It's been a while but...

Dear all

To those still reading, keeping a blog is harder than I thought – not out of a lack of discipline, but that it requires you to reflect and synthesise your experience whilst still experiencing it to the fullest. But I’ve finished a term at Oxford and I think I have the clarity and perspective to offer something to this journal. For ease I will break it down into a few themes (although there will be some inevitable crossover):

1. University
2. Rotary
3. Extra-curricular
4.  Life and thoughts generally

University

Well, this was the main reason I am here isn’t it. Oxford is both more or less than I thought it would be. More in the sense that my professors are amazing and inspiring. They encourage thinking at the highest level and treat us as intellectual equals (as much as that is possible, considering they are the big names in their areas). More in the sense that my fellow students are similarly amazing, intelligent and I am very lucky to be amongst like-minded company.

Less, in the sense that it is just a university. There is nothing particularly magic about it. To do well involves hard work. Plus, it has this attitude of ‘this is the way we do things around here’, even though some things do not make sense. For example, half my time is spent located resources, which is a lesson I do not believe needs learning. I am taking 4 subjects, that whilst fitting under a very broad umbrella, could not be more different in both substance and teaching style. The subjects are:

•       Jurisprudence and Political Theory
•       Comparative Human Rights
•       Comparative Public Law
•       Criminal Justice and Human Rights

At the moment I am considering further study (either a PhD or at least a research degree), so I am busy putting together a research proposal. Right now, I am considering a theory of legitimacy for international criminal law. It sounds like a mouthful, and I might have bitten off more than I chew, but fingers crossed that it all comes good.

Rotary

Wow – Rotary has been amazing adventure so far. Just a brief list of what has happened with Rotary so far:

·      The moment I arrived in the UK my host counsellor, Ade, was at the airport to collect me. You won’t believe how much of a relief it is to have someone their after an exhausting flight. When we arrived at my college, as there was no bedding he offered for me to stay at his and his wife’s house. Ade and I are (in my opinion) becoming good mates and I will be celebrating New Years Eve with his family and all the Zimbabweans in Oxfordshire!

·      Within 2 weeks of being in Oxford, Rotary had provided walking tours of both Oxford and London. Some pictures are below

·      We were hosts at a ‘meet the scholars’ dinner, where we ‘speed dated’ different clubs, for them to decide whether to speak at their clubs

·      I have spoken at 3 clubs now, and each time it is a wonderful opportunity to meet locals, and speak about what I am passionate about

·      We went on an extra special tour of Windsor Castle and Eton College. Normally, visitors aren’t allowed through Eton, but a Rotarian is head building manager and gave us a private tour. The place is obscenely amazing (fees are approx. £30,000 per year)

·      Random acts of kindness – Rotarians have shown incredible generosity to me, with invites to a Rugby match on Boxing Day and a post-Christmas dinner the day after. Some pictures are below:

Extra-curricular

Most of my time has been taken up studying and the like, but that’s not to say I don’t have time for some fun. Every week my college has a formal dinner, where you dress up in a suit for a great 3 course sit down dinner. Usually once a month I also attend a black-tie dinner – Oxford is a place where dinner suits are a necessity!

Whilst I was rowing for a couple of weeks, I eventually settled on riding with a club called ‘Zappi’s Cycling Club’. They are a local club not affiliated with the university, which is refreshing. Heading the club is a dude called Flavio Zappi, who is an ex-pro from the 1980s. Man, he still has legs and kicks everyone up any hill in sight! We usually do 100k rides every Saturday and it’s a great way to see the Oxfordshire district. Plus, as a cyclist, my coffee addiction can be indulged (as without the coffee a tthe end, I probably wouldn't ride!)

Life and thoughts generally

Life has been interesting for me over the past few months. Exactly as I suspected, grad school gives you an opportunity to reflect on your life; what is important and what you value. Ironically, Oxford is teaching me to chill out and run my own race, as there is ALWAYS someone smarter, or who has done more work than me.

I’ve already made some really good friends here, who are similarly as nerdy as me. Right now, Oxford feels like home, which is nice.

I hope everyone reading has a great New Year!

Toby