On June 28, we visited Blenheim Palace, which is in Woodstock. You might not know the name right off the top of your head, which is fine. I didn’t either. Here are some facts, which I googled/learned during my tour for you: it’s where Winston Churchill was born, it was used as a temporary hospital for wounded soldiers during WWI, and it holds a 134 ft. tall column, known as the Column of Victory. “Cool, Karleigh” you say but let’s get to the good stuff. What did it look like? How did it make you feel? Where are your pictures? Calm down, guys. I got the goods you’re looking for. The best way to describe Blenheim Palace is like going back in time. It has a huge amount of grounds and smackdab in the middle is this beautiful palace, built in an 18^th century Baroque architecture style. It’s breathtaking; the walk up to the palace is crazy long and the whole time you struggle to breathe because it’s so beautiful. Suddenly I wasn’t wearing Nike tennis shoes and yoga pants but a huge gown and probably a wig… I’m a little iffy about their style back in the day.

Blenheim Palace is a huge amount of grounds with this tiny – ahem, not so tiny – palace siting in it and, because this is England, we explore the grounds first because rain was in the forecast and you just don’t want to be caught in that mess. So the walk around the grounds starts with crossing this huge bridge to get to the Column of Victory. It’s this huge statue with a guy standing on the top but the cutest part is the sheep – who absolutely do not want you to touch them, thank you very much. The grounds, even as we took many pictures out there and ate lunch outside, are not what take you back to another time and place. They’re breathtaking, no doubt; however, it is the magnitude and gorgeous beauty of Blenheim itself that sends you back.

When you walk out to the gardens, the statues are of ancient figures preparing for battle or tiny cherubic statues beside the fountain. Those made me think of my mom and her own tiny cherub statue in our garden. Yes, I know it’s weird. The gardens are gorgeous, so striking and so so green. Growing up around so much lush grass, I didn’t know I could be in awe at shrubbery. And yet, there I was. However, the Pleasure Gardens, which do give a ton of visual pleasure – are again, not what send you back in time. In fact, it is when you go in and have to wait to climb the stairs. Why, you ask? Because if there are more than 15 people on the staircase at the time, then it will collapse. Yes, collapse.

We did the historic tour first, which consisted of traveling from room to room as the story of the palace is told by a servant of the first mistress as she travels through time to the modern version of the palace – that is the palace during WWII. Not so modern, but you get the picture. As she carries the visitors throughout the history of the museum, it’s as if we – the visitors – become an accessory to her. We travel with her as she explores the building of the palace, the installation of electricity, and the death and rebirth of the last name, Churchill. We become the handmaiden’s object as she travels and, along with her, we experience the glories of Blenheim as they have unfolded over time. It makes the second part of the tour, the self-guided bit, a little staggering. We walked through the palace, through the room in which Winston Churchill was born, and yet it did not affect me as the automated tour did. I was part of the history, an active member but on the self-guided tour, I was just a passerby. 

catch you later,

Karleigh

June 26, 2016

Cambridge

Gone are the days of play-by-plays. To be honest, my last few days have been full of finishing up my tutorials, getting my hotel in London all settled for the coming weekend, and building up the homesickness which I've not really felt this whole time. The homesickness isn't really a homesick feeling... more of an I-absolutely-hate-to-leave-Oxford-but-good-God-I-miss-my-mother feeling. I think I only miss her so much now because I missed her birthday. On the 21st of June, she had her birthday and I didn't get to call her but I did get to do one better, I think. I contacted a lady that leaves her son with Mother and she helped me organize a surprise. My mother received some of the most beautiful flowers for her birthday and I'm so thrilled that I could surprise her with such a sweet happy. She told me she loved them and we exchanged many excited texts. I really wish I could show her around Oxford.

The rest of the week was really full of me finishing up my final essay for my tutorial. My third essay, according to my tutor, was my best work. He was super generous with that grade and then on the final essay, we discussed Hemingway's fragile masculinity. It was a great topic to write on but not the most organized. I received As on both of these essays. Overall, I think the tutor experience at Oxford is unlike any other. I crave the one-on-one relationship with a member of faculty, with whom I can discuss all educational topics. I don't think there are really any downfalls to the program; I feel like I've been truly educated and I cannot complain about my tutor as he was amazing.

