Cheers, mates!

This blog chronicles the bloody brilliant, pond-hopping adventures of Kristin Taylor, an English Literature major in the Honors Program at Columbus State University who spent the Fall semester of 2008 studying abroad at the University of Oxford.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Look, I Threw a Tea Party!

Today I threw a tea party for some of the British friends I've made here as a way to say thanks for their friendship and also to say goodbye. We had a lovely time. In fact, they arrived at 4.30, and when I looked at the clock after they left, I realized that we had been chatting and drinking tea for four hours. It was great fun. And I also think the table spread was just amazing. Check out the photos:

My lovely table full of yummy food

Posing with my lovely table

Decapitating the caterpillar cake

With Becki, Rachel, and Mark

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Salisbury and Stonehenge

Today Dr. Ross and I ventured out early -- in the freezing cold -- and made our way to Salisbury because I have really been wanting to see the cathedral before I go home. So I got to take my first ride in a passenger train, and we arrived in Salisbury. After walking a little and getting turned around a few times (thanks to Dr. Ross's wonderful Magellan sense), we made it to the cathedral, and I was so amazed to see how beautiful it was in person. Even the photos are beautiful, but seeing the real thing was just magnificent. After taking a cathedral tour, we ate in the cathedral restaurant and then journeyed toward the bus station because we were going to ride to Old Sarum, the original site of the cathedral. But walking through the bus station, I saw that we were really close to Stonehenge, so I very quickly suggested that we buy a ticket to see the ancient ruin. When we got to Stonehenge, it was so magnificent. We couldn't have asked for a prettier day -- clear skies, beautiful green grass, sunshine, and it wasn't even that cold near the Stonehenge site. Also, as we made our way around the rocks, the sun started to set, and there was such an eerie feeling when the colorful sun beams were making their way through the rocks on one side and the moon could be seen on the other side. It was truly magnificent. And to top it all off, we stopped at a Thai restaurant once we were back in Oxford for a yummy dinner. It really was a great day.



Thursday, December 4, 2008

Home in Five Days!

Things are really winding down here. Michelmas term ends on Friday. I've finished with my tutorials, and I've made As in both. Meanwhile, everyone is gearing up for the holidays. The streets are filled with Christmas trees, lights and decorations and also with brass bands and carolers serenading the passersby. Regent's Park is having an advent service and dinner tomorrow evening, and I'll be singing in the choir. It will be my chance to say goodbye to my tutors and a lot of other people I have met at Regent's this term. Many of my friends here are already beginning to leave, and by Monday, they will all pretty much be gone, so I've been trying to spend as much time with them as possible -- especially seeing as how I finally don't have essays to worry about writing. Then Tuesday, I, too, will make the journey back across the pond. I still have a few more things to look forward to before then. On Saturday, Dr. Ross, Brandon and I are going to Salisbury because I really want to see the cathedral. On Sunday, I'm going to throw a tea party to say goodbye to the British friends I inherited from Sally. Then Monday I'll finish packing, take my books to the post office for shipping, clean my room, and do any other last-minute things I have to finish before leaving. Then Tuesday, I'll be on a bus at 6.30 a.m. so I can make it to the London-Gatwick airport and catch my flight home.