I write to you two weeks into my program with what remains of an immensely disappointing cold that took me out of commission for three agonizing days to bring you some belated thoughts about my impressions of Oxford upon arriving here.
Going through the Study Abroad process, you’re told a lot about culture shock and adjustment to a new land. I honestly expected this to not be much of an issue for traveling to Great Britain (for a single month, with forty-odd other Americans), and I was honestly correct. Granted, this program doesn’t give me, a person who doesn’t go out of my way to initiate random conversation, much opportunity or reason to talk to actual British people, but I have yet to run into anything that’s shocked me. It’s also hard to tell most of the time what’s a Britain Thing, what’s a College Town Thing, what’s a Tourist Town Thing, and what’s just A Decently Sized City Thing. Obviously Tuscaloosa is also a college town, but Oxford’s a very different flavor compared to the Crimson Tide.
With that said, there are a couple things I’d like to comment on, the most expected being the sheer amount of history packed into every street corner here. There’s a saying floating around the internet that the difference between the United States and Europe is that Europeans think 100 miles is a long distance while Americans think 100 years is a long time, and while I came into Britain prepared to be unimpressed by anything younger than the Bill of Rights, it’s still amazing how much can happen in those 100 miles with enough time. I went on a random walk today, and at every turn would find some landmark of a historical event or, at the very least, something extremely cool. All of the buildings, even the ugly 1970s Brutalist housing developments in my opinion, are just so cool to look at. It’s also very refreshing to be in a place where not ALL of the history is a massive bummer to learn about.
And, you may have noticed, I was able to take a walk! And actually get to places! The walkability of Oxford is so nice coming from America’s automobile reliance. Granted, Worcester College- where we’re stationed for the month- is directly in the middle of the city and literally down the road from the Ashmolean Museum, so maybe I would feel differently if we were staying somewhere else. At least there’s still functional public transportation here.
To even out the America trash-talk (Although, before I do- there are so many pride flags in windows here, even two weeks after the end of June. I love it. Alabama could never but it should try), I will say that the weather had been less than stellar the past two weeks. Preferable to 100 degrees Fahrenheit to be sure, but it was grey and drizzly, and coming from that 100 degrees Fahrenheit myself, 60 degrees is mighty cold. It’s been warmer and sunnier recently, but it was still a bit dreary coming in. I also didn’t want to put down British food, it’s already such an overused punching bag and for reasons I don’t think are fair, but I do miss spice. First full meal I’m having when I get back home is going to be smothered in Cholula.