 

On Thursday night, we attended Pub Quiz Night at the Old Black Horse, which is a pub in Cowley. It's a tiny place, built in the 17th century. I met a local builder, that is a construction man, who called me gorgeous, kissed my hand and was already three sheets to the wind at 8pm. My local friend had to ward him off but overall, I cannot tell you a bad thing about the place. Pubs generally serve food, but this place is majority drinks. My friend works there and he made a really great iced coffee. The girls were pretty good at trivia -- with the group name, Little Women. Quiz night wasn't exactly what we expected but it was laugh all around. We were gifted with a potato peeler and a mixed CD of love songs -- that's cause we had the lowest scores. Quite hilarious. 

On Saturday, we took a group trip to Cambridge, or as Oxford students call it: "The Other Place." Reminds me of another place I know... Oh yeah, TSUN. I've never really understood school rivalries, but there's is just as strong as the one I'm used to. Cambridge is quaint; very relaxed and had the cutest place called Henrietta's Tea Rooms where I had my first English Afternoon Tea. It was so good. Oh my gosh, I could drink tea and eat cucumber sandwiches and scones for the next sixty years and never be tired of it. The scones had sultanas baked in and they're like... heavier and sweeter biscuits -- definitely not the flaky homemade ones I'm used to. And they put clotted cream on it, which is like super super whipped cream, like almost butter but still not. And then a jelly, usually like strawberry. They were so good. I smothered them in the cream and jelly because that's the only way this girl knows how to eat a biscuit. And there were little sandwiches, one was cheese and red onion. Yep, apparently that's a popular combo and then cucumber and maybe cream cheese. That was the best one. I could have had at least seventeen more, let's be honest. And then on top of the three tiered display was a tiny key lime pie. It was good as well. Overall, it was amazing. Definitely something everyone should get to do. 

The school of Cambridge itself is where Isaac Newton studied and apparently where he first began studying the speed of sound. Does that mean anything to you? Me neither -- he totally should have done this at Oxford. Then his research would have really mattered. Just kidding, obviously Newton did cool stuff or something. Anyway, all in all, Cambridge is gorgeous. It's smaller feeling than Oxford, very sweet. I think Oxford still has my heart though.

I think Oxford will probably have my heart forever.
catch you later,

Karleigh

June 20, 2016

Oh my goodness, I cannot believe it's already been five days since I last chatted with you all. Why is my time here at Oxford passing so quickly? I'm so in love with this city. I never want to leave. I know normally I would tell you guys a play by play of all that has happened, but this time I'm going to do a mid-point reflection. As we come to a close, some parents have come to visit a few girls and so only four of us were in the house this weekend. I visited London and shopped around Oxford Circus. I've gone out with a friend that I've made here in Oxford, and it's all been nice. We all had a really lovely weekend, whether we were here or if we were with our families.

We've all grown so much here in Oxford. I never realized how connected I was to my family and my home until I left it behind. I feel so much more independent now; it's like I can do anything. And of course, I could do anything before as well but now I know. I know now that I can honestly move to another country and make it. I can, not only survive, but live in a foreign place. I can call somewhere new home even when I know almost no one. It's a completely new kind of independence. I'm in love with it. I'm so in love with Oxford and, today, I'm so very in love with life. 

catch you later,

Karleigh

June 15, 2016

Recently, I visited the Museum of the History of Science as a part of my class experience in Oxford. While I did go in with the intention of looking through the entire museum with no distractions, I got caught up in the lowest floor checking out the older cameras. I've had my own collection of older cameras for a few years now; I always find the structure of old cameras so aesthetically pleasing. There is more to a camera though, than its exterior. The camera was officially invented in 1839 in France and in England, according to the marker on the display. People have always loved cameras; we've always wanted to document our lives, the lives of those around us. Photography allows us to remember moments that otherwise might be lost. These cameras have all seen birthday parties, family portraits, Christmas mornings. They've visited all over the world, taken pictures of the Grand Canyon, the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben. Cameras are portals to the past in their own way and they help us create collections of memories, physical representations that serve as a way to prompt an "oh yeah, I remember the second this was taken."

I've always been obsessed with old photographs and history. I think it's fascinating. I love everything that comes from the past, even the bad parts. A few weeks ago I found these photographs in an antique shop in the Covered Market in Oxford. They were full of various scenes of people's lives in England, and it was amazing because I found the photos very similar to pictures of my own family members -- they're from the South. It's a pretty different background and yet the pictures are the same. We're capturing the same moments.

