JUMP TO OTHER ALUMNI ABROAD STORIES:
Zach Gaeta Fall 2007 Argentina : Joshua Farnsworth Spring 2007 Oxford at England : Shannon Banks Fall 2006 Argentina

 

May 2007

Classes and travels have kept me extremely busy! Studying at Oxford has certainly met my expectations so far - always a good deal of hard, rewarding work. I finished up two month long seminars at the end of April, one on 17th century British History and another in Old Testament Studies. I am now midway through a course on 20th century Middle Eastern History and Contemporary Political Thought. I have only four essays left to go, with a few more lectures to attend and eight more tutorial sessions.

As you can imagine, the whole of my time is not committed solely to the books. Living in Oxford, there are always many opportunities to get involved with the University outside of classes. Oxford is made up of thirty-nine colleges and seven Permanent Private Halls, which are self-governing bodies within the University itself. The University provides larger laboratory and library facilities and also helps organize lectures. Colleges serve to provide common lodging, meals, and social organization for both students and faculty. The halls operate as colleges do, yet still reflect the character of their founding Christian denomination. A few of the students on the Georgia program have gotten involved with a Keble College sports team, the college where we have associate membership. Rowing (crew) is arguably the most popular college sport; a number of UGA students are rowing Keble boats this week in a four-day long competition. Not much of an oarsman myself, I instead elected to play on the Keble Ultimate Frisbee team. The inter-college "cuppers" (tournament) was held on Sunday, and our squad made it to the final, finishing as the runner-up to St. Anne's College.

While most of my time has been spent living and studying in Oxford, I was able to carve out a vacation of sorts in early May. My fiancé finished up the spring semester at UGA, and came along with a friend to visit for a week. We traveled to London, where we went to a few museums, a performance by the London Symphony Orchestra, an Evensong service at the magnificent St. Paul's cathedral, and a play called "The Woman in Black," off of Drury Lane. After "minding the gap" (the warning given in Tube stations) in London, we went to Brighton and Lewes, near the coast south of London. Brighton is a seaside town full of shops and small alleyways, while Lewes is home to a medieval castle and was the town where Thomas Paine, author of the influential pamphlet "Common Sense," lived during the years leading up to the Revolutionary War.

After this whirlwind tour, I was greatly looking forward to returning to Oxford, just as traveling to Atlanta invariably causes me to miss Athens. Perhaps most representative of the difference in pace between Oxford and London is the Oxford activity of "punting," popular both now and in the pat. Punting involves guiding a skiff along a placid river by propelling the craft with a long pole, while using the same pole as a rudder in between shoves. A relaxing activity, punting reflects the contemplative, laid back atmosphere of Oxford, as opposed to London's hectic bustle.

During my last month in the UK, I plan to take the train to the southwestern coast of Wales as well as to Edinburgh, Scotland.  I look forward to sending letters in June and July letting you know how these excursions go. Thanks again to the Alumni Association for making these amazing experiences possible!

Sincerely,

Joshua Farnsworth
University of Georgia
Junior – Political Science and History

P.S.  Photos are – St. Paul's Cathedral - London, Lewes Castle - Lewes, Beth and I at Worcester College - Oxford, Clock Tower at Trinity College - Oxford, River Cherwell - Oxford, Keble Frisbee Team - Oxford, and Home of Thomas Paine, Lewes.

 
 

Dear Ms. Dietzler,

I would like to thank you for awarding me with the Allumni Association Study Abroad Fellowship, and I look forward to corresponding with your office while I am abroad. I will be attending the Franklin College at Oxford program, which begins March 29 and lasts through June 22. I cannot wait to start sending out emails with various pictures from around the U.K. and hopefully Europe, as the program promises to offer me ample opportunity to explore. Also, let me know whether it is more convenient and/or customary to attend Allumni Meetings and such before or after the Fellowship is completed. I will be available to meet at whichever time is most convenient for the Association.

I once again want to thank you for making this trip possible. I am extremely thrilled to have the opportunity to experience living in England for three months while also gaining a valuable educational experience through the Oxford tutorial system. This trip will leave an indelible mark on my life, and it has all been made possible by the generous Fellowship offered by the Association. Please feel free to email or call me with any questions you have, and I look forward to sharing my experiences with you!

I have arrived safe and sound at the UGA residence house in Oxford, England. Classes started today, and my first one begins tomorrow. Even so, our group has managed to pack a lot of traveling in before we set to the grindstone.

Our first full day in Oxford involved an introduction to the Bodleian Library. Established nearly 600 years ago, the library is set up as a reference only library in order to preserve its priceless and voluminous holdings. Even King Charles I was denied the right to borrow from the library in the 1640's during the English Civil War. After our library orientation, we proceeded to take a walking tour of Oxford where we were introduced to a handful of the University's thirty-nine independent colleges.

The following day, we headed out to tour Stonehenge and the city of Bath. Stonehenge predates written history in England, and thus is the subject of numerous theories concerning its construction and purpose. The city of Bath was one of the most remote outposts of the Roman Empire, yet was known both to Celts and Romans for the healing powers of its waters. Just as in Rome, their are seven hills overlooking the city. By the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the city became a popular destination for the rich and famous of England.

During my three month stay here, there is even more to look forward to than embarking upon exciting excursions within and outside of England. I will be enrolled in two seminars for the next month with other University of Georgia students. These seminars will be taught by Oxford faculty. Once Keble students return from their Easter break, we begin eight weeks of tutorials. The Oxford tutorial system pairs students with Oxford professors to meet in a small group environment for an intense directed study. My two tutorials - Middle Eastern History from 1914-Present and Contemporary Political Thought - will be in a one on one format with an Oxford University faculty member. While only meeting for one hour a week, this personal dialogue style of instruction will force me to actively defend positions concerning a specific subject and will be something I have never experienced in a classroom setting.

I look forward to keeping you updated on a regular basis, and want to thank you again for making this opportunity a reality for me through the Alumni Association Study Abroad Fellowship.

Sincerely,

Joshua Farnsworth
University of Georgia
Junior – Political Science and History
farnsy@uga.edu