1/11/10

Well, today marks the first class of the term. While the class isn't at Oxford I suppose it is as official as it will ever be. For those of you reading who I haven't explained what my semester at Oxford will entail here is a short description.

The University of Oxford is one of two institutions in the UK that has maintained the tutorial system of learning (the other being the one and only Cambridge University). Most students matriculated in the University will have anywhere from 3-4 tutorials per term as well as optional lectures they can attend to supplement their tutorials, most don't go though. I am taking two tutorials, a primary and a secondary, and I will also be taking a course online through APU in Theology as well as a class offered on British Culture and History. My primary is on Arthurian Legend and advanced composition and my secondary is on the fiction of C.S. Lewis. As far as I am concerned I couldn't be studying subjects more interesting, however that is because they suit my personal taste.

Today, we toured the Oxford Union which is the oldest student organization at Oxford. It was founded 90 years after the foundation of the University making it several hundred years old!!! Crazy, I know. As an OPUS student we are allowed the exclusive membership to the Union allowing us access to any and all of the facilities. There are several libraries and one is two stories containing vast amounts of antiquated books that smell amazing (that's for you danielle ;) ). The Union is filled with dark wood paneled staircases leading to various meeting rooms each with a hefty allotment of books. There is one particular room that is used for the weekly meetings of the Union government which we as Union members are allowed to sit in on and submit inquiries. Every week the Union holds debates hosted by many famous diplomats, political leaders and socialites. Past debates have included Mother Teresa, Reverend Desmond TuTu, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, British Prime Ministers, as well as various Nobel Peace Prize recipients. As a Union member we are allowed access to these debates as well as the black tie dinners afterwards to eat with, meet and talk to the speakers. It is a great honor to be allowed these privileges and I will have to post several blogs to share my experiences at the Union.

Tomorrow afternoon I meet with my academic advisor to set my tutorials in stone so I will have to blog about that. Until then, goodnight!