U of Oxford Matriculation Ceremony

"It is what sociologists and anthropologists call the 'rites of passage.' Today, you have become what you were not. You have matriculated as a student of the University of Oxford."- Andrew Hamilton, Vice-Chancellor

This past Saturday there was a beautiful ceremony for the Freshers (new students) of the university. We became members of the university and our names are written into a register. This means we can now participate, and take exams.  

Matriculation is one of Oxford's main traditions, previously we were only members of our own colleges (which we are a lifetime member as well). This ceremony marks the beginning of a new chapter for all of us, we become members of the university. This membership not only spans our time here but is for life. This means I will always have access to the Bodleian libraries. Although, once I graduate I will become a member of the convocation, which means I can elect the Chancellor. 

The ceremony dates back to the Middle Ages where students had to register, as was the legal requirement of the Regent Master. This register established who was a real student and who wasn't because back when the university was setting down their roots, the townsfolk were not too happy, and there were a lot of fights. Having your name on the registry allowed you the University's protection.

At Oxford we are required to wear a 'subfusc,' which is an old-school uniform. It was similar to what I used to wear in primary and high school. Although, the gown and mortar board are unique and reminds me of Harry Potter. The mortar board is similar to graduation cap in the states but it is bad luck here to put it on before you graduate, but you're required to carry it around with you every time you wear the 'subfusc.' 

We are all required to wear:

• either dark pants or a skirt with tights
• dark shoes
• a white dress shirt
• a bow tie or ribbon
• the gown
• mortar board

My day began at 7 am, I had to begin getting ready to meet at my college at 9 am. Once, my housemates and I arrived at the college, we had our breakfast. If there is one thing I will always remember from my time here is the amount of croissants I consumed. We were then lined up by height to take the fresher photo for our college, which took an obscene amount of time. I should mention now that my college is quite informal, a lot of other colleges had their students walk in two lines to the Sheldonian. My college just told us to meet at 11:45 and don't be late. After the photo, we took more pictures and headed to the Sheldonian by bus because we were running late. The entire bus was full of Wolfson members in their subfuscs headed to the theatre. Once we made it, it was time for the ceremony to begin. 

After the ceremony there is a lot of celebrating, and parties. Everyone was wearing their subfuscs until late. There were parties that the theme was to incorporate your subfusc into your costume.

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Driving in England

*Disclaimer* This is MY initial experience with English drivers and dealing with the roads in England

Hello, again.

It has been a long time since I have posted anything, I've been busy working, packing, moving and unpacking.

I have officially moved to England to complete a graduate degree  at Oxford, and the majority of my posts will be about England.

I brought a lot of things with me to England, about 110 pounds of stuff. Mostly clothes, shoes, and some toiletries. My mother came with me to help me carry everything and we decided to rent a car. Now, that has been a ride in itself and we returned the car a week early.  We rented our car from AVIS at Heathrow, the employees were very helpful and advised us to get insurance. We, thankfully, decided to get the insurance because normally we opt out of the offer. The insurance covered the regular things, like scratches and if you break down on the side of the road.

The one thing that was shocking was the tire insurance.

Now, let me tell you - that is not if your tire pops on the side of the road.

Are you ready for this?

It is if your tires get stolen! Apparently, in the UK it is normal for people to jack the cars up and steal the tires. They cost 300 pounds a piece which equates to about 500 US.

After learning that we got in the car. Now, we are accustomed to driving on the left because of the Bahamas but we are not used to the wheel on the right side.

We eventually got to Oxford, it was smooth sailing until we got to my new home. My street is so narrow, that the cars park on either side and are on the side walk. A car can drive through as long as every car is on the side walk. This little yellow Fiat did not do that and was parking a foot out into the street. This car was full of dings and scratches, the person soon moved to another street with  more space. (S)he pissed off a lot of people.

The drivers in England are quite 'safe' and aware of their surroundings, I haven't seen a car accident yet. Although, they can be inconsiderate because they hit cars and drive off from the scene without so much as a note. One thing that upset me is that people cut in front of you on the road. In the U.S it is illegal to block an intersection or street, Here, if you stop to make sure you're not blocking, someone will cut you off and get into that space you were trying to not block. That was a little dosage of culture shock.

