Science Officer's Personal Log | Hilary Term, week 1 (15/Jan-21/Jan, 2023)

 

Second quad in my college on a crispy Sunday Afternoon :)

The first week of term was absolutely chaotic. I think most of that was due to my having to take a specific course for my degree and, like most things in Oxford, as I have now learned, the course was pretty intense. It took time away from my main project, which was a hassle. I did work from the Bodleian and from the Oxford Union Library this week, but because I had so many tutorials - which required me to interact through Mycrosoft teams - the best place from which to work was my room. It's a fine working station, but I prefer the libraries and it was particularly disheartening being in these so much for this past week. The course is not finished yet, but most of what I have to do now are readings and watching a few videos... Things I can do at my own pace, from a more inspiring setting.

The week started, as it usually does, with a packed Sunday, the first Sunday of term and therefore, the first Evensong of term! Well... Actually, in the morning I had my writing group. It's cool that the group is still going, though we are a small group and usually there's only two to three people at a time. We worked at the upper reading room of the Bodleian this time, and I think I did some progress, solving the problem I'd been having with Chapter 6 of my project. I definitely wrote more than I would have if I was alone in my room, I think, and that's the whole reason why I started the group to begin with 

I didn't get to write about my Saturday, but my week actually ended up with a walking tour of all of Oxford's colleges and private halls. A 14Km walk. It was far too cold, but I can finally say I've been to all the colleges, including St. Stephen's in the photo, one of the ones that's the farthest away from the centre.

After the group there was Evensong. I was a little worried about the hymn for this service because it was a fast-paced song and we barely had a chance to go over it during last rehearsal. That said, it is a lovely little song. It's called "Tomorrow shall be my dancing day". It is a Carol, which I probably wouldn't have realized if the maestro hadn't told us - which I guess means I must work on my knowledge of Anglican choir traditions and choral music in general. As it turns out, the church year is still in a Christmas mood, so we'll be doing carols for a while, which is perfectly fine with me. This song is from the XIXth century, from what I've been able to find online, but it reminded me of Gaudete, which we did last term, and was a much older tune. It also has drums, which always makes things fun. Back home, when I was briefly enrolled in a music school, I had a percussion class on Brazilian rhythms that used to be a favourite of mine. Anyway... I listened to a recording on spotify on repeat for a couple of days in preparation for Sunday, and I think it went alright. Dinner was lovely. 

Most of the week went without much ado. By Thursday I managed to take care of most of the things in my growing to do list - which mostly involved social responsibilities like messaging specific people about specific events, and is just the type of thing on which I tend to procrastinate. I also managed to stop by the Oxford Union to get my membership card - which was great - and to borrow a few SF books from the poetry room. Inspiration and research materials for my novel. Then I returned a couple of books to Jesus library - a History of Jesus College and The Right to Sex. There is always a small feeling of success when I return a library book I actually had a chance to read. 

 

Turl Street

Before choir, I went for dinner at hall... Eating at hall is always an experience... I have to say, I have had a little trouble connecting to others in my college, which is something I always knew might happen, of course, but I hoped it wouldn't. I think it has to do with how most of them live together, at Cheng Quad, while I'm on external accommodation. Sitting around the others can be... challenging. There are far too many inside jokes, too many references to things I wasn't around to see... And they seem to suffice to each other. Uninterested I would say, in anybody else. Everybody is friendly, of course, but it's a shallow sort of friendliness, and that means that most of the time, I have a better time sitting by myself, and appreciating the coziness of our 16th century hall. Be that as it may, this Thursday at dinner I happened to find a place near a boy who's also at choir, and the conversation was nice. I thought so at least. 

 Choir practice was fine... I enjoyed it, I always do, but I felt a bit off my game, making more mistakes than I usually do. I am trying not to be too disheartened by it though, and it's awesome that the maestro sends us recordings of the pieces and sheet music via email, so I have material with which to practice. I know I won't become a brilliant singer overnight, but practice seems like the way to get a little better. 

 After choir, I attended my first debate at the Oxford Union chamber. Last term I couldn't go because debates clashed with choir, but now they have been moved to a later time and I have to say, it was more intellectually stimulating than I could have anticipated. I am often guilty of not giving my peers - or anyone in my generation really - enough credit, but it was incredible being in a room with so many people eager to express their ideas and express them well. The motion was "This House Believes the Future is Post Gender", which is something I am interested in knowing more about, but I wasn't familiar with any of the speakers so I really didn't know what to expect. Overall it was brilliant. I did think the opposition had more compelling arguments - mostly because, on the side of the proposition people talked about their personal experiences, and about a "vision" of the theoretical wonders of a post-gender society, without actually offering arguments that support the idea that society would be better off. I walked out through the "noes" side of the door. That's how it works at the chamber. After the debate, you walk through the "ayes" side if you agree with the proposition (hopefully if the proposition did a good job of defending that side) and the "noes" side if you agree with the opposition instead. 

Something I was not expecting, is that before the last speaker on either side can say anything, there is a chance for members of the Union to participate in the debate and speak for a few minutes. All you have to do is raise your membership card and get noticed by the president to have a chance. Isn't that amazing? Being a member of the Union means more than just a chance to watch the talks. One can participate. I didn't have much to say this time, but perhaps in the future... The whole thing was very stimulating. I will definitely come back for more. 

The way we vote at the union is with our feet. You exit the chamber through the left if you are against the proposition and through the right if you are in favour of it. I have come to learn there is usually a pretty big line.

 Friday was the day for my usual meeting with my supervisors, which went okay. Afterwards I had lunch at Jesus (fish and chips as usual) and decided to work at the English Faculty Library, for a bit of variety. As well as I believe our meetings have been going so far, I always feel a bit spent afterwards, and a variation in my surroundings helps. There was also a couple of items I'd been meaning to borrow from that specific library, so things worked out nicely. It was my first time there and that means crossing another libraries from the list of local libraries I made use of so far :)

At the end of the day, I went to the TV room in my accommodation for a well deserved movie. After reading The Secret History I found myself in the mood for some dark academia and the movie I chose was "Kill Your Darlings". I had never seen it before. It was a good experience, and it opened my eyes to a world of literature that up until then had remained closed to me. My knowledge of the beat generation was restricted to Kerouac, and the only book I knew was "On The Road". Turns out there is a lot more to discover. All in all, not a bad way to end a week...

Movie night...