What is "Having an Oxford Moment?"
An Oxford Moment is being invited by a French lab partner to a massive crepe night for Mardi Gras. Everyone brings savory and sweet fillings to share. They each attempt to flip a crepe in a frying pan while also holding a Euro to bring long life and good fortune. Apparently my good fortune will come after my fourth attempt ;-)
An Oxford Moment is visiting another college (in this case, St. Edmund Hall) and being completely blown away by its beauty and serenity. Step through its doors and one is immediately drawn miles away from the bustling High Street outside. Cross through a passage way and be transported to the most beautiful graveyard, complete with blossoming wildflowers, lush green trees, and unquenchable sunshine.
An Oxford Moment is attending the St Edmund Hall (aka Teddy Hall) 'Chocolate Enthusiasts Society' with one's dance partner. Participants respectfully smell, taste, and discuss the qualities of fine chocolate as a connoisseur would do with wine. Furthermore, upon tasting a St. Lucia chocolate, I was immediately reminded of my time in Belize; easily the closest I've felt to Belize since I returned from the trip, nearly a year ago.
An Oxford Moment is going to Magdalen Evensong and Formal with two other lab partners. Evensong was in the intimate candlelit Magdalen chapel. The acoustically splendid hall perfectly hosted the mens' Gregorian-style chant, beautifully harmonized by Magdalen students with a local boys' choir. Dinner was a step up from that of Keble in formality, requiring coat-and-tie dress. In spite of the oft-mocked panna cotta, the dinner was delicious. The evening concluded with a complementary glass of port and long conversation in the Magdalen MCR. (I add for the Barkers: this was Craig Mullaney's college. In all likelihood, he spent many Sundays having this very experience :-) )
An Oxford Moment is spending every Monday night at the Royal Oak pub, not to drink, but to rack my brain with 10 of my Keble compatriots seeking pub quiz superiority. Quiz topics range from current events to world politics, classical to pop music (yes, I came up with Lili Boulanger as an answer in the category 'French Impressionist Composers'), "who am I" to "finish the sequence," literature to engineering. While our average rank is 7th out of 15 (standard deviation: 1), we have placed 4th and 3rd in the past two weeks respectively.
An Oxford Moment is seeing a Spanish play in three acts, directed by yet another lab partner and loving every moment... in spite of having to (frantically) read the English subtitles.
An Oxford Moment is playing cello by candlelight for over 25 fellow MCR members.
An Oxford Moment is appreciating an architectural landmark (the Bridge of Sighs) more and more every time I see it.
An Oxford Moment is drinking tea with biscuits in the kitchen every evening.
An Oxford Moment is refusing to text a friend in English, opting for their native German instead.
Basically, an Oxford Moment is a wonderful thing.
CULTURE CORNER
Correspondence. I've come to realize over the past month that people here tend to be much more formal with their emails than we are in the US. Without fail, emails have the following format:
Dear Mr _____,
(body of letter)
Kind(est) Regards / Best Wishes,
xyz
Never would someone start a message with just "Dan" or "Hi" or "Good Afternoon," but it seems that the initial formality is taken quite seriously here. Also, I have yet to receive a message concluding with "Sincerely" or "Thank you." Thus, it appears that I have to step up my game, since my informality is not entirely befitting of this setting. In the long run, however, I'm sure this will prove to be valuable in the business world.
Word of the Day
Hob: n. a device used to fry food on, i.e. a stove top
Hob Nob: n. a type of biscuit, similar to a digestive, but made with oatmeal in addition to flour, giving it a softer, coarser texture.
Digestive: n. a type of mealy biscuit consisting of a two inch diameter wheat-meal round, optionally with one side coated in milk or dark chocolate. Typically, digestives are somewhat grainy in texture. While the name does not sound particularly appealing, the biscuits are, in fact, delicious and supposedly provide a good source of fiber (hence the name).
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
And Snow Will Make the Flowers Grow
The day today is Sunday 19 February, and last night was the annual Caldwell Fellows Gala at NC State.
I begin with this tidbit for a variety of reasons: to recall the Caldwell-inspired week I have just had, to reflect on the Caldwell-inspired values of personal development and thinking big, and to remember the importance of the Caldwell family for bringing about positive tangible change on scales from NC State to the world.*
Recall
I have had the fantastic opportunity to welcome a Caldwell guest to Oxford this week. Kayla (NCSU '11) has been spending the year in Lyon, France teaching English and developing her own proficiency in French. Currently on holiday, she decided to make this pilgrimage to England in hopes of finding some holy grails of English literature. Aiding her in this quest, we spent the week examining sights around Oxford, checking out multiple libraries (pretending to be Shakespeare), eating at the Eagle & Child (pretending to be Lewis and Tolkien), and walking the snowy English countryside (pretending to be Austen and Dickens). We even found the first flower buds of spring!
