Day 2

Maybe I'll get more creative with these blog titles as time goes on because this whole numbering-the-days thing could get pretty old by the time I reach day 75. But in the meantime, day two was a really good day. Dr. Ross showed us around the city some more. We got to see Regent's Park (our college) for the first time. Here Brandon and I are in front of the entrance:


We also saw the Oxford University press, home of the works of so many scholarly crushes. Then we stopped for some amazing falafel that only cost 2.5 pounds! After enjoying our falafel, we went to a mall so Brandon and I could buy mobile phones. And I am happy to say that I do have a mobile here now. Then we went to Blackwell's, a really awesome bookstore that I remember coming to when I was here in 2005. To help me prepare for my tutorials, I bought The Cambridge Companion to Modernism and three of the Oxford Very Short Introduction books: Nineteenth-Century Britain, Medieval Britain, and The Renaissance. After the visit to the bookstore, we headed toward the Spencer house, but along the way we stopped in a little store, where I was happy to discover that England has Magnum ice cream bars -- these amazing little things that I discovered in Spain and have missed since I left. Back at the Spencer House, we all talked a little about Modernist literature and what our tutorial might be like. Then we began our one-hour walk toward The Trout Inn, a quaint little restaurant that sits on the River Thames. Dr. Ross treated us to dinner there, and we all had a great time. (Follow the day in photos here.)

Tomorrow, Brandon and I are going to see about making the two bicycles that are here ridable. Then we're going to hit up Oxfam, where I'll be in search of a good second-hand coat, and I think he'll be in search of some khaki pants. I also intend to visit the European GAP because I want some gloves and a hat. It's already really cool here in the evenings, and on the way home from The Trout tonight, I thought I might freeze. I don't know what I'm going to do once winter really hits.

Also, one of the British students who will be living in the Spencer House is supposed to arrive tomorrow. Brandon and I are hoping (especially as program assistants) that all the other students are really nice and easy to get along with. I'll let you know how the new student, Phil, is tomorrow.