O Lamb of God: that takest away the sins of the world,; grant us thy peace.
(from the Litany)
I arrived in Oxford on a bright sunny day, and these bright sunny days have lingered - I am questioning if I carried the sun and blue sky with me, but the rain will come soon enough. This is England after all.
Arriving just in time for the tradition of the pancake day relay runs at Oriel College was a bit cheery after a very long journey. As I was standing in the porter's lodge, the students gathered just outside in the quad with excitement and the race started. Shouts and laughs continued, as the students dressed in their Oxford sub fusc participated in this tradition.
First order of business after getting into my home away from home was to walk the streets of Oxford to say hallo to the Bodleian Library, Blackwell's Bookshop, Sheldonian Theatre, Bridge of Sighs, Turl Street, etc. They all greeted me this day with their glowing stones, basking in the bright sun. I couldn't get over the deep blue sky we've had for so many days.
I did some essential grocery shopping since I can cook for myself. It's been quite fun to get completely different foods and am picking out all the British vegetables to cook up for dinners and British apples to eat each day. Carrots, parsnips, onions. Basic things I could eat everyday and be very happy. Good tea was a first purchase at Bird & Blend on High Street. I already have a list of my preferred foods I will be going back for on my next food shop day.
After a lunch at the best lunch spot, The Vaults and Garden (complete with a pot of jasmine green tea), a delightful thing I got to attend was a lunchtime organ concert at Queen's College. The young organist played Bach, my favourite. During term there are many lunchtime concerts at various colleges, it's a treat to include if you can. I'll try to catch more this week before term ends.
I was treated with a dinner in hall at Oriel, before dashing off to the Ash Wednesday service there in the Oriel College Chapel. I always like to attend an Ash Wednesday service to start off the season of Lent. It is a humbling and heartful service, encouraging a mindful and meditative attitude of heart, to prepare for the Lenton journey.
Those first arrival days are always exhausting, full, hectic, and full of good reminders of why this place continues to draw me in, and I always feel a deep, deep thankfulness. I am simply melting in with the scenes of Oxford now, and it's pure joy.