The City of Dreaming Spires

So it was coined by the poets, and so shall I call my newly beloved Oxford.

On Friday, I walked the rather rustic path of Pullens Lane, along with Andrea. The air was filled with a rain almost like a mist. (I have experienced more different types of rain in these three days than I ever new existed. There is some which hangs in the air; some which you see falling all around, but you barely feel; big fat drops or tiny ones. Forrest Gump's description of the types of rain is brought to mind.) Between the trees overhanging our path, and the suitcases dragged behind us, we felt rather like we were on our way to camp.

Within the Vines (our great, British brick home), we received room keys from our lovely junior deans. I climbed the stairs to the first floor (British first floor is American second floor), and entered my room.

And saw the breath-taking sight for which any lover of creation, beauty, and England would have begged on her hands and knees to possess. Our eastern wall is nearly entirely taken up by the front window of the Vines. Fifty panes of glass--fifty framed masterpieced of sky and land and foliage. Even a lamppost. All fifty were lined by off-white wooden frames.

On each side, at least three yards apart, hang two unimposing curtains. Their know their place in beside the beauty of God's creation, and do not flash with color to seek glory for themselves but humbly (and remarkably) do the duty of curtains. They soften the edges of the window-frame to keep the eye from being entirely convinced that the natural artwork of the outdoors has ended and the inner walls have abruptly begun.

In room 7, I met another friend of far more esteem and worth, my rommate Bethany. She and I chatted for some time before I simply could not be awake any longer and fell asleep, thereby missing orrientation. In the evening, I met my other roommate, Katie, after listening to her and several friends discuss schools. After some sociallizing (including a trip to The Eagle and the Child, famed pub of the Inklings), I went to bed, again.

Thus ended Friday.