The main mode of student transportation in Oxford is bikes, because it is cheaper than buying a bus pass. I was accustomed to riding my bike around campus in Florida and I did consider buying a bike but the vehicles get too close to the cyclists but I haven't seen a casualty. Although, I'll stick with the buses, thank you very much.

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May and June shopping haul!

There are so many sales going on right now, they are absolutely amazing. I take huge pride in my closet and my style, I love going and buying new pieces to accentuate the pieces I currently own. I do not like spending money that much but I believe in quality so I always look in the sales racks of my favorite brands.

T.J.Maxx - I suppose I am a 'Maxxinista,' or whatever. My local store has been amazing recently because they are starting to bring in a load of preppy brands: Lilly Pulitzer (just accessories, not clothing unfortunately), Tommy H, Ralph L, Vineyard Vines, Kate Spade.

Shorts - Fifty Street; 2 travel wallets - Ivanka Trump and Kate Spade

Pink Narcissus- Lilly Pulitzer store in my town.

The Brielle dress, I finally bought it and  I am happy. I've already planned what shoes and bags I will use with it.

Look AT the detail to this Havana top. I do not need to wear a statement necklace.
Absolutely gorgeous, and it is silk. SO worth the money.

Banana Republic-  I am honestly not a huge fan of this brand but they had a nice sale where if you spend over $100 you get $50 off. I, of course, took advantage of it. Luckily for me they had a bunch of sweaters on sale, which I need for England. I also picked up a couple of belts to accentuate my waist. Since I have learned from the best aka, my momma. I chose already marked down items and made sure they calculated to just over $100 and then when I got to the register I let the savings commence. I spent $55 for 3 sweaters and 2 belts, which average all of my purchases to about $10 a piece. SCORE!

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10 ways to use your gap year to its full potential

'I'm not sure what I'll do, but -well, I want to go places and see people. 

I want my mind to grow. I want to where things happen

on a big scale.

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

Much like the poem by Robert Frost where he detailed the fork in the roads that we find on lifes journey. Many graduates take the road that lead to a career right after their graduation, some already have plans to attend graduate school soon after, others are unsure and they stand at that fork not knowing which way to go. Perhaps, it isn't a fork, but another path to choose. I chose the latter, I stood  at that fork unsure of what I wished for in the immediate future. Although I did not have any plans for the immediate future, I have spent my gap year making plans and trying out new things. New paths opened up for me, and I learned new things -things I wouldn't have learned if I took the other 2 paths.
This list is the things I have been doing to during my gap year to make sure it is a year of achievement and new experiences.


1. Travel - There are hidden gems all over the world, and you can find them if you search for them. The best part is that some are in your own backyard.

2. Craft - Now, Pinterest is a huge site that caters to this hobby. I've always loved to craft and paint, but during my undergrad I did not have a lot of time to do those things. I can now take the time.

3. Plan my future - To a certain extent. I have recently been thinking of what I want to do for the rest of my life. So far everything is falling into place and I couldn't be more excited.

4. Start an adult job - I have recently come across the opportunity of a career that could open doors for me. So we'll see where that goes.

*phew I have to come up with more?!?!*

5. Apply for graduate school

6. Realize you have to pay for graduate school

7. Start saving for graduate school

8. Realize that I luckily have one of those adult jobs

9. Make lists

10. Catch up on some sleep lost during the undergraduate years.

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Technology

I love Technology.

As some of you may know I am pursuing a specialty of Archaeology when I head to graduate school. I just received my first letter of acceptance, now I really need to start saving my money. Anyway, The Centre for Metropolitan History and Museum of London Archaeology created a detailed map of London as it was in 1746.

They used John Rocque's map of 1746 London and georeferenced (placing the image in its correct location by determining its features) it. They then overlaid it onto the current map of London on Google.

You can travel London as though you were in 1746 and the best part is that you can see differences of then and now by moving the 'Streetview'. The differences include showing the modern roads. The industrial revolution and the onset of the technological age have rendered London to grow exponentially.

