The difference between Oxford students and OPUS students (international students) is that they are quite simply brilliant, and we're not.
It's so easy to forget that. I've been studying, rowing, and eating with them for about a week now, and I pretty much had to remember that today. I just had an international student orientation with some other students enrolled at Hertford college. The two native Oxfordians leading the orientation were so nice and helpful. We had tea and talked about different stuff Oxford has to offer- it was really nice. Eventually both of them had to leave for get this, croquet- and so us Americans were left to our own devices. It was quite funny actually, how our attitudes changed as soon as they left. First thing we did was pig out on the remaining cookies. I'm not kidding, we all just went into crazy cookie monster mode simultaneously and finished the lot. So what Americans are gluttons? At least we know to do it privately.
Anyway, one of the things the Oxford girls said during orientation was what a bit of slackers everybody is here and how we should really focus on the social side because we won't regret it. This is both true and false. I'm sure there are some Oxford students who do slack off, but they don't do it because they don't care, they do it because they're smart enough to get away with it. I learned a long time ago I'm not smart enough to get away with not working hard. The only reason I'm smart is BECAUSE I work hard. If you know me you know- I'm not that smart really.
The girls did open my eyes to a lot of fun stuff I'd like to do however. This whole past week I've been on the verge of losing it because I've been striving to get used to everything around here, and there's a lot to get used to. I feel like I have so little time here, I want to get used to it all so I can relax and enjoy it. The good thing is I'm finally starting to settle into a bit of a routine, I'm getting the hang of it. I'm going to try not to stress so much.
Ethan, and Camille (Americans who were here last term) were talking about how the English at Oxford aren't just typical "reserved English" but they are really a bit snooty- they go to Oxford after all, they kind of are an extreme kind of nerd. They both had a hard time making English friends last term. I'm going to try and make some good English friends anyway. I may be a dumb American, but at least I'm smart enough to have recognized the opportunity to come here. That's got to get me points with somebody.
*Back to Studying...
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