London Take Two

Taking a break from the academic atmosphere of Oxford for the weekend, Nellie and I traveled to London this past weekend for a two-day tour of the city. Having been there a couple of weeks ago, we had a good idea of what we wanted to visit. Sitting down and strategically planning our trip, we bought bus tickets and booked our hostel rooms in advance. Thinking ahead saves a lot of money!

During our visit we were able to explore Shakespeare's rebuilt Globe Theater, walk across the Tower Bridge, walk through the Museum of British History, the Natural History Museum, and Hyde Park. Scattered in between these places were numerous side trips, explorations, adventures, and interesting landmarks.

The Globe Theater was by far our favorite activity. This was undoubtedly because of our tour guide-- a man in his late 50's who must have been an actor. "Good morning to you all and welcome to the brilliant Globe Theater! It's very very cold, so please, gather close around. We are about to walk through one of London's most unique and spectacular landmarks. Don't waste a moments time, we have much to see..." His warmth and enthusiasm are difficult to capture in words, but made the tour.

The original Globe burnt to the ground as a result of a "cannon malfunction" which set the thatch roof on fire. Amazingly, none of the actors or members of the audience was seriously injured. The restored Globe stands as close as possible to the original site and was constructed using 17th century construction methods and materials. The workers didn't use a single power tool or nail to re-construct the building which was completed in 1997.

The Globe holds Shakespeare performances throughout the spring and summer months. The season has not yet begun, but Nellie and I hope that we will be able to attend a performance before we leave.

After leaving the Globe, we walked along the Thames river which divides London. The north side tends to be very busy and crowded while the south side (where we were) is less so. We attempted to eat near Leicester Square, but soon became discouraged as the streets looked like Manhattan at rush hour and the restaurant were absolutely packed. Londoners don't seem to mind the crowds, however, being perfectly content to sit on stairs or crammed next to complete strangers in a restaurant . Nell and I were looking for something a little different...

Our primary mode of transportation was our feet, however, we also bought a tube pass which made getting around quicker and less confusing. There is no such thing as a straight road in London. Going in a certain direction is nearly impossible! The London Underground is very easy to use as long as you know your colors. "Lets take the yellow circle line to the grey jubilee line and get off at Southwark." It's really not a complicated system, just remember to "Mind the Gap!"Later on Saturday evening, Nellie and I climbed to the top floor of the Tate art gallery and the Oxo Tower for night views of the city. Even in the dark, London is alive with light and activity. By the end of the day we were both exhausted. We trekked back to our hostel for some rest before tomorrows next big adventure! [See Nellie's Blog for more!]

A View from my perspective

This post is dedicated to giving you a glimpse of what life is like at the vines and in Oxford.

Above and below are pictures of my room where I spend quite a bit of time. My bed is directly under our awesome window. I can look straight up into the sky at night. If it's clear (which happens about once every two weeks), I can see the stars. This is also the best place to watch the sun set over Oxford.

This is my "bookshelf." On the occasion of this picture, I was reading Sir Gawain and the Green night, Paradise Lost, and the Screwtape Letters. You can also see my copy of C.S. Lewis' collected letters which I received from my Aunt for Christmas.

Above is a shot of the kitchen at 6:30 on a Friday evening. As you can see, it's PACKED! I'm surprised that no one has gotten burnt, cut, or seriously injured by a cheese grater! All the students get along very well and everyone is patient. Moving around from one corner to another is not an easy task. As a result, there are occasional cries of "throw me a spoon!"

Oxford students aren't always studying! Here Kristin, Laurie, Nellie (taking the picture) and I are watching Wycliffe Hall play Queens College in Football (soccer). The game ended in a 2-1 Wycliffe victory! Three student from the program are playing on the Wycliffe team this term.

Eucatastrophe

If someone came up to you and asked what you thought of the Eucatastrophic features of Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, what would you say? I was placed in exactly this situation this week during my first tutorial session with Dr. Emma Plaskit.

For you younger readers, if someone ever asks you a question to which you have no idea of the answer, your best approach is to shield your temporary lack of knowledge by asking a "clarifying question." This is the approach that I employed with Dr. Plaskit.

"In which book are you referring?"

By carefully listening to her answer and piecing together what I knew of the word itself ("eu" is Greek prefix which means "good" or "well.") I was able to discern that Euchatastrophic simply means "happy ending." Why it is necessary to use a $12 word to describe a $0.05 concept is beyond me. Simple, straightforward language always increases communication and understanding.