Site I have gained my information from: 

http://usvsth3m.com/post/77080517628/1746-map-of-london-now-available-as-an-incredibly

http://www.locatinglondon.org/index.html

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Culture

One of my favourite things about American culture is that it is okay to fail because you tried. There is a lot of pressure put on trying new things, new career paths, new hobbies. All in favour of the saying, "you miss 100% of the chances you don't take." Motivation is huge part of American culture, to be better than who you were yesterday, to build yourself up, make yourself into something. One of great things about this ideal is that you can always wipe the dust off and get back up. There is no secret to success, no one route, there are many routes, many different ways that you can climb that ladder. None are easy.

The point is keep trying, and if you don't succeed you try again. If you realize it isn't for you, try something else. Life is a game and we keep playing to get an outcome we want.

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San Sebastian Winery- St. Augustine, Fl

So it has been a while since I updated and I apologize for that but I have been working a lot.

My last post on St. Augustine will be about a wine tasting. Just outside the historic district is a distillery. It is free for a tour and wine tasting, given that you are of age, of course. They had periodic tours and a movie about the distilling process is first shown and then a mini tour of the location with the final stop being the tasting. We tasted about 10 different wines, port and sherry. I can see why it is a free tour because after the tasting you want to buy at least half the flavours. My mom and I ended up buying 2 bottles of port, a sherry and a red wine. All were the most delicious of all the samples.

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Good news!

So I have  got some great news. I have a full-time job now, and I cannot post as frequently anymore. I will try to every Wednesday though.

I read this post called "Don't date a girl who travels" https://medium.com/better-humans/802c49b9141c 

At first, I thought it would demean girls like me, who don't settle, and are somewhat nomadic (for lack of a better word). As I read it, I began to agree with it, so many guys I have dated tried to get me to settle down with them. Apparently, I have a 'wanderlust', to those who don't know what it is, it means the impulse or desire to always travel or move around.

Although I disagree with one of the points , "Chances are, she can't hold a steady job," I can. But it is true that I do not work towards someones dream but my own. With my current job, I have been given an opportunity, if I play my cards right and work hard for the next few months, I can have my own office and my own employees.

I have many dreams. They all do not go together and my career paths vary, whenever someone asks me why I did not choose a major that would lead to a specific career. I picked my major because I knew I could do whatever I wanted with it, I do not have one path but many paths. I have never been a settler, I love options and taking advantage of those options. I have many interests and not only one. I hope you see where I am getting at here. Yes, I have a life of uncertainty and I do not know exactly where I will be in the next year or so but that is what I love about it. I can make my life whatever I want it to be.

I spoke overheard a motivational speaker speaking to my boss who said that 'Money does not make you who you are, you work to be the best you can be and the money will follow.' I am going to work to be the best I can be at whatever career I am in and not focus on the amount of money I have in my bank. Look at how many people in this world worked their way up from nothing, they were the best they could be and the money followed.

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Saving Goals

Just about everywhere there are bloggers giving out financial advice on how to save for the new year. Prices are inflating rapidly while pay is remaining quite stagnant, unfortunately. So saving is becoming more difficult since more of your hard earned money is going to pay for your commodities, but because of this, it is a time when saving is crucial. Saving for that rainy day when your windshield wipers stop working when it is pouring rain (true story, that happened to me, was not fun). Although I met a cute guy but that is besides the point. How should you save?

For me, I can only do small increments. There is that one saving tip where you put in a jar, the week of the year. So week 1 is one dollar, week 16 is 16 bucks, etc etc. You get the general idea. I called upon the math I learned while at university and calculated that if you do this method, you'll have saved over 1300 bucks. Whoa. I think I need to do that.

My savings route involves me only using cash and whatever ones and change I gain through spending, I put in a jar. I never know how much I truly would earn at the end of the year through this method, since I use it for emergencies. But, it helps me through emergencies so that means it is a good method, right?

Okay, we all have goals, saving money is for both rainy days and for non-rainy days (traveling). You know, whatever catches your fancy or necessity or both. I decided to make a list on what one should save for, I am not a financial adviser by any means, but it works for me.

1. Travel - I want to go to Savannah, GA. I'll start closer to home, ya know. I live a days trip away and I have never been out there. Have a separate jar for it.

2. New car - There's a jar for that.

You thought I was kidding, weren't you?

