'I Wonder Anybody Does Anything at Oxford But Dream and Remember...

... the place is so beautiful. One almost expects the people to sing instead of speaking. It is all like an opera.' -WB Yeats

(Picture: My adorable Marius cannot wait to move to Oxford!)

Ah! So good to be back in Jolly Ol' England and Oxford! I arrived last Sunday morning and darling flatmate David met me at the bus stop to lug all 5 gazillion pounds (or kilos!) of my crap to the house. A million thank yous for that as the UK was covered in snow and our streets were definitely not plowed. Oy vey. I understand that England is not used to mass quantities of snow, but goodness, could you splurge for some snow plows, or something? Actually, I take that back because the snow seems to stay prettier when not moved around or trampled upon (as everyone has off work/school as well!). Provides for some great snow ball fights :)

I was in the States for about 2.5 weeks, most of which I passed at mum's house in East Berlin, PA. I know I had only been out of America for a measly four months, but goodness! I really had forgotten how strange it is. Things are bigger, louder, more jesus-centric... It was a strange wake up call. And, yes. I still love England. I'm not leaving ever again. You'll have to drag me kicking and screaming out of this country. Seriously. I'll go into hiding. I'll flee to the Cotswolds or something. Not leaving. EVER. :)

Whilst in the states I was able to see all my loves: Amypoo, the TRIFORCE!, family, etc. Spent one very quick afternoon in WV to gather some things and enjoy spinach dip and frozen margaritas at Cheddars (love) with Amy and her family. Liz and Maria came to the middle of nowhere (aka East Berlin) for New Year's Eve and we had a drunken love fest of a good time. Met my new niece, Sophia, who is a little doll. Yes, I like a child. I voluntarily spent time with a child. I'm either growing old or soft. Time will tell. Also went to karaoke twice and managed to show off my extreme British drinking skills once and my extreme drunken skills (not to mention random chat ups) the second time to family. Epic.

Mumsy and I went to NYC for a quick overnight trip. We saw two shows (Memphis and Mary Poppins), did a lot of walking and sightseeing, and spent a lovely 3 hours in the Cellar at Macy's getting our gab on. I think she may have developed a 'buy Jen a glass of wine and see how much you can get her to spill' agenda. That's ok by me.

Since being back in England, I've managed to do one day of work experience which I'm really starting to enjoy. I'm designing the latest cataloge for the company and also doing some market research. Completely different to what i did at my previous work exp., but definitely putting to use all the skills I learned in term one...Score! Bri and I went to Cambridge on Thursday to see the sights and put this month and a half long break to good use before we're covered in course work again. Cambridge was fun (RAINY), it's pretty...but I still prefer Oxford. I can see why people in England think Cam is more beautiful as compared to Ox, but I have to say I'm in disagreeance. I may be biased...because I'm just so in love with Oxford I can't bare to leave it ever again! :)

I am very much looking forward to courses starting up in a couple of weeks. I have too much free time now and nothing is getting accomplished. Must work on major project. NOW...or tomorrow :)

Laters!

Oh where, oh where does the time go?

Today is 18th December 2009. It is the last day of the first term of my MA in Publishing at Oxford Brookes University. Whoa. Seriously...where did this semester go?? It's really hard to believe that it has been 12 weeks since I met everyone, sat in my first MA class, had my first marketing assignment (!). Sometimes it feels like it's been months, years...and at others (or for other things, maybe) it's really hard to believe we're already finished one term. I am 1/3 finished with my MA. WTF!

And, to be sentimental...of course, I really have fallen in love with a bunch of people here. I'm still so in love with the course and of course England. It has been one of the busiest, craziest and drunkest 12 weeks of my life...but I wouldn't change any of it.

Tuesday we presented our editorial projects and my group was voted into 3rd place by the judges (lecturers and a guest judge from Palgrave Macmillan)! We were really surprised and really excited! We had no idea we'd win anything, but we did bring cookies :) (It was a proposal for a student cookbook...c'mon!). Tuesday night was fairly lovely as well...dinner at Jamie's and drinks at Copa. Enough on that though :)

Wednesday we had our last marketing lecture EVER! We had a guest speaker on PR and it was probably my favourite lecture of the term. I forgot how much I really like PR and I'm thankful for the speaker for reminding me I have alternatives besides editorial! Wednesday night was the FABULOUS MA Christmas party at the swanky Randolph Hotel downtown. 3 course meal and dancing the night away...with the lecturers. Let me just say that seeing our production lecturer get down to 'Dancing Queen' was priceless and worth the 35quid pricetag!

Thursday we had our Production exam which I think went fairly well...but to be honest, no one cared much about after the party! Not that I didn't try (I can hear you mumsy!) but it wasn't a huge exam and some of the questions had appeared on our exercises a couple weeks ago. I know this is boring...moving on.

