Ecclesiastes 12:12

"... of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh."
I wish I could write a paper on that topic ... I have cut myself off from all adventurous society and have committed myself to "many books" and "much study," at least for the next two weeks, I am a tad weary but fortunately my version has an end. I read, research and write in the house until about sunset, then I take a walk in Port Meadows until heading out to the computer lab and the library for the evening. And such has been my life for the past two days- haha, I know, two days doesn't signify much of a life, I'm just being melodramatic. On Tuesday me, my flatmate Sally and her boyfriend Marty went to formal dinner at New College. It was truly a worthwhile experience! We have to wear these black robes, (which I get to keep so now I can wear it at home too!!) and you sit at the long tables in the formal dining hall, but first you stand while somebody important mumbles something unintelligible, then you sit again, the lights are off except for the little lamps on the tables, and people in black and white serve you your three course meal. We had what we think was potato and leek soup with a roll, roasted pork, string beans, roasted potatoes and some divine pineapple desert. I think Sally is my favorite flatmate, and her boyfriend is a nice guy too. His dad stopped by Oxford on his way to Africa, where he is in charge of some churches. Apparently he has family in Milton and even knew where White Deer was!! Anyway, after dinner the APU kids had their weekly bible study at our house, which was an interesting experience, and that's all I'll say on that. Unfortunately, we couldn't get in to the Union for the election. Tickets were all sold out and there were over 400 people on the waiting list. I thought about staying up that night, but the British stations weren't covering anything by midnight, and I figured we wouldn't know anything by the time I got up anyway. Our flat was split: 3 wanted Bush, 3 wanted Kerry- but we still all get along :)
The Oxford tutorial is very interesting. I'm learning a lot and yet I'm not. Ok, I'm learning (or teaching myself I guess) a lot of depth on narrow topics, but not a lot of breadth, considering I'm only taking two courses. But I won't pretend that I don't enjoy it, despite all the studying. Being able to focus on two subjects that I enjoy has reaffirmed my belief in the pleasures of education. So I can't decide which way of studying is better. I think the tutorial would be good for graduate work or something, since it's so focused, but I have definitely gained a greater appreciation for Eastern and my classes there, which is good because now I can look forward to going back almost as much as I didn't a few months ago. But until then I have much to look forward to. I'm almost halfway through my stay here and there's still so much to be done!!