3. For those of you planning on signing for a student loan, behave like it is a mortgage. PUT . A. DOWN. PAYMENT. ON. IT. It isn't the same thing but if you save money for your education, your loan will be a lot smaller. I see  a lot of my friends struggling with theirs and they say they wish they saved money before signing for one. I cannot stress this enough, I have recommended it to all of my younger cousins and their friends. I did a thesis on this topic, I read a lot of sad stories of kids struggling with huge loans and the interest tacking on to the total. Save yourself some heartache, start saving for it or work in college and save to pay it off.

4. Do you need your tooth fixed?

5. Going to grow old eventually?

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10 things that I have realized about post-grad life

See lets talk about the life of a post-grad. My friends and I have talked about it and we came to the same conclusion. Life after college is not so fantastic, at least not what we expected.

1. It is boring, like really boring. I have answered the question, "So, what are you doing with your life now?" with "I am writing," which is not a lie, it's just editing old papers and making sure my little anecdotes are under 140 characters. Although I am learning how to write well, so that is a plus. Perhaps I can write the next great American novel. Maybe, don't hold your breath.

2. Finding a job is difficult, a real adult job. Either I am over or under qualified, I have yet to find a job that is in the middle of that. It makes me feel better that I am not the only one.

3. School was actually not too bad. Sure, I had sleepless nights and my brain sometimes hurt, but I felt like I had a purpose in life. It was just due at the end of the week.

4. I have enough freedom to do everything I want, I can see the world and go to concerts. Those things cost money, I now see the importance of a job.

5. You realize the world is not that fair, you just keep going.

6. There is such a thing as a hangover. I never had one until I graduated, now I really feel like an adult.

7. I am doing a lot of research, a lot. Since there is a lot of available information at the end of my fingertips, thanks to the Internet. I can research things I always wanted to learn about, that I never had time to do before. I can read the books I bought but never had enough time to read because I was reading textbooks. The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.

8. I have begun to be thankful for the little things in life, I've become more appreciative to those in my life.

9. I've had more time to make videos and stuff, which is fun. Oh I am crafting and painting more now. Look for me on Etsy, soon. I'll be selling those things.

10. Okay, so I only had a few. I am new college graduate. I am still trying to figure everything out! With that being said, you can join me on my journey of figuring out my life by following me on twitter!

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St. Augustine - Fountain of Youth Part 2

Since the site is an archaeological site important to both European and Native American history, there is a mix of the two in the park. The front of the site is dedicated to the 'Fountain of Youth' and the lifestyle of the Timucuan Indians at the time of the Spaniards initial landing. Towards the back of the site, there is evidence of the excavation and the location of where the Spaniards had set up camp.

A canoe

The Timucuan village.

 Excavations of the area showed evidence about the lifestyles of the inhabitants. Archaeologists were able to tell which wood was used in the making of the huts, and how far apart they were by the stains left behind.

 This area is a reproduction of the original site.

This is the location of where the Spaniards had set up camp. Not too far from the Timucuan village.

The original location of  the mission of Nombre de Dios. This, of course, is a reproduction.

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St. Augustine - Fountain of Youth Part1

No trip to St. Augustine is complete without a visit to the Fountain of Youth. One of the main reasons Ponce de Leon first came to Florida, to search for this legendary spring that has been recounted in many legends for thousands of years. I first visited the site when I was 14, and I drank a cup of the 'miraculous' spring waters.  I no longer look adolescent -Thank the Lord - it is safe to say that the mythical Fountain of Youth is still undiscovered.

Anyways, the site is where the Spanish first landed in Florida, and where they came in contact with the Timucuan tribe. The site has been subject to archaeological excavations, these excavations found positive evidence that the park is the location of the 1565 Spanish settlement -St. Augustine. The Europeans came to find the fabled Fountain of Youth, and they never left. 

Peacocks roam free in these lands.

A look into the past

The excavations artifacts

Inside that little cup was a parchment written in Old Spanish. This is a photograph of said parchment. It says: "Sepase por esto que yo, Alonzo Soriano, vecino y residente del Brillar subscribo y certifico que estuve presente al principio de la fundacion, la cual es la religion, y es con la salida y la puesta del Sol. Por orden de la Real Corona de Aragon hizo su descripcion al Manantial el cual es bueno y dulce al gusto. Era en el ano 1513"

The 'miraculous' spring- it was salty. The the employee said something about sulfur. I am not too sure anymore. I wrote it down but cannot find that paper. 

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