Monday I woke up still feeling miserably under the weather. No matter... I had a full day ahead. I got dressed up as the CEO of BlackRock and headed off to meet my group. The morning of presentations was really actually really fun and entertaining. Groups got really into their roles and it made for a really interesting morning. Right after our group went, Alex, one of the TAs, told us that our presentation was one of the best he'd ever seen and while he was complimentary to all the groups, it was still high praise. Gordon Clark, the professor, and the BP exec who was there, both seemed impressed and happy with the presentations as well. I think pictures will show the fun better than talking about each group's presentation (thanks, Brittany for all the photos!)
BP exec, Gordon Clark, and the "Community"- including Ben as a priest
A worker (Louis) meets with a federal employee from the Department of the Interior (Rob)
The contractors (Halliburton and Transocean) James, Kanako, Dennis and Tom, who was reporting live from the Gulf
BlackRock- Representing the investment community: Juliana, Cody, me, Daniel, and Lea
BP Executives: Andreas, Brittany, Alex, Cato and Anna
A worker and a BP exec make peace... with another BP exec going crazy.... (Katherine and Cato being photo bombed by Andreas)
A worker (Louis) with another DoI employee (Lisa)
After the presentations I just hung out in the department and ate the lunch I had packed. We had an hour and then the next round of presentations for our research methods class. Each group had picked a random research topic and had to design a dissertation like project around it... this included a brief literature review, background info, a timeline, what research methods we would actually use (focus groups, interviews, archival work, participant observation, etc). I think everyone was tired from the morning and quite honestly a bit under prepared but the presentations went fine. My group did the non-human charisma of wine and how the feelings of nostalgia and culture that certain wines evoke led to the revival of the nearly extinct viognier grape. We brought in a bottle of viognier for everyone to sample and gave the presentation. Part way through I started feeling a bit weak and by the end, thought I might pass out just from being feverish and exhausted. Cato noticed me looking pale and swaying and propped me up and got me a chair and water. If nothing else, this sickness has shown me just what caring and awesome friends I have.
After class we had a class meeting and were finished around 4:30 or so. After that I headed home and was exhausted... way too exhausted to even think about a trip to the grocery store and then cooking dinner... just wasn't going to happen. Instead, I went for food at the Rose and Crown with Dennis and Louis and enjoyed a good meal and then headed home to rest up for more presentations the following day.
The next day we gave our mapping controversies presentations... we were all a bit burnt out and since the presentations were not really about the controversies but just about mapping them, none of us were super excited and most of us had our lap tops out and facebook up. About 5 minutes into the start of class, Rob posted the following to our NSEP facebook group: "Presentations are boring. Let's face it. I will buy a pint for anyone who can get 'bananas in pyjamas' or 'cheesecake' into their mapping controversy presentation this lecture. #NSEPbingo. Good luck"
Needless to say, the game grew and we spent the entire lecture working the following words and phrases into our presentations: bananas in pyjamas, cheesecake, cyclops, "crucible or fulcrum, if you will", pull a schwartz, hobbit, bald man, peanut butter, excessively phallic, and insufficiently phallic (so mature, I know). Amazingly, we got all those in throughout the class and the guy leading it never had any idea anything was amiss... even when we all got a case of the giggles when Rob said "bald man" and the guy even opened the door to let some fresh air in because we were all in hysterics. In fact, the only thing he ever questioned was when someone said "swamp" (legitimately using the word) and he thought they said "swan"..... that's the only thing he raised an eye brow at... really?
Anyway, it was the most fun class I've been to in a long time and it left me in a great mood. Afterwards most of NSEP and the guy who led the class all went for a pint at the Lamb and Flag. He STILL had no idea and we were all so giggly and ridiculous. After the pub I went home for a bit before heading to dinner. This is Ted's last week here on his research project before he heads back to Philly and so I wanted to spend time with him and he wanted to celebrate that we were all free again so me, Ted, Andreas, and Louis went to Jamie's (Jamie Oliver's restaurant) which has a student deal of 5 pound pasta dishes during the week. We had a wonderful meal and then Andreas and Ted headed to Raul's for cocktails while Louis and I headed to meet Dennis, Ben and Cody for drinks at House Bar. I wasn't actually drinking since I was still recovering but it was nice to hang out with them for a bit. When we left house bar we headed to Worcester College and walked around the grounds (they have a gorgeous lake and we could hear the swans hissing and clicking at us!) and then hung out and played pool and foosball and just talked. From there, I headed home.
Dinner with 3 of my favorite boys: Andreas, Ted and Louis
Wednesday was the Teddy Hall Relays. I'd agreed to run a long time ago and even though I was still not nearly 100%, I really wanted to run. NSEP had two teams entered (iNSEPtion and the iNSEPerables) and I wanted to participate even if it was going to be miserable. Each runner ran a 6k (3.8 mile) loop. I was the last runner on our all girls team (Juliana, Katherine, and me) and to be honest, I should have let someone else take my spot. I knew as soon as I headed off that it was going to be hard, by the time I was a mile in I was coughing up gross gunk and by mile 2 I was coughing so hard that I kept setting off my gag reflex and throwing up. I ended up walking mile 2 to 3 and then ran the last .8 mile. It took me an embarrassing 42 minutes to finish, but I DID finish, which I suppose is something. I coughed pretty much the rest of the afternoon, including getting sick from the coughing once more after I stopped running. Thankfully, once again, my friends took good care of me. We went to the Mitre for food and drinks after we finished, and while my team didnt do great, the mixed team of Brittany, Anna, Rob and Dennis did amazing.... Brittany ran something like a 7:09 mile pace and Rob a 6:50 mile pace, with Anna and Dennis around a 7:30 or 7:40 pace. Great for amateur runners or Brittany as a cross country runner coming back from an injury.