These pictures tell the stories of our lives and these cameras are what act as the middle man, in a way. They capture moments that are enjoyable in that second and carry them forward for us so that we may revisit them at any moment. I've always loved to collect cameras and when I saw these, I thought of my own collection. I thought about how connected I am to my own cameras. Now, of course, we don't carry around our cameras because our phones double but the same principle applies. The camera serves as a way for us to remember every moment. I know I've been trying to capture every second of my trip to Oxford and, once upon a time, someone else was carrying around one of these cameras trying to capture their time as Oxford just as well. Cameras not only connect us to our memories; they encourage us to embrace our surrounding and the fleeting moments of enjoyment that constantly accompany travel.

catch you later,
Karleigh

June 15, 2016

Oh no... I got carried away and forgot to blog for five days. Will you ever forgive me? Hopefully you will, because only one of those days was really exciting. On Saturday, which would have been June 11th, we traveled about two hours to Bath. Bath is a beautiful city with some of the most beautiful architecture I've ever seen. However, we were shoulder to shoulder with tourists ha! It's sorta hard to embrace the idea of being a temporary resident which is not really a tourist while here. It's like... I live here technically -- I know my way better than any tourist ever would, that's for sure. Anyway, Bath is home to the Roman Baths which were built when the Romans lived in this area a looooong time ago and was rediscovered by the English some time later and built back up to its previous glory. The Roman Baths are probably one of the most beautiful sights in England. There are huge statues of people like Julius Caesar and these ancient ruins which used to be areas to give religious offerings. Sulis Minerva serves as the deity for the baths and people would bring her offerings so that they may be healed by the waters -- though most of them would drink the water in the baths which actually poisoned them because the water is full of lead. Interesting, right? I thought so. The baths were super fun and I really loved having a look at them. 

While we were in Bath, my friend and I just walked around Bath. We got out of the square full of pigeons, the hugest seagulls you've ever seen, and street performers and walked out to the residential areas. We explored the beautiful Henrietta Park and visited the Victoria Art Gallery. We accidentally snuck into the Bath Abbey -- trust me, rule-following me had a little emotional turmoil when I found out. Anyway, Bath was a fun, but too short day out. I love the city of Bath. It's one of the nicest places I've been so far --- and it's obviously the place for me because a guy was singing Simon and Garfunkel and I love Simon and Garfunkel. 

After the day in Bath, I really spent Sunday, Monday and Tuesday finishing up my paper on For Whom the Bell Tolls. I made my second A here at Oxford, but "only just." The tutors are super harsh but I'm loving the experience. There really is no place like Oxford... However, I am missing the heat of Mississippi. Wearing a jacket in June is a weird experience. But that heat will be there when I get back, along with all of my favorite people. 

I did go to evensong on Monday and saw the men's choir, which was truly gorgeous. There is no beauty like hearing people singing of the glory of Jesus and singing it beautifully in Latin. It was awesome. Anyway, I promise not to wait so long before the next post. 

Also, while I am physically in Oxford, my heart is most definitely with the people of Orlando as they deal with the tragic loss of so many beautiful people. Lord, I pray You bring them comfort in their time of mourning and that You heal them in only the way that You can.

catch you later,

Karleigh

June 10, 2016

On the eighth of June, I had my class from Mississippi State on Objects of Travel, which you will maybe see more about as I'll be blogging bits and pieces for that class on here as well very soon. Since I had already finished my first tutorial, one of my flatmates and I decided to head out for some celebratory shopping. I bought a really cute top at Primark for only six pounds... It's so cute too. For lunch, we ate at the open market where people sell stuff from flowers, to fish, to clothes, to gyros. Obviously, I got a gyro. It had pork sausage and grilled veggies in it. We had them when we first came into Oxford, and it was so good. Later in the day, I had ice cream, which was also amazing. Can you see a theme on Wednesday? I'll just tell you then; it was food -- particularly, good food.

On the ninth of June, things got ca-razy! Okay, not really because I'm a Southern Baptist but! We had class that morning and I did a little more shopping on Thursday instead of giving into my need to read For Whom the Bell Tolls. My roommate and I shopped for ages, just trying on and having a good time. Our flat doesn't have a full-length mirror so it was finally nice to see all of me again. Hello to the rest of Karleigh, I missed seeing you! Anyway, when we got back, our other flatmates asked if we wanted to try out the Purple Turtle, which is a bar and dance club. It's pretty interesting; the most exciting dancing I've ever seen/been a part of was at prom and BETA convention. How cool, right? Well, British dancing is pretty much the same except you get to have a ton of fun dancing badly because you don't know anyone. And for someone who loves dancing, but is very bad at it... this place was gold. I actually really had a fun time and dancing until late at night is a lot of fun and also a great workout. I recommend it ha!

