Six weeks down, and two to go. I say this every blog, but time really does go by quickly here.
It is amazing how much writing we actually do here. I have written 9 papers so far that combine to a total of 75 pages. The papers have been on interesting topics, so the writing flows easily. My primary’s questions have been quite abstract. For example, some of the harder questions have been ‘what is freedom?’ and ‘how do we know that other bodies exist?’. Our tutors provide very helpful reading lists that help us narrow in on a specific author’s opinion, so it is not as bad as it sounds.
And while this is not the case for every tutorial here, neither of my tutors have given me any grades yet. There is something nice about not having to worry about a number grade for each individual assignment. I personally like this method. It definitely eases some of the tension, and helps us focus on the assignment at hand.
In other news, last week it seemed that most people had cases of the so-called “5th week blues”. I think that everyone for the most part is beginning to feel fatigued from all their work. I have seen some people who are normally very bubbly and upbeat be very grumpy lately. I do not want to be a hypocrite, though, because it would be very disingenuous for me to say that I haven’t had my tired and grumpy moments in the last few weeks.
It is important to find time to relax. I tend to reward myself by getting Nando’s. I reward myself often and for the littlest of things. The last time I went there they recognized me, so they gave me a Nando’s rewards card. It made my day, if not my entire week.
The very instant that I saw you did
My heart fly to your service” -William Shakespeare
As much as I am enjoying my tutorials, I am excited for the end of term. I am going to visit home for a few weeks and then head back to Oxford after Christmas. I then plan on traveling a bit throughout Europe before next term begins. Oxford students hardly have any extended free time to travel while in term, so our long vacation periods are the time to do it.
Still lots of work to be done, but the end of term is near!
Henry
