Turn the Lights on My Nights, This is Life and We Only Get One Chance

Hi Everyone! So I've had my first couple rounds of the tutorial system this week, and I really, really enjoy it. For those of you who don't know, the tutorial system is the way "classes" are held at Oxford and Cambridge. Basically, your tutorials (classes) are 1 hour one-on-one meetings with your tutors (usually professors, sometimes grad students). Every week your tutor issues you a reading list pertaining to the subject of your tutorial, and you read at the very least five of those books IN DEPTH for homework. Usually, tutors assign, along with the readings, an 8 page paper that you submit at your next tutorial, or you come in very prepared to discuss what you've read. It's a little scary being all by yourself with the tutor, because you can't hide behind loud talkative smart people. On the other hand, it's great being by yourself with the tutor, because you don't get overshadowed by loud talkative smart people. As I said before, I really enjoy the tutorial system even though the work is really intense. (I fell behind a little bit my first week.) I do miss the discussions you get from classmates though, but I suppose that's what Friday night pub runs are for. =)

Anyway, in addition to tutorials and lectures (lectures are exactly what they sound like; you sit in a class and listen to a professor lecture), I've joined the St. Benet's Rowing Team (in America it's called Crew)/Boat Club and Oxford University's Anime Vision (anime club ^_^). I'm still wavering between two forms of martial arts: Sul Ki Do and Kendo. Right now, Sul Ki Do is winning. So far, I've spent the most time with rowing:

And that's probably because the captain really wants to get a blade (a ceremonial award given to rowing teams when they've managed to move up in rank four days in a row or something like that) this year, so he's bugging us about practices. And because I'm a tiny girl, I've been drafted into the position of cox (I'm not the cox in these first pictures; he's the one with the lifejacket). Yes, I know it's a terrible name, but I didn't come up with it! So a cox is the person who sits at the stern of the boat and gives commands to the rest of the team and steers the boat. I know it sounds really boring, but I'm enjoying it so far. We had one of our water sessions today, and the weather was really nice for rowing. But it was windy, so the wind kept pushing our boat in different directions, and I had to make up for it to keep the boat from crashing into the bank. In short, it was challenging, but a lot of fun. =)

In Nutmeg-as-a-Consumer News, I bought a pair of earmuffs (which I will post pictures of later because they are awesome) and a hat to wear for coxing since it gets SUPER COLD on the river. I think people who know me will really appreciate these purchases. =3

Anyway, I'm going to go try and purchase a bike this minute (because I'm sick of walking everywhere). So wish me luck!

Cheers!
Nutmeg