On Becoming a Nerd but First the New Method

So I have decided that there will be no more of this sitting down once a week to write about life here at Oxford.  I will right when inspired and when I have something to say.  So hopefully I will be inspired more often since I am in the center of Oxford.

Now on becoming a nerd.  It is funny how in high school and dare I say some of college I still feared learning and being the "nerd." I wanted to be cool or some component of cool.  Now, I cannot sit here and say I would not like to be cool, but that being a nerd here is precisely that, cool.  I have heard people say things like, "oh that is so dante (as if a usual act of some friend)," or "I think I would marry Aristotle if here was right here,"  or even updating their current status on face book as, "Maggie is that than which a greater cannot be thought (a by product of reading Anselm of Canterbury's work Proslogion )."  

All to say is that I am really enjoying the environment, and hope to embrace the hidden and untapped nerdiness (a new word is in order) that I know I have.  I love to learn, and this place continues to feed that hunger.  Thanks for reading and if you feel so inclined, embrace your nerdiness.

Amsterdam

Red Light Means Stop?

 So I have waited to write, okay I just haven't written, but part of that is I am still trying to digest Amsterdam.  This time last week I was walking down the streets of Amsterdam trying to find somewhere to eat.  Now I sit in front of my computer to tell you about it.  

For those of you who are not familiar, Amsterdam is... shall we say rather open.  They have legalized prostitution which we have in certain states, they have legalized marijuana which we have done in certain states but for medical purposes, and they legalized hallucinugic mushrooms, we have not gone that far.  What is interesting is that it is normal there.  

The "Red Light District," is the street that all the prostitutes carry out their home businesses.  They rent windows for a rate and then stand in them and try to shake their hips to get passerby's to bite.  A new fiend, Dorian and I went and secured the only available Hostel (more on that later).  Which was situated right in the heart of Amsterdam, which is a euphmism we learned for Red Light District.  

Marijuana is sold at "coffee shops."  So if you are Amsterdam I suggest not meeting for a nice conversation over a cup of coffee.  The interesting thing is that smoking in public places is not legal, so what are the "coffee shops" to do.  Well they are safe you see because marijuana is a drug and that is still legal.  The other conundrum is that it is legal to buy "magic mushrooms," just as long as they are fresh because then they are considered "produce." As soon as they are dried they are an illegal substance.  The point being is that they do things very different there.  Enough about all that.  

   

Canals and Van Gogh

Amsterdam outside of the Red Light District is a very attractive city.  The city is built around canals.  And who doesn't appreciate walking next to a calm canal.  

For me I think the highlight was visiting the Van Gogh Museum.  It is an incredible look into the life of a painter and how his work evolved.  Things I learned:

• He was not always crazy
  
• His brother was very dear to him
  
• Painting was not his first occupation and only came to painting late into his life
  
• He never trained or went to school to become an artist
  
• Literature sometimes spoke more to him than the Bible.

One thing I learned, that I am now committed to.  Traveling in Europe is great, but just jumping on a plane (while spontaneous and good fun) and just arriving can sometimes be more than you recconed for.  Also I think your experience is so much more when you can stay with someone which leads me to the Hostel. 

Apocalypse Now!

This title may seem misplaced but it is not.  Let me start by letting you in on the little known fact that I did not enjoy this classic film.  So you think once I arrived at the front door of my hostel I was less than enthusiastic about my "Apocalypse Now" theme room.  The room was painted completely in red and black.  There is nothing like waking up to the "bomb scene" wallpapered on an entire wall across from you.  The bathroom was aptly painted all black and was lit by a 2 inch light over the sink.  So you can imagine the effort it was to wash yourself in the dark.  The thing that probably made it okay was our water fountain in the corner of the bathroom, which some might mistake for a toilet but those have handles and sound nothing like a water fountain.  

The upside was that our beds where made for us every morning and breakfast prepared down in the lobby.  However on the second day we discovered that the guy was very efficient in cleaning because the sheets were never taken off nor washed the whole time we were there.  I felt bad for those beds next to me who had different people in them each night, but the same sheets.  Who knows maybe mine were a month old.  With no expiration date there is just no way to tell.  Breakfast could not have been finer, cheese and salami, red bell pepper, hard boiled egg, and congealed honey.  And right about now I know you are wondering how such elegant amenities and superb service cost one?  Well if you come into town when all of Las Vegas' business men have come to Amsterdam it is about 120 euros or roughly about $180 per person.   Now please I ask that you not all jump on a plane and book a stay at "The Heart of Amsterdam Hotel,"  because you may not all be so lucky to stay in the "Apocalypse Now" "suite." 

Here are some pictures to suit your fancy, although I did not think to truly document my hostel experience, but the rest of Amsterdam is all yours (via pictures). 

click here

Also a video of biking in Amsterdam

a quick update

So recently I visited Amsterdam.  There is much to tell, just not now.  In dew time I will share my whole experience and I think it is something you all will be interested.  Until then I have some pictures of a recent trip to some cathedrals and ruins, if that doesn't peek your interest King Arthur's tomb is involved.  Here is the link to the pictures enjoy. 

Click Here

If doesn't work copy and paste this address:

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023891&I=70c8e&id=65800660

P.S. at the bottom of each picture there should be a description for you to read. 

Ready Set Lecture!

