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After months of planning and waiting, I am finally in Oxford! It has been a long three days.
Thursday evening was spent weighing, repacking, and redistributing the weight in my luggage. At eleven we were headed to Winn-Dixie to use their large scales, only to find out that they no longer have their large scales. After another attempt at the post office, Daddy bought some scales. The weight was drastically over the fifty pound limit for one bag. With much maneuvering, I pared down its contents and its weight. I thought I had everything checked off my checklist.
Friday morning I said goodbye to my Daddy, ran a few last minute errands, and said goodbye to my Grandmother. Then my mother, my sister, and I drove up to Birmingham. We spent a leisurely lunch at the Galleria Food Court before the bus came. I said my last goodbyes to my mother and sister and boarded the bus. I spent the next two hours in transit to Atlanta Airport. It was then that I realized that I had forgotten to pack my ethernet cable. Once at the airport, I checked in my baggage and sucessfully went through security without any problems. After checking in and going through security, a group of us from the bus ate dinner at TGI Friday's. All that was left for those taking the group flight was to wait. I found a store in the airport that sold a nifty retractable ethernet cable, at the very reasonable price of $10! Yea!
The flight boarded a little after 10 p.m. (Atlanta time). I had planned on sleeping on the plane, but that endeavor was to no avail. By the time I got comfortable, the plane was an hour from Heathrow Airport, London. They served two meals on the plane. The first was a meat dinner that came with a package of cheese and a package of butter crackers that were fairly good. They also served a biscuit and banana for breakfast. I was very thankful for the banana. Eight hours after take-off, I was flying over London. From the air I saw the Eye, the London Bridge, and my first British double-decker bus.
From the plane we were herded through customs and across the UK border into England. Both of my checked bags made it safely to England also, and I claimed them after going through customs. The group then boarded our own chartered double-decker bus, and it took us to Oxford. We arrived in Oxford a little before three, gathered our belongings, and checked in at the college. I have a spacious private room on the second floor, which the British call the first floor. It has a bed, with a shelf behind it to the left. On the right is a long work desk, open shelves above, and a wardrobe. There is also a small, but adequate bathroom in the room. At the far end of the room is a window that overlooks the orchard.
I unpacked, realizing that I had also forgotten my razor and my measuring cup, and returned to the meeting/classroom at 4:30 (Oxford time) for orientation. That was followed by a basic tour of the beautiful college grounds, finishing with the dining hall. At the dining hall we had a delicious three course meal. The final course was similar to a light pound cake with cutout sections filled with tart berries and topped with a sweet cream. After dinner we were split into three small groups, to take an introductory tour of Oxford. Dr. Halli expertly led our group. He showed us beautiful buildings, told us their names, and of the important people connected to them. He also showed us where to find the essentials: food and toiletries. By then most of these stores had closed. While I was unable to get a blow dryer, I was able to get a few bananas and water.
Thursday evening was spent weighing, repacking, and redistributing the weight in my luggage. At eleven we were headed to Winn-Dixie to use their large scales, only to find out that they no longer have their large scales. After another attempt at the post office, Daddy bought some scales. The weight was drastically over the fifty pound limit for one bag. With much maneuvering, I pared down its contents and its weight. I thought I had everything checked off my checklist.
Friday morning I said goodbye to my Daddy, ran a few last minute errands, and said goodbye to my Grandmother. Then my mother, my sister, and I drove up to Birmingham. We spent a leisurely lunch at the Galleria Food Court before the bus came. I said my last goodbyes to my mother and sister and boarded the bus. I spent the next two hours in transit to Atlanta Airport. It was then that I realized that I had forgotten to pack my ethernet cable. Once at the airport, I checked in my baggage and sucessfully went through security without any problems. After checking in and going through security, a group of us from the bus ate dinner at TGI Friday's. All that was left for those taking the group flight was to wait. I found a store in the airport that sold a nifty retractable ethernet cable, at the very reasonable price of $10! Yea!
The flight boarded a little after 10 p.m. (Atlanta time). I had planned on sleeping on the plane, but that endeavor was to no avail. By the time I got comfortable, the plane was an hour from Heathrow Airport, London. They served two meals on the plane. The first was a meat dinner that came with a package of cheese and a package of butter crackers that were fairly good. They also served a biscuit and banana for breakfast. I was very thankful for the banana. Eight hours after take-off, I was flying over London. From the air I saw the Eye, the London Bridge, and my first British double-decker bus.
From the plane we were herded through customs and across the UK border into England. Both of my checked bags made it safely to England also, and I claimed them after going through customs. The group then boarded our own chartered double-decker bus, and it took us to Oxford. We arrived in Oxford a little before three, gathered our belongings, and checked in at the college. I have a spacious private room on the second floor, which the British call the first floor. It has a bed, with a shelf behind it to the left. On the right is a long work desk, open shelves above, and a wardrobe. There is also a small, but adequate bathroom in the room. At the far end of the room is a window that overlooks the orchard.
I unpacked, realizing that I had also forgotten my razor and my measuring cup, and returned to the meeting/classroom at 4:30 (Oxford time) for orientation. That was followed by a basic tour of the beautiful college grounds, finishing with the dining hall. At the dining hall we had a delicious three course meal. The final course was similar to a light pound cake with cutout sections filled with tart berries and topped with a sweet cream. After dinner we were split into three small groups, to take an introductory tour of Oxford. Dr. Halli expertly led our group. He showed us beautiful buildings, told us their names, and of the important people connected to them. He also showed us where to find the essentials: food and toiletries. By then most of these stores had closed. While I was unable to get a blow dryer, I was able to get a few bananas and water.
It was a long trip to Oxford, as is this entry. I am excited enough to write, but too exhausted to describe the incredible landscape all around me. More to come! Pictures. All about my Sunday in London. And all about finding forgotten items.
Hey Kellie :) Its Jess T, I am so thrilled to see that you are keeping a blog of your travels in England.! It's absolutely evident that you are a talented writer and I know that reading your posts over the next month are going to get me ready to hop a plane this instant just to experience it myself. You are absolutely right. I should have decided to go. However, I am determined to make it happen before I graduate. Here's looking forward to your future posts and, hopefully, future pictures! Have fun and pick up as much of the English custom as you can!! I want to hear ALL about it! :D
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