For me, the highlight of Kayla's visit was our trip to London. To begin, we met another Caldwell, Sara (NCSU '08?) for lunch near her work. I thoroughly enjoyed talking not only about news from the Caldwell community, but also about living abroad, breaking down personal barriers, and recognizing the far-reaching impacts of being a (high-profile) leader. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to reminisce with Sara, so I look forward to visiting with her in London more often over the next several years!
From there, Kayla and I ventured up to the British Library. Having visited once already, I took pleasure in seeing Kayla divulge in the many incredible books and - especially - Jane Austen's writing desk. With waning time, we traversed London via the Tube in order to catch Evensong at Westminster Abbey. I must say that the acoustics were incredibly clear and that the organ/choir were, in a word, heavenly. I couldn't help but think back upon the concert Kalli and I heard at Notre Dame in November. Indeed, both were incredible, but the chamber-sized sound was just so crisp in Westminster that I was a bit more enraptured.
Finally, we walked across the Thames in hopes of finding dinner. Kayla fancied fish and chips, so I searched in vain along the waterfront by the London Eye. At last, dejected and wet from the mist, we decided to try our luck in West End, where we needed to be for Les Miserables. Thankfully, we found a real hole-in-the-wall chippy; it sort of reminded me of a small-scale Long John Silvers. We watched as the man deep-fried two frozen fillets. Sure enough, they were tasty (If it's deep fried it can't be that bad!) but not exactly gourmet. Les Mis was splendid as always, and we returned to Oxford, quite content.
It was fantastic having Kayla in town. As an added bonus, she fit in well with the Keble crowd and immediately clicked with my dance partner, Jenna. Hopefully I (and maybe Jenna too?) will get the chance to visit her in Lyon before her teaching program ends in April.
On top of all this fantastic-ness, yesterday was the second competition of four this term. Jenna and I were both nursing injuries coming into the competition, so we weren't overwhelmingly optimistic regarding our dancing. As it turned out, however, we had a really good day of dance! In the morning, we semifinaled in both waltz and quickstep (exact placings to follow), and in the afternoon, we placed 3rd in cha cha (our first cha final!) and semifinaled in jive. Unfortunately, we were the only beginners couple to even make the quarters in jive; I am really hoping that we as a team can pull it together before the championship in two weeks. Overall, Cambridge and Imperial are looking better and better while Oxford seems to be trapped in mediocrity land. Ugh.
Finally, tonight was the "Electricity-free Acoustic Open Mic Night" in the MCR. Six of us performed a total of about 20 songs by candlelight in the MCR. Aside from being unable to read my Bach Unaccompanied Prelude in the darkness, it was a wonderfully soothing evening. Charlie went first, performing three great pieces on guitar, including one that she wrote herself. Then, Luke (guitar), Vincent (banjo), and I performed seven songs - six Irish folk songs that Luke picked out/wrote, and the Bach Prelude. Finally Jess and Rose played some amazing music on guitar and mandolin, including a great song called "Shine On, Harvest Moon" from the first decade of the 20th century. It was a truly brilliant evening with really beautiful music.
Reflect
Last Sunday night's dinner was what they call "half way hall." This is because Sunday 5th week of Hilary marks the half way point for the school year and, for 2nd year students, the half way point of their Oxford education (Oxford undergraduate degrees are only three years, unlike the four requisite years in the US). At the year's half way point, it is a good time to reflect on how far I have come so far.
In many senses, being a student at Oxford is like being a Caldwell Fellow. The "work hard-play hard" mentality is in full effect here, and to some extent I think Trinity term will be even more intense for most people. Additionally, thriving here requires students to think big and think outside the box. One must make connections and develop a network to get the most of being at Oxford. In fact, it is practically impossible to avoid becoming immersed in social situations. The free flow of unique ideas perpetrated by the college system is excellent.