Today we presented our design projects. My group met this morning to get a nice version printed out in the media centre and then had a team breakfast. This is probably the part I'm most excited about...When my group first met waaaaay back in Sept/October, we realised that no one had any design skills. Fail. But 12 weeks and many hours in the TONGE later and our book is AMAZING. I am so proud of us and of it that I could not stop smiling all morning. Afterwards a bunch of us went to the pub for lunch and drinks and then Bri and I went to the city centre for some last minute shopping.

Busy, busy week...great culmination to the busy 12 weeks I've been having. I head to the states on Monday morning and while I am definitely getting more excited (especially for certain things: MEXICAN, FRIENDS, KITTEN, Yes, you MUMSY!) but also sad that this term has come to a close. Next term we'll be back (most of us, and a few new additions), but we won't have everyday together like we did this term. We've got electives next term. So instead of 4 days a week with the same people, I'll have 1...it will be a HUGE change. Sigh. Growing up is hard.

Leave you with a lovely pic of Bri and me at the Christmas do
xxx

Remember, Remember the 5th of November!

Today is November 5th (for a few more hours anyway) which is Guy Fawkes day in England. Guy Fawkes was some dude who attempted to blow up Parliament hundreds of years ago and failed. This happened on Nov. 5th...so, Remember, Remember the 5th of November! Apparently, there's fireworks, burning effigies, and random bonfires in the park. Of course, today is a Thursday, so while there have been fireworks exploding around town, the real party will be held on Saturday night at one of our local parks. We do, you know, live in Oxford where the majority of us are scholarly and brilliant and need to do actual work in the middle of the week :) I'm really looking forward to my first (of many!) Guy Fawkes park bonfire, even if I don't really understand it at all.

Went on a 'ghost tour' with the International Students thingy on Monday night. Was not so much a ghost tour as it was an historical tour of Oxford, at night, when everything was closed and it was FREEZING. But, ended it in the pub drinking Fruli (love.) with two of my favourites. All in all, a good night and it gave us a little time away from studying for....

Our first exam, which was yesterday. To be fair, we really only have 2 exams this term: Marketing (yesterday) and Editorial (which is 90% proofreading...and I LOVE proofreading. Seriously, I do it for fun. Really). Now, don't go thinking this MA programme is a joke, cause believe you me it certainly isn't. Along with our two exams we have a major group project for each course (that's 4 total) due in at the end of term. These projects are: Marketing Plan, Editorial Proposal, Major design of 24 pages of a book...and something else that I should probably be remembering right now for Production.
Anyway, point is that we had our marketing exam yesterday. Last week was 'reading week' so no lectures, but tons of events to attend and lots of emailing trying to get group appointments together. Oh, and lots of people freaking out and studying hardcore for this marketing exam. I felt really good and prepared going into the exam...afterwards, slightly shaken, but all in all I'm sure it's fine ;) After the exam itself, we had about a 15 minute break before we had to meet up for our marketing seminar sessions (blah). 5 of us took this as an excuse to run to the closest flat/dorm room and do shots of Jaeger to congratulate ourselves. I love Uni.
We also, of course, had to celebrate the end of the exam by going out and getting ridiculously drunk. Hit a pub, then went to an Oxford Uni College pub (as I have two lovely friends who either attend or attended Oxford Uni and can get us in). Vodka and diet coke for 1pound70? Hell yeah. Afterwards, we hung out in the cemetary of the college for a bit and then went to the Purple Turtle. A club...apparently Wednesday, although free to get in, is like weird, american punk music night. Kind of a fail...but overall a good time. Met up with a bunch of others from the course and debauchery insued, as normal.

I'm still finding moments in the day where I stop--look around--and say, "I'm in freaking ENGLAND!" I don't know if this will ever stop really. I don't know if I want it to. I don't ever want to go back to the states...I don't think I could actually live in the states again after this. Everyone said that backpacking around Europe would be life changing, and while it was amazing and I'm still so freaking proud of myself for actually doing it (alone, I might add) it was always overshadowed by the fact that I was starting a Master's degree in England after. Now, i'm in week 6 of term one...and yeah, this is definitely the life changing event. I may even not come home for Christmas...kidding. Ticket is purchased and I'm coming, even though I really, kind of don't want to. Sorry :)


Picture above is from inside the St. Edmund's (Teddy Hall) College cemetery. I'm sitting next to someone important, I'm sure.

These places they take you to...

Halloween party was a great success! Lots of drinking, laughing and dancing. Perfect evening. And, very much hungover today...joy. I dressed up as Eponine from Les Mis...it wasn't the greatest idea/costume, but I am so completely rubbish with costumes. No idea why I love Halloween so very much.

