July 22nd - Pages, Pencils, and Panic, Oh My!

Hi again!

Today was another heavily academic day, but there were still some interesting things that I'm excited to share with you all.

The morning followed the usual routine—breakfast, a bit of yawning, and a walk to class. When I arrived at my technical communications class, I met our new professor, who will be teaching for the remainder of the term. He struck me as friendly and laid-back, so I doubt I’ll be getting into too much trouble 😉. Today, he took us through some introductory exercises, quizzes, and discussions on formal academic paper writing and its aspects. 

After my class, I went back to the dorm and immediately continued my studying from the night before since I had an exam on Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism. After studying in the gardens for a while, I took a break and picked up a panini filled with chicken mayonnaise (basically chicken salad), mozzarella, tomato, and basil. Simple and satisfying.

After lunch, I went to my exam, which consisted of roughly 40 multiple choice questions and 3 short essay prompts that I could choose from a list. I think I did well, but the day wasn’t over just yet. Our professor then took us back to the Ashmolean Museum after the exam for a preview of the Abrahamic religions we’ll be studying next.

Our professor then gave us an optional assignment: locate the painting The Light of the World by William Holman Hunt, which hangs in Keble College’s chapel, and write a short reflection comparing Catholic and Protestant church architecture. The problem was, when I entered Keble College and talked to the porters, they informed me that the chapel was closed due to construction, and will remain closed the entire summer. Not giving up, I found a bookmark of the painting in the college and took a picture of it. Not quite the same as the original, but hey, resourcefulness counts for something, right?

After that, I went back to my room and took a small nap, then turned my attention to dinner. Because I still had to read the chapter on Judaism (I have a quiz tomorrow), I figured I'd just run and get some fast food. Today was finally the day I could try out British McDonald's. Since I was probably only going to McDonald's once this trip, I figured I'd go big or go home. The things I ordered are not available in America. 

I first tried the Big Arch, which had "two 100% beef patties, white cheddar cheese slices, crispy and slivered onions, lettuce, pickles and the Big Arch sauce... all in a poppy & sesame seed bun." The burger was massive; bigger than most fast food burgers I've eaten in the US. It was tasty as well; it sort of tasted like a hybrid of a Quarter Pounder and a Big Mac, with sauce that leaned a bit more tangy, like a ketchup-boosted Big Mac spread.

I also tried the Cheesy McCrispy, which had a "chicken breast fillet in a crispy, crunchy coating, served with lettuce, crispy onions, pink pickled onion chutney, bacon, white cheddar cheese slices and deluxe cheese sauce." This sandwich was very unique, and it had an interesting flavor profile. It had a good mix of smoky, cheesy, sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors. The chicken itself was a bit bland and dry, but other than that, it was pretty tasty, and it seems to cater toward a more British palette. 

Finally, I tried the Halloumi Fries with chili sauce. Halloumi, a firm cheese from Cyprus made from goat and sheep’s milk, doesn’t melt like mozzarella and has a chewy bite. On its own, it was a bit bland, but dipped in the spicy sauce, it came to life. After all that, I basically rolled myself back to my dorm in a mild food coma.

I spent the rest of the evening reading for tomorrow’s quiz—and now here I am, writing this entry and winding down.

That’s all for today. See you next time!