"There are reports of severe turbulence"

Hello from Oxford! After a bit of a traumatizing flight experience, with lots of turbulence, I finally reached London, and then Oxford. Mike picked me up at the bus stop and we spent the afternoon walking around the gorgeous old colleges of Oxford. Nothing in the U.S. really compares to the style of these buildings, probably partly because they are much older than our country.


This is the tower of the five orders, it's actually part of "the bod" library system (sort of like inter-library loan at Colby, only with much older books).

The pub scene here, which i experienced with some fellow Colby students, is pretty different than the US. For instance, there is no guarantee that females standing at a bar will be served first or even at all, you just have to be kind of pushy. I can't really imagine that being true the the USA. Also, when we tried to go out to a club, myself, mike's girlfriend and her two friends were turned away because we were not Oxford students. It's also kind of hard to fathom girls being turned away from a club in the US.



Everyone bikes around here, speaking of environmentalism. It's the end of Jan. and about 30-40 degrees, but no snow so it's totally fine to be biking around all year. Mike, Billy and Nick all have bikes and seem to enjoy them as a form of transportation, they also save a lot of money on bus fares.




hey dad (and brian) this one's for you! St. John's College (the largest college in Oxford). Mike took us to a formal dinner at "the hall" at his college last night. It was a nice 3-course meal served at long Harry-Potter style tables



Here's a little Colby lovin' in one of the clubs in the Oxford area.



Billy, Myself and Nick outside "the cam" another part of the library system!

Tonight I am flying to Jo'Burg and than to Durban tomorrow, where I will spend the rest of the semester!
cheers,
Judy

Leaving Tomorrow!

Into the home stretch and leaving tomorrow for Oxford. I will take an overnight flight to London, spend a couple of days with Mike, Billy and Nick who are all studying in Oxford and arrive in South Africa mid day Friday. Right now it is 83 degrees in Durban, and I am looking forward to the warm weather!

Packing has been a bit of a nightmare. For all of you who know me well, you know that I have trouble packing for everything.


everything all laid out!




finally all packed!

One Week!

In my second ever attempt at blogging, (for those of you who have not witnessed my first, you did not miss out) I will attempt to keep you all updated on my life in South Africa. Since I leave in a week, I figured it was time to create this blog and start sharing it. My contact info in South Africa will be as follows:

Address: (letters will take about a week)
Judy Merzbach
c/o School for International Training
Postnet Suite 151
Private Bag X04
Dalbridge 4014 SOUTH AFRICA

Skype:
(7 hour time difference before daylight savings time, 6 hours after)
judymerzbach

email:
jamerzba@colby.edu