The rest of my tutorial was interesting and insightful. Dr. Plaskit and I dug into the world of Narnia and talked about the influences that were working on Dr. Lewis at the time. Interestingly, as I read numerous essays by him, I learned that when he began writing the Chronicles, his goal was not to create a Christian allegory. In fact, he is dead set against any writer who sets out with the express purpose of communicating a specific idea, moral, or religion. Lewis says it much bet than I:

"Let the [story] tell you its own moral. For the moral inherent in them will rise from whatever spiritual roots you have succeeded in striking during the whole course of your life. But if they don't show you any moral, don't put one in. For the moral you put in is likely to be a platitude, or even a falsehood, skimmed from the surface of your consciousness." (Taken From "On Three Ways of Writing for Children")

What has become popular opinion, that Lewis started to create a particularly Christian series of books, is in fact, not the case. In no way should this diminish the power of the Christian themes within the Chronicles. In fact, they speak from Lewis' deep rooted Christian beliefs. He didn't have to try to push them onto the paper, they ran right through his fingertips.

This week, I will be reading Paradise Lost by John Milton (1608-1674) alongside of Lewis' Screwtape letters. My task is to analyze the treatment of evil in both works. Lewis worked with Paradise Lost considerably and eventually published a forward to the work in 1942. This epic poem was a considerable influence on Lewis as well as his friend J.R.R. Tolkein.

The climate in Oxford is highly academic. Everyone you pass on the street is engaged in deep conversations. As I pass by I catch words like "...plato...", "...In the epic tradition...", "before the romantic period..." and on it goes. Oxford is know for the "town and gown;" that is the thriving economic center intertwined with one of the world leading research universities. It's a pleasure to be a part of it in a small way.

Hopefully you have gotten a glimpse at what a tutorial at Oxford is like. Although it's a lot of work, it is easy to see yourself grow and your knowledge of a subject increase quickly.

Cheers...

Magdalen bridge near Magdalen College
(the tower is in the distance).
C.S. Lewis taught medieval and
renaissance literature here for 29 years.

London...

London is a city of great and terrible history. From wonderful scientific, political, and literary advances, to terrible fires, wars, and political upheaval, the city of London is truly one of the World's great historical landmarks. Today, the city boasts an odd mix of ancient and modern. A skyscraper in the shape of a rocket towers into the air right next to a 1200 year old fortress. A brand new BMW parks next to a statue of general who conquered the same land hundreds of years earlier.

This past Saturday I rode the bus from Oxford into London (an hour long drive) and spent the entire day wandering around and looking at some of the places I just mentioned. A group of about 30 students came on this option final orientation activity. Keeping everyone together was very difficult at times due to the crowds and busy streets.

As we wandered through the streets, some of which are very narrow and windy due to the configuration of house back in the early 13th and 14th centuries, we frequently stopped at important landmarks and historical points such as the homes of famous Londoners. Simon Lancaster (Head of the Oxford program) and Jonathan Kirkpatrick (Resident Director of the Crick Road house) gave us details on each place and kept us from getting lost.

We quickly visited Buckingham palace and the house of parliament, but due to large crowds, we saw very little. The best stop of the day was to the monument of the great fire of London (1666). The monument is a slender pillar of 202 feet. It stands 202 feet from the former location of the bakers shop where the fire began. The great fire of London burned for four days and quickly destroyed 80% of the city. This was largely due to the fact that at the time nearly all buildings were made of wood and thatch.

The monument has two interesting features: The first is that inside is a tightly winding staircase which you can climb. The observation deck at the top of the monument yields a wonderful view of the city. The second feature is a scientific one in that there is a zenith telescope inside the shaft of the pillar enabling astronomers to measure distances directly above the tower.

A large number of us climbed the 311 steps to the top of the pillar and were able to see some of the other places we were to visit later in the day including the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

After walking all day, we were very grateful to sit and eat in China Town. On the ride home nearly everyone fell asleep! Sunday morning the house was very quiet as everyone rested. The sound of reading is deafening in the house as everyone is beginning to prepare for their upcoming classes this week.

I have been reading diligently, but do not have to meet with my tutors until Wednesday. Monday and Tuesday will be spent attending lectures, reading, and writing a paper on the Bretan Lay "Sir Orpheo" written in the early 14th century.

Much more could be said about the trip to London, but pictures will tell the story more quickly and accurately than my words.

Here I am next to Big Ben! This picture was taken just after the clock struck 12:00.
















Below are two view of the monument to the great fire of 1666. The picture on the left is of the tower looking up. The picture on the right is a view of the inside of the tower showing some of the 311 steps that circle their way to the apex of the tower.

Left: Simon Lancaster explains the historical significance of the building in the background, the Tower of London. This tower dates back to the 1200's and was the political cultural center of London for many years. It is also infamous for its great prison and torture chamber which housed many "guests."





Below: Nellie and I on the wharf next to the Thames river over which spans Tower Bridge. This is a working drawbridge which was built in 1894.

It Starts...

Believe it or not, this is where I go to school: Keble College, Oxford University.