The tenth of June was a crazy day. It started off normal enough. I started reading my next novel and had a really relaxed morning. In the afternoon, we all decided to head out and I took back some of my library books. Then I was going to get money out of the ATM because I was running lower than I liked on cash. Imagine my reaction when the ATM told me I was already overdrawn for the day. Yep. Someone jacked my card number and had already charged over 1200+ bucks on it. Horrified, I did the dreaded thing (foreign calls are super expensive, y'all) and actually rang my mom, the bank, my mom again, the bank again. Now, thankfully, everything should be okay soon. I have a new card on the way thanks to my marvelous mother and the nicest banker I've ever chatted with. Then I had Chinese food and had the longest bath ever to recover. It was a crazy day. Tomorrow, we are off to Bath which I'm super excited about. I'm so pumped to see the Roman baths. I pray it's a calm day... at least, calmer than today.

catch you later,
Karleigh

June 7, 2016

On the fifth of June, I finished A Farewell to Arms quickly after waking up. The weather forecast said we would be in the upper 70s and sunny, so I knew I had to be outside some today. Oh my gosh. Today did not disappoint. Around two o'clock this afternoon, a few of the girls and I left to run some errands in town. I ordered a sweatshirt for my college at Oxford and my roommate picked up some of her books for her tutorial. After this, we considered going to the Oxford Botanical Gardens because it was so beautiful outside. The sun made everyone in Oxford so much cheerier; no more umbrellas or coats. Everyone was in shorts and t-shirts. It was amazing. 

 

                

Either way, we decided to go ahead to the botanical gardens because we knew they would be enjoyable. And they really didn't disappoint either. The gardens are beautiful, so green and right alongside the River Thames. The cool breeze off the river was so nice, not at all biting like it was in London. We wandered the gardens for a while, taking in the rooms dedicated to plants from places like South America and Texas -- yeah, they had a room for just Texas. The plants were very cool, but the most fun was when we noticed that people were punting down the river. Punting is a big thing in England; we've all been told that everyone at Oxford looks forward to punting throughout the school year. So obviously, we had to have a go. Punting actually is a lot like you'd imagine riding a gondola in Italy would be like. One of the girls rowed and the rest of us pushed the other boats away when we would inevitably bump into each other. Punting can also be called bumper boats -- get it, like bumper cars? Anyway, we did that for an hour or so. After the punting, we had dinner at a lovely Italian restaurant called Ask Italiatian. I had carbonara, which was amazing! Today was so, so nice. I dread having to get back into my essay tonight and tomorrow.

On June sixth, I went out quite early to check out some books from the library at Christ Church. It was so early that city centre was empty, which rarely happens here. I got my two books on Hemingway and hurried back because I had so much left to write on my paper. After my day off punting, I had plenty of stuff to do. It took me most of the day to finish my paper and I had to be mostly done because we were going to formal dinner. The formal dinners are basically an excuse to wear a robe over your clothes and call it fancy. Did we all wear heels there? Yes. Did anyone else? Well, yes and no! As it so happens, people wear whatever they want to these dinners. Formal just means the robe has to be worn. And the dinner is served to you by waiters. It's very posh, as the Brits would say. I didn't have any pictures to take at this as we were all sweaty and exhausted. We sat next to very local British people and they were vocal about some... subjects which aren't often discussed at the dinner table. Either way, the formal dinner was very fun. I really enjoyed it.

On June seventh, I finished my essay, went to the Ashmolean museum, turned in my essay and attended another formal dinner, this time at New College. We met for our class on travel at the Ashmolean Museum because it began as a collection of items found during travel. After we left, we had lunch at this place called the Greens Cafe. I had a full English breakfast which was very exciting. I've been wanting to try it for quite some time now. The full English is basically sausages, bacon, eggs, toast, mushrooms, tomatoes, and baked beans. Not Mississippi baked beans... These are different. The food was very good and I was very proud to try something traditionally British. After lunch, I edited my essay a bit and then had to walk to print it out and then I hopped on the bus to ride to the Summertown shops where I meet my tutor. Meeting with the tutor is odd; he reads my paper aloud, makes his comments and then gives me a grade at the end. It's very fast-paced. But, y'all. I cannot complain. I made an A- on my first paper at Oxford. Can you believe it? Me neither. I definitely didn't think the paper was very well written because I'd felt so rushed writing it. I was so so proud of myself. After I got back from my meeting, the girls and I departed for the formal dinner at New College. It was much nicer than at Christ Church and just as informal. We sat with some other WISC students and they were a big laugh. We had a really relaxed evening and the food was so good. I just had a really amazing day in Oxford today and then when we got back, we climbed on the roof and watched the rain roll in. Today was just full of the overall magic of Oxford. I'm so in love with this place. I cannot even begin to tell you.