In other senses, Oxford is about capitalizing on Franklin Scholars-style opportunities.* In my own case, it is proving insufficient to merely study civil engineering. I am asked to tie in elements of several different fields to solve complex, interdisciplinary problems. The academics here are the real deal. Further, Oxford places a high value on isolated, mind-broadening experiences. Here, it is normal and encouraged for students to simply sit in a pub/kitchen/cafe/hall discussing current events or exchanging stories about travels. So-called 'graduate discussion evenings' highlight intellectual student presentations such as "Deobandi Islam: Religious Revival, Nationalism, and the Communalism Problem," "Build Your Own Molecular Robot," and "The Portrait of the Artist as a Cultural Celebrity." These opportunities - like the Franklin Lecture Series - promote cultural understanding, intellectual diversity and critical thinking.
In a final respect, being a student here can be extraordinarily normal. Perhaps that is hard to believe given the previous information, but one must remember that people are people; students are students regardless of cultural, economic, or other differences. As I recall from my times in Ecuador and China, I was surprised at how normally people lived their lives. Even at Oxford, it should be no surprise that students aged 18-25 get into the same kinds of nonsense as they would at NC State or at any other school.
So where am I? Am I engaged in my school and community? Do I give back as much as I take in? Am I a positive influence on those around me? How am I using God's gifts and talents to impact those around me for the better? Am I investing in the future appropriately? These are questions which I will seek to answer over the coming days, using the lessons learned from the Caldwell program.
Remember
As Kayla and I were walking through the countryside, we were discussing the merits of a romantic lifestyle. Then I realized: this is it! How much more romantic does it get than studying at Oxford with engineering, music, dancing, and friends in multitudes? Is this even real? On such an amazing weekend as this, it is thus only right that I think back to the Caldwell Fellows, reuniting together some 3800 miles away from here. To the program and the people that inspired me to "think big" and act globally, I offer my gratitude.
*NB: The Caldwell Fellows is a program at NC State University which promotes personal development through scholarship, leadership, and service. It is the oldest active scholarship at NC State, selecting approximately 25 freshmen each year to carry on the legacy of former NCSU chancellor, John T. Caldwell. The Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program is a double major program at NC State for students wishing to pursue studies in both engineering and the humanities. The program stresses the links between the two fields through seminars in Science, Technology, & Society (STS) and service/academic/social events hosted by the student-led BFS Council.
I begin with this tidbit for a variety of reasons: to recall the Caldwell-inspired week I have just had, to reflect on the Caldwell-inspired values of personal development and thinking big, and to remember the importance of the Caldwell family for bringing about positive tangible change on scales from NC State to the world.*
Recall
I have had the fantastic opportunity to welcome a Caldwell guest to Oxford this week. Kayla (NCSU '11) has been spending the year in Lyon, France teaching English and developing her own proficiency in French. Currently on holiday, she decided to make this pilgrimage to England in hopes of finding some holy grails of English literature. Aiding her in this quest, we spent the week examining sights around Oxford, checking out multiple libraries (pretending to be Shakespeare), eating at the Eagle & Child (pretending to be Lewis and Tolkien), and walking the snowy English countryside (pretending to be Austen and Dickens). We even found the first flower buds of spring!
For me, the highlight of Kayla's visit was our trip to London. To begin, we met another Caldwell, Sara (NCSU '08?) for lunch near her work. I thoroughly enjoyed talking not only about news from the Caldwell community, but also about living abroad, breaking down personal barriers, and recognizing the far-reaching impacts of being a (high-profile) leader. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to reminisce with Sara, so I look forward to visiting with her in London more often over the next several years!
From there, Kayla and I ventured up to the British Library. Having visited once already, I took pleasure in seeing Kayla divulge in the many incredible books and - especially - Jane Austen's writing desk. With waning time, we traversed London via the Tube in order to catch Evensong at Westminster Abbey. I must say that the acoustics were incredibly clear and that the organ/choir were, in a word, heavenly. I couldn't help but think back upon the concert Kalli and I heard at Notre Dame in November. Indeed, both were incredible, but the chamber-sized sound was just so crisp in Westminster that I was a bit more enraptured.
Finally, we walked across the Thames in hopes of finding dinner. Kayla fancied fish and chips, so I searched in vain along the waterfront by the London Eye. At last, dejected and wet from the mist, we decided to try our luck in West End, where we needed to be for Les Miserables. Thankfully, we found a real hole-in-the-wall chippy; it sort of reminded me of a small-scale Long John Silvers. We watched as the man deep-fried two frozen fillets. Sure enough, they were tasty (If it's deep fried it can't be that bad!) but not exactly gourmet. Les Mis was splendid as always, and we returned to Oxford, quite content.
It was fantastic having Kayla in town. As an added bonus, she fit in well with the Keble crowd and immediately clicked with my dance partner, Jenna. Hopefully I (and maybe Jenna too?) will get the chance to visit her in Lyon before her teaching program ends in April.
