At Oxford

So, I'm at Oxford now.

I took the British Airways flight over to Heathrow on Sunday, mostly sleeping on board. Immigration was somewhat of a hassle as the Officer wanted to do a detailed check for some reason. I sat in one of their chairs feeling a bit like Shah Rukh Khan while the lady whisked off with my passport and other documents. When she came back 20 minutes later, all was cool. A quick stamp and I was off.

Buses to Oxford are available directly from Heathrow and the signage on the airport guided me to it pretty easily. I didn't have to ask anyone even once and I found that pretty amazing since it was a complicated route with inter-terminal trains and everything. Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world and I guess it's really important that people can self-help their way through. The bus hit the highway directly, so I haven't seen London yet.

When I got into Oxford yesterday, it was late in the evening and so I really didn't have the time for anything. The real exploration of the city started today. I headed to Christ Church first, I was supposed to meet the academic assistant for graduates there. That establishment is really breathtaking, porters with bowler hats guide you through and there are a crazy number of visitors around taking pictures etc. Especially around the Great Hall where they shot portions of Harry Potter, there even were a couple carrying brooms and dressed like wizards! I found it strangely uplifting to be able to enter doors that all visitors were being shooed out off. The porters have this strict expression on their faces but immediately break out into a smile when you flash your University card at them!

So I finished the paper work and then headed to investigate the bank account, sim cards and all that jazz. Then there was some accommodation related stuff to be done and after I wrapped all of that, I went for a walk around the city.

Seriously, this place is just the most amazing architecture I have ever seen. I guess Rome, Venice and all those places would be like this too (or maybe even better) but every Oxford college, every building around the corner seems from another era. I took a few pictures and it felt blasphemous to let a car or a bus come in the frame even a little bit. Like it would drive away that misty aura of the 400 years that have passed by. There were times when I just waited to make sure I got an empty frame with just the building. There were other times when I didn't have the patience.

I also took a quick tour of the Bodleian Library, not spending as much time there as it deserved. I'll probably return there sometime soon and go around thoroughly. One of the plaques there says that the library is entitled to receive a copy of every book published in the UK. Whoa, that must be one crazy book filing system! It's not a lending library either, one of the other "did you know" fact listed out is that King Charles 1st (or was it James?) was refused permission to borrow a book too.

I headed to the Said Business School as well. The MFE orientation had started over there, so everyone seemed pretty busy. I ran into Justin who had just come in for some inquiries, I chatted a bit with him and his fiancee. On the way back to the BnB I'm staying at till I get my final accommodation, I made a quick stop at Christ Church again to check out the GCR (Graduates Common Room). I'd been hearing a lot about it ever since I got admitted to Christ Church, so I thought I'd try and find it. The Christ Church building is truly a maze with staircases leading everywhere. Thankfully, I found the GCR with not much trouble and turned my key through the door.

I don't know if you've seen it but there's a Frasier episode where both Frasier Crane and his brother try and get membership into some exclusive Seattle club. That episode was the first thing I remembered when I entered the GCR because the interior of the GCR resembled that club, with maroon leather chairs and giant portraits of wigged-men on the walls. There were a couple of guys there (one of whom was the GCR treasurer, I later found out) playing chess and some Beethoven/Mozart type symphony floated through the CD player in the background. It seemed like such an inviting place that I couldn't help sit down on one of the leather sofas and flip through today's copy of the Independent, trying to make sense of British politics!

The sun had set by the time I headed out. In about 5 minutes by bus, I was back at the BnB. It's been a little over 24 hours over here at Oxford now. I know that coming over just 3 days before the SBS orientation starts, I haven't given myself a lot if settling-in time. But then, the orientation is 2 week long and it isn't supposed to be very taxing. The real grind will start after that!

I think I'm ready for it.. as much as can be under the circumstances!