Homestays!

So today we moved out of the Univ dorms where we've all been staying for the past few weeks in order to make room for the influx of bright-eyed freshers. You may be asking yourself: But where have they moved to? Well, have I got an answer for you. This morning (or early afternoon for some of us) we packed all our things, hopped into a cap and were driven all about the city, dropping us off at our pre-arranged homestays. I was a little nervous to move in because we had heard that some of the hosts have young children/didn't have interent/had dial-up so you can understand my apprehension. Heaven forbid I should have to live two months without highspeed internet at my fingertips 24 hours a day. I knocked on the door of Mrs. Charmian Downer's flat, number 25 Norrey's Avenue and waited anxiously to see. Much to my relief a lovely woman opened the door and promptly invited me in, grabbing several of my bags as she turned to walk back into the house. Her house is absolutely adorable. I fell in love instantly. Everything is delightfully British and as I began to settle into my room, I thought to myself, "I did okay."

She DOES have internet, and children, however her kids are grown and moved out. She's incredibly sharp, having gone to Oxford herself when she was younger. She now teaches at a sixth form school in North Oxford and she invited me to go see a play there at some point. She made me tea and asked me about my experiences so far with the United Kingdom. It really was a lovely day. I was also a little apprehensive because we got a sheet from the Pomona Program's coordinator of Do's and Don'ts for our homestays. There were things like, "Don't come home late at night, don't shower late at night, don't expect that you can use the kitchen" etc. Charmian immediately told me that all of those rules were rubbish and that I should make myself entirely at home.

Well, I've been putting off this essay all week, so I should probably get cracking on it. I'll post another blog the next time something interesting happens.

Cheers,
Ian