So Lectures began on Monday and wheew they are amazing.  There is nothing more exciting than learning about a whole world, a whole time period that always confused me.  Each lecturer that comes has their own niche of expertise and when they share they are so passionate.  I will have two lectures per day for the next month until Michaelmas term begins.  There is something fantastic I realized today.  We don't ask questions during lectures, they don't ask us to ask questions.  Instead, we are given a bibliography for each lecturer and then on our own we are supposed to find answers to our questions or read more on what interests us.  It is such an beautiful way of teaching.  

Yesterday we learned about whether or not the medieval period owed any credit to Rome, and about the medieval Bible.  Today Augustine of Hippo was presented, and then the effect of monasteries on the medieval world.  It is almost someone is presenting a secret map to how our civilization matured into what it is today.  

I must also admit that I really know very little about this time period. Monday I sat down with one of our text "Carolingian Culture: emulation and innovation," and I felt that opened up a foreign book.  I could read the words but they did not register with any special meaning or made medieval culture any more understandable.  That diminished a little today.  I know things will begin to weave together so I can look at the larger tapestry of the Medieval and Renaisance history (acknowledgment to Rhetoric and Dr. Spencer).  

I am also working on being myself.  Everyone here is very knowledgeable in many areas, can sometimes talk extensively on things I have never heard of.  There are times I want to pretend and nod my head as if I agree, or insert a sentence with a tone that says, "yeah I already knew that," when really I don't.  I have been trying to be honest with what I know and be enough of a student to learn from my peers and admit when I do not know what they are talking about.  Well those are my most current thoughts, read them with the knowledge they can and will change abruptly.  

One more quick thing, more of a request.  I am going to Amsterdam this weekend and If anyone knows someone there I would love to stay with someone local than just at a hostel.  Two good reasons are that it saves a student from exhausting their bank account too early and I would much rather learn about the culture than see all the sites, which only comes from someone who is from there. 

Cheers! (by the way my English accent has greatly improved)

A view from my world

There is something to be said for ledges.  They invite me to feel free.  Now I don't always find myself with the gift of a ledge but my room has just been made perfect, or at least much more enjoyable.    The building I live in has developed over many years and the layout makes no sense but one thing does, my ledge.  I discovered that the large window opens up to a beautifully private ledge.  Joy filled me and I knew I had to share it with you all.  I sit out here now.  The city talks to me as I think.  The rain purifies the air giving my lungs a cleansing massage. Down to the right under a windowsill lives some pigeons who just gave birth to two babies.  The whole area is just hopping with life.  It will be one of my favorite places and I wanted to make sure you knew about it.  

When I walked out of the terminal gate the large bay windows were filled with musty grey clouds. "I have arrived to the U.K.," I thought to myself.  Clouds usually have an antagonizing effect on my feelings.  But these clouds finally helped me realize my plan to study in England was not just a conversation starter but reality. 

As my body glided past the window (not because I was so excited but because I was physically carried by the moving walkway) against the backdrop of London clouds, what I was doing made since.  This was at least a four year dream that was actualizing with every inch i moved.  What you don't know is that I have sat in my room at this same spot for maybe an hour trying to deliver words that will capture the moment and they are just not here yet.  So I will concede this point.  I cried.  I tried with an honest effort not too but I did.  My hope is that my 2 inch glasses obscured the tears, but maybe they magnified it.  

It took me two hours to get my baggage, customs can do that.  A quick side not is if you are going to the U.K. to study you do not need a visa, do something better with your $200.  Okay one more detour, I am rooting for the U.K. to have a recession because my $200 evaporated into 94 pounds.  So if you believe in prayer go ahead and insert that into a prayer now an then. 

The bus ride from London to Oxford was great, for the most part.  The windows are large and clear so I can get a full view of the lovely landscapes.  The downside is that it smelt like a recently new shoe that had been worn by a slightly smelly but sweaty foot.  I will leave you hear because a bunch of us are going to go explore and maybe visit the Eagle and Child (Where C.S. Lewis used to hang out).  

My adventure to Oxford really began in New York.  I had originally booked my ticket in hopes to see a good friend, Josh Cave.  I missed seeing Jcave (who is not in NY yet, but on his way to greatness), but met a stranger who may or may not have taught me something.  

So I determined that JFK had to be close to the city, but the day before I looked up directions for walking on google and realized the distance was too far to walk.  On the China town bus I decided I needed to ask someone for help.  I usually try and was tempted to find it on my own.  But I asked for help.  This guy who I had never met guided me through the streets of NYC to a subway, helped carry my luggage down and up flights of stairs, help me purchase the right metro ticket, find a way to get my luggage into the subway, and rode on the J-train with me so that he could put me on the A-train himself.

The thing that surprised me was that never did I sense a hint of "what is in it for me." When he ushered me into the A-train I thought he was coming with me and I could offer him some money out of thanks or my address so I could return his favor.  But, he just placed me on the train with a smile and waved goodbye.  I do not think he ever wanted anything in return.  

As I struggle and work through my thoughts about Jesus I am sometimes impressed by the way I am encouraged toward him by people who speak nothing of Jesus.  

Another thing, I hesitate to write this because I have not decided how open I want to be on "the web," I really wanted someone from my house (Ivanwold)  to come with me because I really did need help to find my way in New York.  I was overwhelmed to be on my own.  It was on my mind the whole way to Oxford how a complete stranger could give of themselves and how I did not feel like I was on my own. 

Oxilanding

This is just to say that I have arrived. In Oxford.