catch you later,
Karleigh

June 4, 2016

On the second of June, I really cannot remember what I did. I had class in the morning. I had McDonalds for lunch and bought my books for class. I had HobNobs for the first time -- literally amazing. I had dinner with Dr. Snyder, because he is leaving Britain for the summer. We had authentic Chinese food, which included duck. I've never had duck before, but it was so so good. I really want to go back to that restaurant; it was so enjoyable. I also met MSU's Rhodes Scholar, Field Brown. We have very similar academic backgrounds at Mississippi State because we both study literature and have been in the same academic societies and clubs. It was a really relaxed evening and we got back quite late. Good thing I didn't have class the next day. 

On the third of June, I slept in and went out for a bit. It's been quite chilly here in Oxford so leaving the house requires bundling up. Then again, lounging at home requires sweat pants and multiple pairs of socks. I bought another of my books and then retreated back home. I've been trying to read my first Hemingway novel, A Farewell to Arms but I sadly didn't start it until the fourth of June. 

Today, the fourth of June, I went out to see the Jungle Book. It was a modern dance adaptation in which the jungle was the urban jungle. It was really neat, mainly an audience of children or elderly people. It was really good though; the dancers/actors were extremely impressive. I really enjoyed the show. Overall, it's been a pretty chilled last few days, as weekends usually are. Tomorrow, the sun is supposed to make a reappearance -- I pray it does -- and I want to go explore the university parks. Sorry I haven't done too much these past few days, but when you are living somewhere for a good bit, it's hard to do something everyday. Especially when you have school work breathing down your neck.

catch you later,

Karleigh

June 1, 2016

Hi again! Don't know if I can top the church robbery scene, but I'll give it a go:

Today, which for me is Tuesday that 31st of May, I met my tutor for the first time. The tutor system at Oxford works in a way that, in a one-on-one situation, a student and teacher meet each week to discuss the students essay on a particular topic, decided upon by the professor. It's only used at Cambridge and Oxford -- hence the name, Oxbridge Tutorial. Either way, I met my tutor today. I had to take a bus, which went fine except I got off the bus too early because I was scared of getting lost. Did you just laugh and go "That sounds like Karleigh" because you should have. Either way, I found it fine and my tutor has another student in the WISC program. I love her so I'm excited to have time to make better friends with her. She's doing play-writing. Aren't you jealous? I am. Anyway, I'm doing Hemingway which includes reading A Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls, "Men without Women" and A Moveable Feast. I'm really excited to get reading. Today was our first rainy day (read: regular day in England). It was kind of miserable, but still nice in some ways I guess. Dr. Snyder, the dean of MSU's honors college, gave a talk at Trinity College and that was really nice and I had my first actual class, which was really relaxed. It was a really nice day in Oxford; I really look forward to going to London tomorrow.

Today, actually because it is the first of June, was actually the coldest day I've experienced in the UK so far. It was a windy day near the River Thames in London, and the breeze was so harsh. I had on a t-shirt, a cardigan, a turtle-neck sweater and a jacket. I was so frozen. We had an early start for London; we left around eight this morning and got into London around ten. We started off with a walking tour with just our small group of eight in which we saw the Burghers of Calais, a statue of Emmeline Pankhurst, and Westminster Abbey. It was very pretty and very old. I cannot think of any other descriptions than those really. It's really gorgeous here. We ate a quick lunch and then walked along South Bank to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. The Globe is not the same really as it was in Shakespeare's time, as it's burnt down a few times between then and now. However, it is just as awe-inspiring. We saw a (quite naughty) modernized version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was hilarious and very bold. I loved it, obviously, because I adore theater but I would not have been bringing my children to such a show. We got back quite late from that but it was a very eventful and fun day. Tomorrow, I'm off to buy my books for class and explore just a bit if it heats up some.

Please, say a prayer for me. I've seemed to have hurt my knee, and it's slowing me down on the long walks which are required over here in England. Also, pray for my homesickness, which hit today, a bit late but still a feeling that I really don't want to be bothered with whilst here. Obviously, homesickness is a part of traveling but I don't want it to linger.

catch you later,
Karleigh