On top of all this fantastic-ness, yesterday was the second competition of four this term. Jenna and I were both nursing injuries coming into the competition, so we weren't overwhelmingly optimistic regarding our dancing. As it turned out, however, we had a really good day of dance! In the morning, we semifinaled in both waltz and quickstep (exact placings to follow), and in the afternoon, we placed 3rd in cha cha (our first cha final!) and semifinaled in jive. Unfortunately, we were the only beginners couple to even make the quarters in jive; I am really hoping that we as a team can pull it together before the championship in two weeks. Overall, Cambridge and Imperial are looking better and better while Oxford seems to be trapped in mediocrity land. Ugh.
Finally, tonight was the "Electricity-free Acoustic Open Mic Night" in the MCR. Six of us performed a total of about 20 songs by candlelight in the MCR. Aside from being unable to read my Bach Unaccompanied Prelude in the darkness, it was a wonderfully soothing evening. Charlie went first, performing three great pieces on guitar, including one that she wrote herself. Then, Luke (guitar), Vincent (banjo), and I performed seven songs - six Irish folk songs that Luke picked out/wrote, and the Bach Prelude. Finally Jess and Rose played some amazing music on guitar and mandolin, including a great song called "Shine On, Harvest Moon" from the first decade of the 20th century. It was a truly brilliant evening with really beautiful music.
Reflect
Last Sunday night's dinner was what they call "half way hall." This is because Sunday 5th week of Hilary marks the half way point for the school year and, for 2nd year students, the half way point of their Oxford education (Oxford undergraduate degrees are only three years, unlike the four requisite years in the US). At the year's half way point, it is a good time to reflect on how far I have come so far.
In many senses, being a student at Oxford is like being a Caldwell Fellow. The "work hard-play hard" mentality is in full effect here, and to some extent I think Trinity term will be even more intense for most people. Additionally, thriving here requires students to think big and think outside the box. One must make connections and develop a network to get the most of being at Oxford. In fact, it is practically impossible to avoid becoming immersed in social situations. The free flow of unique ideas perpetrated by the college system is excellent.
In other senses, Oxford is about capitalizing on Franklin Scholars-style opportunities.* In my own case, it is proving insufficient to merely study civil engineering. I am asked to tie in elements of several different fields to solve complex, interdisciplinary problems. The academics here are the real deal. Further, Oxford places a high value on isolated, mind-broadening experiences. Here, it is normal and encouraged for students to simply sit in a pub/kitchen/cafe/hall discussing current events or exchanging stories about travels. So-called 'graduate discussion evenings' highlight intellectual student presentations such as "Deobandi Islam: Religious Revival, Nationalism, and the Communalism Problem," "Build Your Own Molecular Robot," and "The Portrait of the Artist as a Cultural Celebrity." These opportunities - like the Franklin Lecture Series - promote cultural understanding, intellectual diversity and critical thinking.
In a final respect, being a student here can be extraordinarily normal. Perhaps that is hard to believe given the previous information, but one must remember that people are people; students are students regardless of cultural, economic, or other differences. As I recall from my times in Ecuador and China, I was surprised at how normally people lived their lives. Even at Oxford, it should be no surprise that students aged 18-25 get into the same kinds of nonsense as they would at NC State or at any other school.
So where am I? Am I engaged in my school and community? Do I give back as much as I take in? Am I a positive influence on those around me? How am I using God's gifts and talents to impact those around me for the better? Am I investing in the future appropriately? These are questions which I will seek to answer over the coming days, using the lessons learned from the Caldwell program.
Remember
As Kayla and I were walking through the countryside, we were discussing the merits of a romantic lifestyle. Then I realized: this is it! How much more romantic does it get than studying at Oxford with engineering, music, dancing, and friends in multitudes? Is this even real? On such an amazing weekend as this, it is thus only right that I think back to the Caldwell Fellows, reuniting together some 3800 miles away from here. To the program and the people that inspired me to "think big" and act globally, I offer my gratitude.
*NB: The Caldwell Fellows is a program at NC State University which promotes personal development through scholarship, leadership, and service. It is the oldest active scholarship at NC State, selecting approximately 25 freshmen each year to carry on the legacy of former NCSU chancellor, John T. Caldwell. The Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program is a double major program at NC State for students wishing to pursue studies in both engineering and the humanities. The program stresses the links between the two fields through seminars in Science, Technology, & Society (STS) and service/academic/social events hosted by the student-led BFS Council.
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