I've been sitting here attempting to maybe do some studying and just contemplating life. It's very odd to think of my life now and my 'old' life. With each day it just kind of slips farther away and it's really hard to imagine that I was ever that person. That person who worked in pharmaceuticals, lived in West Virginia (I still do tear up when Country Roads comes on my iPod), basically devoting my life to my relationship, was not in school... in ENGLAND. God, I love England.

I've met a very lovely girl, Bri, who is also leading a totally new life here in Oxford. I think it's great that we are able to move to England (even if it's only for a year...please don't let it only be for a year!) and be the people we're actually supposed to be. Free, Liberated, Opinionated, Smart women. Fantastical.

Ok, I was distracted and now I am not feeling deep or pensive or anything any more. I'll leave you with a picture (horrible) of me as Eponine. Costume fail, as usual...
-Edit- Can't figure out how to put the pic down here...sooo yeah.

Before this river...

Becomes an ocean.

I'm on a George Michael/Wham kick. Can't explain why :)

We are currently in the middle of week 4 of classes. It feels like we've been going for a lot longer. Don't get me wrong, I am LOVING the course and the people I've met. It's just that we've already learned/done/drank so much :) Feels like I've been here for 6 months, or honestly that I've just always been here.
Of course, everyday something happens and I rush home and just want to skype with everyone back home (ok, not everyone...sorry. Just like 3 of you), but I've also made some really good friends here who fill the void. And not to mention I'm back to my fun, sociable self (can I say that about myself...? Sure) that is always up for a good time! haha...slowing down now as the course work picks up.

Saturday night we returned back from Frankfurt, Germany and the Frankfurt book fair. It was AMAZING. A few of us walked into hall 8 (the international/UK/US hall) which was massive and only one of a bunch of halls, and just felt utterly overwhelmed. Sounds naive, but I don't think I realised just how many publishers there were. We were allotted 2 meetings, but I used my fantastic networking skills (yeah...) and weasled my way into 4: Random House, Bloomsbury, New Internationalist (EPIC) and David Attwooll Associates (literary agent). Random House and Bloomsbury were interesting, but kind of broad. I got a lot more out of the small places I visited. Not to mention the fact that we were there for about 8 hours, so we saw a lot, though not everything!
Saturday we were free to do what we wanted and a group of us chose to go to Mainz, Germany to the Gutenberg museum. Mainz was gorgeous and the museum was ok...I just can't get into museums, even when they're about books! We had a great dinner and some apple wine then shot off for the airport.
We arrived back at Heathrow after only a 1 hour flight. That's right, it takes me one hour to get from Germany to England. I love, love, love Europe.

Now it's back to the grind. Work load is picking up for the courses; numerous projects and group meetings to attend, plus our first marketing test which should be a doozy. And, of course, have to keep mastering my networking skills (read: pub quiz, wine socials, etc.).
We're having a Halloween/bday party at the flat this weekend, which should be loads of fun. The publishers are coming out in Force! And, Friday Harper Collins is coming to campus to interview for about 10 work placement slots. This would mean going to London every Monday morning at about 6am...but seriously. Harper Collins?? Totally worth it. Wish me luck!

Tschuss!

24 Candles

Today, I am 24 years old. Today, I am 24 years old and I'm waking up in Oxford, England where I LIVE. Today, I am 24 years old, living in England and single. Today, I am going with all new friends to a tapas bar and having a fabulous night.

It's strange to think how much your life can change in one year, or even one week. Yes, I have been out of the states for almost 2 months. I have seen 10 countries (if you count the Vatican :) ), I have met amazing people, I have moved to Oxford and I'm studying Books in the greatest book capital in the world. I have recently become single after 4+ years of a relationship that seemed like it would be my last. I have spent some hours grieving over this, but then the thought occurs to me: For the past 3 years of your life you've been plotting, scheming, working towards this. Can you really let something so simple get you down? It's not easy to pack up and move to another country...it's not easy to leave someone you love behind. At the age of (now) 24, a 4+year relationship is a major chunk of your life...and it was an important part that I won't forget and I definitely do not regret.
I'm a new me now, however, and I plan to make the most of it in every aspect.

Yes, I'm 24 years old today and I live in Oxford, England and I study books and I've made great friends and already experienced so much. Let the past rest and the future shine :) 24 is the year.



p.s. I apologize for the over-sentimental, nostalgic-ish rant...But, it is MY blog after all :)

It is now September 18th

And, I realise I am WAY behind on blogging as I have been to...6-7 cities since my last post. Ouch. However, we have definitely been light on the internet connections and this one is super expensive.
I will update everything when I am back in Oxford...in TWO days!! I am such a scholar...as I am oh so freaking excited to start classes!!


Write soon!xx