Anna, off to a great start!
Haha! Dennis getting his potassium!
Lovely ladies- Anna and Katherine
5 of the 7 of us: Anna, me, Dennis, Rob and Juliana
Rob and Juliana
Juliana, Anna and Brittany
I had a snack at the Mitre but I was still hungry for dinner. Louis and I were going to go to Jamie's again for pasta but he decided he couldn't be bothered to wait for a table, so instead we ordered take out chinese food and took it back to my place to eat and watch the 5 five episodes (ever) of Modern Family. Louis had never seen it and I think he may be hooked now. Mission accomplished. Louis left after Modern Family and I headed to bed.
Thursday morning Brittany and I went to look at another house we found. It's not in the cool area the other one is... in fact, it's in a tiny village about 2 miles outside of Oxford. The cycle is mostly along cycle paths through gorgeous fields/parks/countryside and even though it's a bit remote, it's so pretty that even in the freezing, foggy, mist, Brittany and I both fell in love with the location. It's also right across from a restaurant/pub that is on the River Cherwell surrounded by a meadow, so that's excellent. We also both fell in love with the house. It's much nicer than the other place we looked at and we agreed it just feels like "home" in a weird way. It's 5 bedrooms, 4 have double beds and one is tiny with a twin bed. There are two bathrooms, a living room, a nice big kitchen, and a fully fenced in backyard where Brittany's dogs could hang out with us. It's pretty perfect and we all decided we prefer it, not just because of the house, but also because the agency seems much better to deal with than the other one. We submitted our applications today, along with a deposit to hold the property so fingers crossed everything gets approved. You can see the place here: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-28602051.html
From there, Brittany and I cycled back into town for class but I was feeling like I'd really overdone it the past feel days and struggled to even stay awake for my last class with all of NSEP. After class Brittany and I grabbed lunch and then I went home for a nap and intended to work on my dissertation proposal that was due the next day (Friday). My short nap turned into nearly 3.5 hours and even when I woke up I was just a groggy mess. I kept trying to work but just didnt have any luck. I thought the proposal was due at 5pm the next day so I finally gave up and crawled into bed thinking I would finish later.... I woke up at 8:30 feeling much better and rechecked my calendar... only to notice that I'd recorded it wrong and the proposal needed to be in by noon.... cue a crazy few hours working- but I got it done and handed in at 11:58am.
As soon as I handed it in I got busy doing other little things (tax stuff, copies of my passport, etc) and then headed into town to meet Lisa, Louis and Andreas for lunch. It was a gorgeous day, sunny and around 61 so we got sushi take out and a box of ice cream bars and headed to the park. We ate, chatted, lounged, tag was played, headstands and cartwheels were done... all in all a perfect afternoon.
Louis doing a headstand
Andreas enjoying the day
Louis spotting Lisa's headstand
Lounging
From the park, Lisa and I headed to do some shopping since the St. Antony's washing machine has decided to shred lots of my things... particularly my undergarments. I spent entirely too much money while shopping, but got what I needed (and a few things I didn't... including another floor length formal dress that was only 35 pounds.... Oxford has tons of formals/black tie events and you can't beat 35 pounds for a formal dress...)
After shopping I headed home briefly and then met Louis, Ted and Andreas for dinner at the Rose and Crown. We then went for a drink at a place in Jericho (I can't remember the name which is a shame b/c I loved the place... had a book theme and a jazzy/classy feel). From there we met a bunch of NSEPers at a different place. I think it was: Lizzie, Lisa F., Cato, Daniel, Dennis, Katherine, Brittany, me, Louis, Andres, Ted, Ole, and Juliana, but I may have missed a few. After awhile there, we decided to head to a congolese roots music night at cellar. When we got there, the vibe was a bit weird and the people were a bit different, but I was there to dance and enjoy the music... until some guy (accidentally) kicked me in the ankle HARD. I could feel my ankle bruising so I went to sit until I felt I could walk home. I iced it, but today it is still bruised and swollen- an epsom salt soak and arnica cream have helped... only I would get injured at a congolese music dance night...
Today has been quiet... I leave for Amsterdam at 7:30 tomorrow morning for the NSEP fieldtrip so today was laundry and packing and saying a final goodbye to Ted. Ted, Andreas, Brittany and I went to the Head of the River restaurant for lunch which has really beautiful views over the river. We then went for sorbet (I had elderflower which might be the best sorbet I've ever had!) and then for a walk in Christ Church Meadow. My ankle started to hurt with all the walking though (fingers crossed this isnt an issue in Amsterdam!) so I headed home to finish packing and make dinner.
I need to be up in about 6 hours so that's all for now.... another post after Amsterdam!
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