Not really- but isn't that a great picture?!?
So today was the day my housing finally became available, and here's the scoop: I live in an flat on the southwestern side of Oxford. For those who want it, the official address is
222-224 Abingdon Road
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4SPI don't know what the 4SP is for- but I guess that's part of it. There are 8 bedrooms numbered 1A-7 because that's the way the English do things. The assistant to the director of the program, poor thing, had to wait around while I tried to choose one of the 6 still unoccupied rooms this afternoon. All of the rooms were the same more or less- single bed, desk, bedside table, armoire, and SINK! except for one room- for 45 pounds more, I could snag a room with almost double the space, 2 armoires, 2 dressers, a large desk, a fancy looking mirror, and a large bay shaped window looking out into the street.
Carol (the director's assistant) ran up and down the 3 floors behind me locking each door as I left, thinking I'd finally decide and she'd be all set to go. HA! Woman thinks I'm decisive. You'd think that after a half an hour of that she'd finally just leave me free to browse and give up trying to close shop.
I know it's just a room, and the differences were really menial, but this was gonna be my room for the next 3 months, I wanted to choose wisely. Finally, I narrowed it down to Super Amazing Dream Room #3, and #4- the plain room next to it.
I PICKED THE BEST ROOM!!!
I picked #4 because I knew if I went with #3 I'd never leave. It really came down to that. But once I started poking around my room I discovered something awesome.
In my top desk drawer were a bunch of random coins and a note reading, "Pennying: Whenever someone is holding a drink, throwing a penny into their drink means the have to chug whatever it is. (most fun with alcohol) You are now armed. Good Luck, -Wes" I've heard of Pennying before, but maybe it's more popular in the UK. Anyway, that was such a fun surprise. Too bad this Wes kid was only here last term, because he sounds fun as hell.
So yeah, I definitely picked the best room. I haven't fixed it up yet, but when I do I'll post a pic for sure.
After I finally picked my room, two of my flatmates showed up. James Bachelor is living in room #1A he's here through the Chapman exchange program too. He's 19, a film major, fabulously nerdy and really funny. He's also currently reading the Hunger Games, so yeah, we have stuff to talk about.
Brittany is living in room #2. She was here last term and so she knows her way around. She's here through an exchange program with a different school. She's studying psychology and French. She went with me to grab groceries as I was settling in. Brittany was born in Chicago, but was raised in Virginia mostly. Oh, and of course, she's engaged. Because there always has to be someone hanging around who's my age and engaged. In all seriousness though, I like her a lot.
Then I met Ethan who lives in the flat next door. It's kind of like our brother flat. Ethan is from Minneapolis, and he's "studying cities" as he puts it. He wants to design them or something. He just got back from holiday in Morocco today and hates the rain and British food. I don't know what he's doing here.
So the four of us went to a pub next to Magdalen College (Pronounced Mahh-de-lyn) and it was strangely fun and natural. We had some good laughs. James had his first beer while we were out (not too odd for a guy from "So Cal" to have his first beer at 19...) anyway he didn't tell us it was his first beer. He just ordered a Guinness and then flipped out. "It's an assault of the senses!" He couldn't get past the head even. I almost forgot how little people from Southern California tend to drink.
Gotta go put sheets on my bed so I can sleep. Today was exhausting. Orientation tomorrow and my first meeting with an advisor for my tutorials. A little nervous about that. I'm so glad to finally be where I'll be living for the next 3ish months. It'll be nice to settle in, make the place my own. I feel like this is all really starting now.
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