The final countdown *

2009-07-15 12:20 a.m.

So there’s still much to do and so little time. Cliché line. What I mean is, less than a week before graduation, I have to pack, arrange stuff and the usual.

Anyway short recaps of the week starting 6th July. Took a long train ride to somewhere secret. Those of you who know where I went, please don’t announce it out loud. Then the next two days saw me slowly packing—or trying to pack. There’s suddenly inertia in my pace of packing. Mostly because there are tons of notes which are so dear to me that I can’t bear to part with.

On Thursday, I made a trip to Oxford—a trip which I finally decided to make after many conditions was met. The train journey was one of the smoothest train journeys I’ve been on—smooth as in little carriage noise and marvellous scenery. Except of course my phone signal kept on dropping off. Still the person I was planning to meet, Weige, managed to reach me. (Who is she? Well the she was one of the girls mentioned in the 2008 review.) Surprisingly, she wasn’t there at the train station but instead I was instructed to walk to the city centre, which various signs indicated the way until I reached a cross section. What a way to meet a friend. She finally met me around eight minutes dress in a chequered summer dress and we proceed to her college, The Queen’s College. My first impressions of Oxford is a definitely a tourist’s destination, with lots of shopping lanes and eating outlets. Each college, while recognisable by Oxford students and Oxford residents, doesn’t have a huge sign saying which college it is, especially The Queen’s College. Queen’s College, boasting famous figures such as “Mr. Bean” and Bentham, is much castle like (as are other Oxford colleges). I got to see the mail room and the library, the latter whose book codes seemed the same as my university’s library. Up a winding stairs the library turned more ancient with books many times my age.

Back out on the street and as we discussed about each other’s past year, we finally reach out lunch destination, some fish restaurant—since I asked for fish and chips. On the way, there was more evidence of the Oxford being a town that lured tourists—shops, restaurants and gift outlets lined the cobble stone streets and mini festivals and performances could be found at certain corners. Back to our lunch avenue, it appeared that the restaurant was recommended by the Michelin Guide 2008. While there was no indication of a Michelin Star, there was an indication that the revolving door was not working so much that I could squeeze through without turning it. The menu however was expensive in terms of us two students and the set menu was our final choice. I chose chilled tomato soup with breaded fillet as the main which she has small portions of fish for her starter and main. What did we talk about? Quite a bit actually—her studies, mine, future prospects, Oxford, Birmingham etc etc. Since international development isn’t a topic known to a wide audience, I gladly explained it to her in a few short sentences. (With some other person, I wouldn’t have done so—long story). Weige seemed interested in the subject of development and I do believe more people from my home country should be.

Lunch bill was well, a figure that was alright for the occasion. Back through the streets of tour groups and buses we went, revisiting her College but deciding to move to others. The great part of having a friend studying in Oxford is getting into the other colleges for free while the tourists or guests give us looks, queuing to paid entry fee. We first stopped at Balliol College, but found it closed for a private function then moved on to Magadalen College “to see the deer park”, as Weige put it. “Deer Park? Does that mean…” “yes indeed…” she replied. Now, I’ve not exactly one interested in animals or deer for that matter but found it really cute that a college had its own park with such animals prancing about. Being summer, the deer were definitely enjoying the weather just like us humans. Next college was Trinity College, where I peeked into the dining hall while she took phone calls. Then we moved to a huge open lawn which would have been a great for an exercise area if permission was granted for. After a picture or so there, we moved off to a spot to see the punting before I had to rush home to catch my train.

Rushed entry, but beautiful outing.

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