updates on your life, I love hearing from home. I hope you are doing well you are in my thoughts.

Cheers,
Christina

Archived Email: December 2005

I did it! I survived my first term at oxford!

As brutal as the exams were, there have been some memorable and distinctly British moments the past couple of weeks.

I went to my first rugby game Cambridge vs. Oxford. It as big for them as TEXAS – ou weekend is for us. Rugby is bit confusing – you can only throw the ball backwards – and very violent - 4 people carried off on stretchers.

I had Christmas dinner at my college and had my first minced meat pie. Which was explained to me that you must eat with your hands (no fork) and interestingly, there is no meat in it.

The exam taking system is quite regimented. First, you “sit for your exams” not take exams. And to sit for an exam you must go to the Examination school. It is an integrity issue that all exams must be administered by independent proctors, not your professor. To be allowed in the Examination School (with is a beautifully old large oxford building right in the centre of town) you must be dressed in our black gowns with white shirts (and neck ties (you may remember the pictures earlier in the year). Quite different from the flip flops I wore to take exams at UT!

Im going to Bath today with my housemate who went to the University there for undergrad. It’s supposed to be just beautiful – so hopefully I will have pictures to send after Christmas.

Most importantly, our Christmas plans have changed a bit. My family is postponing the river cruise to France – which means I will be in Texas for Christmas (I get in on Friday)! Let me know if you are in the Dallas area (email me if you don’t have my parents home phone number already so you can reach me).

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and enjoy your time with friends and family. Hope to hear from you all soon!

Cheers,
Christina

Archived Email: November 2005

Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

Apparently in the 1600’s a guy tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in an attempt to overthrow the government by filling the basement of the Houses with gun power. The attempt was foiled and the Brits celebrate the anniversary of this every year with a huge bonfire and fireworks show. Odd, I realize, but a fun event none the less. (you can see some pictures from last nights fireworks attached).

Two weekends ago I went to London for the day with a group of friends. We walked the south bank of the Thames to the Tate Modern then crossed the river to St. Pauls Cathedral. Ended with dinner and some fine English brews at old pub in Notting Hill.

Last weekend my parents were in town and we had a great time. It was so good to see them, and show them around my little down. I think they got to do more sightseeing than I have! We went to a town just north of Oxford (Woodstock) for the day there is an old palace their and we had lunch with the registrar from my college who lives there.

And this weekend I have my first visiting friend! Yep, Ms. Sarah P. is coming to England for the FIRST TIME! Im sure we will have stories and photos from our adventures.

And while it may not seem like it from my stories and pictures I am studying quite a bit – its just not as exciting to write about. I cant believe we are half way through the first term! Its crazy that it has gone so fast, and scary that exams are right around the corner!
Keep the updates coming. And in case you have lost my number -- call me at XXXXXXX

Christina
PS. I had no idea how much I said “y’all” until it started getting pointed out to me EVERY time I say it!

Archived Email: September 2005

Howdy y’all!
I just finished 2 grueling days of orientation - classes start now and from what I hear from former students the next 10 weeks will be unbelievably hard. I've heard most people average 5 hours of sleep a night. AVERAGE. I will be in class from 9-5 most days and 2 nights a week I have night class! yikes. But I am in a group of amazingly smart and interesting people from all over the world and it is just so fun and exciting. Seriously, the word “diversity has new meaning for me”. In my class there are people from 48 different countries ages range from 23-42 and just about every professional background you can imagine.

Photos on the way …. (sorry if this is repetitive information for anyone). They use the college system here – which means you have to belong to a College within the University – this is primarily for social and academic support. My college is Kellogg which is one for Post Graduates only. I’m living in housing through them and its quite nice because it’s the first time the college has house students… so you will see in my pictures everything is brand new—not something you find often in a school that is 700 years old! In my house I share a flat with a girl from Turkey – also in our house (but in separate flats) are students from China, Japan, the UK, Australia, France and Zimbabwe.

I've spent the last week, getting adjusted and settling in. It takes much longer than you would think -- not so much on the 24-7 services and help in these parts. I’m getting much better at getting around on my bike -- let me suggest "checking your blind spot" before changing lanes while on a bike on the wrong side of the road is not as easy as you would think! I’m also learning my way through the maze of buildings, rivers and walkways - and seriously guys - you should really try to come visit me. It just the most amazing city with so much history and culture.

Anyway, in short, I miss you all and I miss the good ole US of A, but I am acclimatizing to my new town and very excited to get to work. I love getting the updates from all of you - so keep them coming...
Cheers,
Christina

PS. My British friends think it’s quite funny when they have to translate things into “American” for me to understand…. I’m working on a list of funny different words they use… that will be in the next email… this one is long enough!

How fun to start a blog!

Hello! I was inspired by my technology and innovation class to start a blog. I thought it would be a fun little experiement. Im going to post the email newsletters I have sent throughout the year as a starting point. Let me know what you think!