London/Oxford Trip 2012: Dear America

Dear America,

After careful consideration these are things that you need to work on:
1) Step up that architecture--I said this yesterday but the quality of European architecture is just phenomenal. After arriving in Oxford, our group did a walking tour around the city which a) is a lot larger than I thought it would be, b) full of very skinny and fashionable people (I was envious), and c) just plain awesome. I've included A LOT of pictures from Christ Church, Trinity College, random beautiful buildings/shops that trump any building I've ever seen in the US but are used as a grocery store etc here, and the inside of Oxford dining halls/chapels.
2) What's up with the cement? Granted, I know that Oxford is centered in the English countryside, but man oh man these people love their plants. Everything on my bus ride here (roughly about an hour and fifteen minutes--not bad!) was adorned in green. I even saw puffy white sheep grazing in the distance!
3) Be healthier--If there is one take away from this trip it is that Europeans are in far better shape than Americans! Today, we probably walked at least 5 miles as well as hate extremely healthy food---minus the pizza provided by, yes, Americans. A couple of girls in the group stopped by Marks and Spencer, a really high-end grocery store to pick up lunch. I grabbed a container of THE BEST fruit I think I've ever had--nectarines, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries. For the main course, I picked up a greek salad with cucumbers, feta cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce with balsamic vinaigrette dressing--YUM! Anyway, I now understand why people in Europe are stick thin....well it could also be from all of the chain smoking but I'd like to think it's from exercise!
4) Keep smiling---not many people in England like to smile...In fact, I had a very awkward encounter with an Oxford Student (dressed in exam wear---black robes and a pink carnation to indicate he was halfway through exams) at the cookie (biscuit) section of the grocery store. I was searching for the digestive cookies that Jessie brought home when she went so naturally I asked him which flavor was the best. He sighed deeply as he grabbed one for himself and muttered something under his breath before rolling his eyes at me--lovely. Yesterday, Catherine told me that I was so obviously American because I made conversation with my waitress who handed me my cafe latte! "British people will think you're mad if you talk to them," she told me. Hmm...point for the south in my book! I appreciate all the witticisms that the Brits have but I do miss Southern Hospitality.

What else, what else....

I've been asking the spring semester students a thousand questions about the best things to do and this is where they told me to go:

"The Perch--restaurant/pub in the countryside that is really really nice

The Bear---pub that cuts off ties if they don't have them in their pub so the entire place is covered in ties

Shop at Premark

Go punting--basically boating with champagne and strawberries

Try out old pubs

Lamb & Child

The King's Arms

Go to Afternoon Tea at The Randolph, The Rose (High Street), Blenham Palace, or Grand Cafe (oldest tea house)

Go on a run in the park

Try Indian food at Saffrons Express Lunch or Thai Food at Chang Mai

Visit: Liverpool- 5 hours away, Cambridge-3 1/2 hours away and 3-5 pounds, Pitt Rivers Museum--random stuff museum

Go to the covered market and get Ben's Cookies

Cross the bridge & check stuff out over there---food, charity shops

Walk to Summertown: charity shops, 1 pub

Visit the Ash Molean Musuem--on other side of the street of the Randolph, Ancient Histories

Egypt Display, Greece, random stuff--divided by empires/dates

Visit the Natural History Museum

Go to Costa--tea & a scone for 5 pounds

Go to Tesco--shop for grocery's here.

If you like Alice and Wonderland-->across from Christ's Church is an Alice and Wonderland shop

The colleges within Oxford can charge you to go on tours--be careful of this

When traveling, always check megabus first, then national express for bus rides.

If you want to go to the Beach, go to Ibiza

If you want to meet Oxford people, you're more likely to meet them in a club than the pub

If you want to go to a posh club, go to Camera, not the Purple Turtle

*Pubs close at 12 and clubs close at 2

*The day to go out is Wednesday

*Never book National Express bus from Oxford to London. Take the Oxford Tube instead!"

Hmm...well I think that for right now we're all just catching up on reading that we have for our CLASSES tomorrow....not excited about that but I'm sure I will learn a lot....I'm just more excited about hanging out with my new friends tomorrow and becoming more and more british. I really want a pair of skinny jeans to pair with blue keds and a cardigan....AND a top knot. European, here I come!!!