Our student life blogger, Kate Monson, reports from her first week in the historic city of Oxford.
It’s strange being here in Oxford knowing that the wheels in Lund have already cranked into gear because this university city is still virtually bereft of students. I did see a group of young gentlemen billowing around in capes and cravats in the middle of the day, so I guess some of them must be back from their holidays, but term here doesn’t officially start until mid-October (I know, you’ve been told they work hard at Oxford, haven’t you…!) so there are still a few weeks of respite before the hordes thunder in.
And for the newly arrived visitor that’s a pretty good thing. Although of course, navigating your way through murders of crow-faced, camera snapping tourists is no mean feat when you’re cycling while trying to read the Google maps on your phone (I have crashed once, but it was very slowly and into a po-faced fixey-riding hipster whose plasticine face remained impassive, even as my nose headed straight for his ear). But compared to the far messier business of ‘freshers’ ferreting around, fancy-dressed and fancy free, it’s a delight.
This week has primarily involved orientation and cursory excavation. The first part has gone quite badly – I’ve been lost almost the entire time, but in a comfortable exploratory way; the second part rather better. I’ve found my local independent cinema and the nearest café with the best sofa; I’ve joined the city library; I’ve hooked up with the ultimate Frisbee team; and I’ve found the Story Museum, where on Wednesday evenings I can listen to someone spin tales while I spin yarn, helping make decorations, costumes and props for their winter exhibition. What more does a girl need? Well if you’re asking me, not much. This, I think, is the most important thing to do when you move somewhere new – seek out some places that you know will help you start to feel like you belong.
Here are two pictures that I hope give some sense of my first few days here in Oxford.
