So, I’m in Oxford studying English Literature and creative writing through their international program in the Dept of Continuing Ed. It has just been the first opening days so far, and I’m having a good time, but I’m tired.
A friend and I are doing this together, and in the first four days or so (minus the first travel day) I wasn’t really tired like this. We were out in London and then in Edinburgh, sightseeing, exploring, etc., and I felt good. We took breaks during the day when needed too, but all in all I don’t recall being tired throughout the day, except on travel days, usually after a big exploration day.
So, is there something about engaging the mind that draws so much physical power from me? Maybe. Or maybe it is just a coincidence.
I must say I like the writing assignments given so far, though I haven’t finished either of them yet. I’ll finish one tonight for tomorrow’s class, and probably the next one, I’ll finish for Thursday. So, maybe I’m premature in saying that I like them.
Observation one: The people of Edinburgh, Scotland are very friendly. We even had one of our cab drivers flirting with us which made us both smile. I liked Edinburgh, and I wish we could have spent some more time there.
Observation two: Tour groups of young Italians and Spaniards are loud. Constantly, consistently loud. And do they ever sleep? If not, where do they get their energy from? I’d buy it if they bottled it and it tasted fruity.
Observation three: Money flies fast out of the wallet in foreign lands. Money that is strong against the US dollar flies doubly fast. It seems like such a deal to buy even some of the most basic things, but remembering to calculate an extra 75% or more to equal the cost in US dollars can be difficult.
Observation four: When you’re overweight to start with, people have a hard time thinking you may be pregnant. I’m not going to get into the many reasons why. I know they exist. But, sometimes I feel like I’d need to wear a Baby-on-Board sign across my expanding abdomen so that people won’t have that initial shocked look on their face when they hear the news.
Observation five: Though the work isn’t that hard, and I’ve done all of the reading ahead of time, there is going to be much more than I anticipated for this summer course. My thoughts from our first days of travel were so much about sightseeing and travel, that I think along the way I forgot I came here to do some work. The other side of that is that I’ve been in Oxford for about 3 1/2 days now and I feel like I’ve hardly seen any of it but the rail station, our townhouse, Exeter College and the City Centre. I can’t wait until Saturday when I can get out and about to take lots of pictures of spires.
And, of course, I can’t wait to see some Shakespeare performed as well.
"I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.”Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act ii, Scene 1.