______________________________________________________

Well, today presented a much clearer picture of my life. I met with my seminar group and heard from both of my tutors, recieving my assignments for the rest of the semester. I'm also registered at all the different libraries and at Wycliffe Hall where I am enrolled.

In order for you to understand anything that I say from this point forward, I must provide you with a brief outline of the Oxford system of education.

All teaching at Oxford is done on a one-on-one basis. My classload consists of a primary tutorial which meets each week, and a secondary tutorial which meets fornightly (bi-weekly). In addition to these two main courses, I am enrolled in an Integrative Seminar which is designed to tie my tutorials together. The seminar is taken with a group of students studying similar subjects; In this case, we are all students of English literature.

Now it gets slightly confusing. As part of my tutorials and my seminar, I am required to attend four lecture series. These series are put on by the university and cover every subject imaginable. Each lecture runs from 4-8 weeks, meeting weekly. The lectures cover a set topic, but are not necessarily linked together. The goal is to choose a lecture series that will compliment my tutorials. The dons (an Oxford Professor) have no idea who you are or what you are studying. They are simply there to impart the information that they have learned. The is no direct connection between the tutorials and the lecture series. It's up to you to make the link. Altogether, I will be attending about 32 lectures over the course of the semester.

Each week I will meet with my tutor and turn in an essay of 4-7 pages answering a set question which was posed the previous week. My tutor also provides a reading list which helps me answer the questions.

At the end of the semester I have a long essay due which is designed to combine the work that I have done in my tutorials. This is turned in to my integrated seminar leader. There is also a take-home essay exam.

This is the Oxford system. Not necessarily better, but it's the way they've been doing things for 600+ years!

I am enrolled in C.S. Lewis In Context for my primary tutorial and The English Language 1100-1490 for my secondary tutorial. I just received my assignment for my primary session which will meet on Tuesday. Here is my "to do list:"

--------------------------------------------------

From the desk of Dr. Emma Plaskitt

Selected Primary Reading:
Be sure to read Lewis'’s autobiography, Surprised by Joy and A. N. Wilson's excellent study, C. S. Lewis: A Biography (London, 1991)

Week One: Fantasy, Allegory, and the "“Rules of Faerie"” (Part One)

Lewis: The Chronicles of Narnia (all seven please!)

"On Three Ways of Writing for Children" and "Sometimes Fairy Stories May

Say Best What's To Be Said" (In Of Other Worlds: Essays and Stories)

Tolkien, J.R.R.: "On Fairy Stories" (in Tree and Leaf)

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Fortunately, because there were some communication issues, I am not required to read the Hobbit for this week as is my tutors normal request. I've got my work cut out for me! I also have a 1400 word essay due for my secondary tutorial due Tuesday!

Wish me luck, I'm off to study!

Cooking Comedy With Biblical Interpretation

Upon arriving back at the Vines after a long day of orientation, everyone is hungry. Each person has been allotted a shared refrigerator and shelving space in which they have carefully selected and stored food items from local shopping markets. Space is limited. Some have planned better than others, as can be attested by the meals that are created.

When boys leave home and the college cafeteria, they are forced to confront a dangerous foe: the stove and a frying pan. In the past three days the Vines kitchen has been filled with varying amounts of smoke during peak meal times.

This evening the meal of choice was fried eggs. A seemingly simple culinary choice; all that you need is some butter, a frying pan and an egg. Creatively, some students in the house managed to create voluminous clouds of smoke from their simple meal.

Evidently, the cooks here are familiar with Leviticus 8:28 which reads,

"Moses...burned them on the altar on top of the burnt offering as an ordination offering, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the Lord by fire."

Unfortunately, they should also be alerted to the words of Samuel the prophet:

"Does the Lord delight in burn offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord?" (1 Sam. 15:22)

These are wise words to us all, cooks or not. Obedience is far more important than sacrifices, burnt offerings, or any other act of service. King David was called the man after God's own heart because "...he will do everything I want him to do" (Acts 13:22).

The smoke has cleared, the eggs were good, and a biblical lesson was learned.

Good Night.

Roommates

Josh Stephens, Me, Lee Stenburg

Room 18 on the third floor of the Vines is where I make my home along with Josh Stephens and Lee Stenburg. We have a large room with a gigantic window out of which we can see the Oxford skyline on a clear day.

Josh lives in Florida along the Atlantic coast. He can be summed up by the words surfing and soccer. He loves them both. Josh attends Miligan college in Tennessee. There isn't any surfing there, but he does play on the soccer team. Josh loves to do anything outside and is interested in signing up to play for the Wycliffe Hall Soccer team here in Oxford.

