It's five o clock in the evening, but my day has just started. I woke up early this morning, the stagger hour of 9 a.m. and walked 2 miles to find out I had walked for nothing. Next Friday, I'm going to my very first Oxford balls. The university is famous for their grand shindig and nearly every college holds one in the spring, if not more than one. I'm going to the Oxford Union Society ball, and it's going to be awesome. The ticket was a little steep at 50 pounds, but nothing compared to other balls that are running near a hundred. It includes free premium booze, live jazz ( it's Havana nights themed!!!), cuban food, Mission buritos (the best in Oxford), cigar lounge, casino, photo booth, Salsa lessons. Basically, you name it, it has it. It's a freakin bargin for all that great stuff if you ask me. The problem was finding a dress. These things are as formal as prom, no joke. It's black tie, aka long dress and tuxes. Well, seeing as I already paid for a ticket, I was trying to do the dress on the cheap. Not so easy when you're looking for a ball gown that you want to look like a knockout in. I've been to at least 4 stores, the only ones in Oxford that carry such fancy fance dresses, and it's been nearly impossible to find one at a reasonable price that's appropriate. Yeah, there's hundreds of adorable short dresses, but long ones? Either a fortune or tacky. So today I walked to Summertown to find out the store was appointment only and had one dressing room. Some bullshit. I got halfway home and caught the bus. Best pound eighty I've spent yet.
But I found one=] I've tried it on at least 4 times on separate occasions, but today I finally pulled the trigger. Under 70 pounds, gorgeous, and done. I am just relieved to be able to stop looking. Now the fun part, shoes=]
Life is getting pretty routine around here, but certainly not in a bad way. I find a new nook of Oxford every day, and it only makes me love this city more and more. This morning the sun was shining and people seemed to have a fresh pep in their step. I think I smiled half way to the shop. There really is always something new to see. The other day Kels's friend Shannon was here from Dublin and we went on the Oxford ghost tour. Not too much scary ghost stuff, but there was a nice bit of history and a good walk at that, even though it was wicked cold at night. The colleges are really the most beautiful parts of the town, and with so many there's always one right around the corner. Jesus is pretty cool though=] We had a party the other night and I got excited to make the Facebook group and title it, "Who wants to Party with Jesus?". Who doesn't is the better question.
So Sunday was the Super Bowl. It wasn't on until 11:30 here and all I was really excited about was the commercials and guessssssssss what. Apparently the UK doesn't get super bowl commercials. Needless to say, I was not pleased. A guy sitting behind me (they played it in our JCR and a surprsing number of British guys came to watch) told me he'd never watched football before and if a lot of people watched this game. Weirdddddd. Then he asked me a question that made me laugh. He asked me why they smack each other on the ass all the time. I guess I didn't know how to answer except, why not? It's easy to reach and it's not an effortful gesture haha. He did, however, admit, as I so pointed out, that rugby is just about the most homoerotic sport there is. I'm ashamed to say I didn't make it to the fourth quarter. It was two thirty in the morning, and frankly, I didn't really care that much. Even though Pittsburg can suck it=]
I start my Modern Islam tutorial tomorrow and to be honest, I'm pretty excited. The reading was totally fascinating to me and already I feel like it's a class that everyone in America should take, seeing as we all assume that everyone is a terrorist even if we don't say it outloud**** side bar***- I went to a "bop" a couple weeks ago, which is essentially a dance/ dress up party at the college, and the theme was around the world, and some kid was dressed up as a terrorist, fake gun and all, and i was a bit freaked out. And totally offended. I was a ship captain and that was a really fun night***- Anyhow, this class is going to be awesome. I read in a library the other day that used to be a Catholic church. It was unbelievablyyyyyy beautiful, but hard to concentrate. Only at Oxford can you study in a beautiful old church whose bells still chime on the hour. I did feel weird/ like an awesome rebel though reading about the modern Islamic world in the presence of so many crosses. I'll probably get a God punch in the face later this week sometime, aka something shitty will happen and I'll just have to think, oops. God's pissed.
I've started my spring break plans.. aka March 10th to April 28th plans*yeah, that's my break!* and I have a solid list.
1. France- Paris and probably Cannes/ Nice when SARAH KERNAN COMES TO VISIT FOR MY BIRTHDAY=]
2. Lisbon with Kelsey!!!!!!!!!!!
3. London- like 3 times haha
4. Germany- Berlin and Hanover to see Maren=]
5. Switzerland- Zurich
6. Austria- Vienna
7. Spain- Madrid to Barcelona to Valencia---- my most anticipated trip<3
8. Holland- with mama and dad=]
9. Belgium- Brussles- with mama and dad=] What up being Belgiannnn
10. Ireland- Dublin and Cork
11. Turkey- possiblyyyyy Istanbul
I know, holy shit. I left Italy and Greece for when it's warm in May and June=]
And I bought my Ray Lamontagne ticket for the 25th at the Oxford New Theater! Cannot wait.
I've been pretty homesick lately, but I think it's just setting in how long I'm here. Last week was my one month anniversary with Oxford and I cannot believe how quickly it's flown by, but 5 more months is so many. I am thrilled though to have made the decision to stay as long as I am. I fear when the time comes you'll have to pry me away. But I miss my family soooo much and I am so excited to be able to share my new life with them. It just seems so very far away. But Kelsey= t minus 37 days. 37 days I can do.
My friend Chris's mom is a 4th grade teacher and she sent me "flat Mrs. Topping". It's a laminated little colored in drawing of herself and I take her around Oxford and "show her the sights" aka take pictures of her with cool Oxford stuff. I'm actually pretty jazzed about it haha. This weeked we're all going to Scotland, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and I'm going to bring her along.
Tonight I'm going to a speech by the prosecutor for the war tribunals in Rwanda. How cool is that?! I'll post after Scottland because the rest of this week I'm drowning in work and Women for Women International stuff.
Love and miss you all <3
Cheers,
Kenz