Lee Stenburg has been traveling all over the world this year. He lives and goes to school in Colorado, but studied in Spain this past semester, spending his Christmas holiday traveling around Europe on his way to Oxford. Lee is a fun guy who will go along with just about everything.

I have gotten along well with both Lee and Josh. It should be a fun semester!

My Favorite Weird Picture...

Sorry, I forgot to post my favorite picture. I'm not quite sure how this all came about, but somehow this bike came to rest on the top of the street sign.

First Day In the City

Today was my very first day in the city of Oxford. Nellie and I set out to explore after breakfast. We had no idea where we were going; the goal was to see where we would end up (and not get to lost!). For our first time in town, we covered a lot of ground. Amazingly, every building in Oxford is hundreds of years old. The Catholic church St. Mary the Virgin had stones with dates as far back as the 1600's! There is a lot of history packed into the walls and streets of this town.

As we walked, I would glance up and read random signs that would say things like "Robert Hooke discovered cellular organisms using the first microscope on this sight in 1665." These markers were scattered throughout the city.

One of the coolest things that we "discovered" was the covered market. For those of you in the Ann Arbor area, it's a lot like the Kerry town market. You can purchase everything from fruits and nuts, meat, or shoes. There was even a "clothes line" on which rabbits, pheasants, and chickens hung.

We also passed Magdalen college, the school at which C.S. Lewis taught. It is one of the largest schools at Oxford. As it was closed to the public, we were unable to go in. We did take a picture though!

Walking was the activity of the day. Tomorrow we will be attending breakfast at the Crick Road house (where the other Oxford students are staying) and then going to church. After that we will have tea (an English necessity for any and all occasions) and then church again.

That's it for now. More to come later!

Safe arrival In England

After almost nine hours of travel by plane, train, bus, and taxi, I have arrived at my dorm in Oxford England. I am staying in a house called "The Vines." It is located just outside of the city of Oxford.

After receiving my orientation packet, I unpacked my suitcase and trunk full of food. After a brief nap I mingled with the other students who have been slowly filtering in throughout the day. They are from all over the country; from coast to coast. The group is an interesting mix of small town and big city personalities. Everyone is very friendly and ready to meet and great those who come in.

The schedule for the next two days is very light, allowing everyone to adjust to the time difference as well as their surroundings. I hope to have some stories of my exploration adventures in the coming days.

Thank you all for your prayers for safe travel, arrival of my luggage, and quick passage through customs. Your prayers were answered.

All my bags are packed...

The bags are packed, the tickets printed, and many of my goodbyes have been said. Tomorrow I will be leaving for the airport at 3:15. My flight leaves Detroit at 6:00; it's a straight shot to London, Heathrow.

I was surprised and amazed that I was able to fit all of my clothes into a single bag. I kept saying to myself "I must be forgetting something!" So, I had my Mom check through my bag and packing list to make sure that I didn't miss something obvious. Guess not....one bag for clothes!

My siblings were very excited because I now have an extra bag which (according to them) I can fill with gifts for them! What an idea! The extra bag is currently filled (to the bursting point) with food that Nellie and I purchased at Meijer tonight. Living expenses in England are twice as much as they are here, so we are trying to be frugal with the money that we have. We bought lots of pasta, popcorn, cereal, and oh yes, Oreo cookies!

I have been saying my goodbyes to many of you over the past week. Thanks to Michael and Nate for carving out some time for me. Thanks also to Joe, Dave, and Ben for the phone calls. I will miss you all and look forward to seeing you at the end of April!

JrS

Praying...

Two days until the adventure begins! I now have clothing and misc. items strewn all over the ping pong table in our basement. The goal is to distill my entire life down to two suitcases worth of stuff. Going through this process has made me realize how much irrelevant, useless stuff I have. You don't need very much to live on!

Today I am focusing on praying for my semester at Oxford. I strongly believe that a covering of prayer before I leave will make things go much better over the next few months.

Several years ago the Lord gave me a verse in Psalm that has stuck with me: “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” (Ps. 2:8) It has been my desire for some time now that I would be able to develop an international ministry. I have been privledged to have traveled quite a bit in the past five years. My journey to Oxford is a continuation of the Lord's promise.

It would mean a lot to me if you would consider praying for Nellie and I as we depart and study in Oxford. Yesterday I compiled a short prayer list for my family which I would like to share with you as well:

1. Safe travel to Oxford (luggage arrive with us!)
2. No trouble at customs.
3. Quick adjustment to time, country, city, and surroundings.
4. Good relationship with roommates and housemates.
5. Good professors and classes.
6. Work hard at school—get good grades.
7. Be able to travel around England.
8. Spend money wisely.
9. Meet all the people in the dorm.
10. Have fun!
11. Ministry opportunities.
12. Endurance and pacing throughout semester.

Thanks for your prayers, they are appreciated!