X's and O's

This post interestingly comes at the proper time...considering valentine's was but 2 days ago. However, this is not the reason for the post. Ever since I got to Oxford...everyone puts an x or multiple x's at the end of texts and emails... I always thought x was kisses and was a little concerned by this expression of affection especially from people I did not know that well. but then I just thought they were very friendly and affectionate and figured maybe I got it mixed up and the X is actually the hug. nope.

Just now I got an email confirming my requested tickets for an event at the Union Society. The guy...who I dont know and have never met...signed the end of an email with an x!!! so i thought to myself...there must be something im missing here. i just looked it up. and looky here what i learned. makes much more sense now. considering only luv-stricken junior highers or old cutie pies.... and well i guess my dad too....use XOXOXOXOXOX as a mushy sign of affection. not necessarily the case here.

{Where did the custom of putting Xs and Os at the bottom of a letter come from?
The first mention in literature of XXX for kisses at the bottom of a letter was in 1901, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The X itself is very old.

The custom goes back to the early Christian era, when a cross mark or "X" was the same as a sworn oath. The cross referred to the cross of Calvary and the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, Xristos.

Even as little as a hundred and fifty years ago, not many people could read or write. The "X" at the bottom of a document took the place of a signature. They would kiss the "X" as a crucifix or bible was kissed to emphasize the importance of the mark. It was this practice that lead to the "X" representing a kiss.

There isn't much known about the beginnings of the "O". It is a North American custom. The "O" represents the arms in a circle around another person. Arms crossed in front of you do not mean the "X" as a hug! The "O" is the hug.} taken from hugkiss.com

So there is my cultural fact for the day. x

Distracted. and Nostalgic.

So im sitting here at my desk. its dusk. im working on MCAT review. trying to study. feel productive. but just a little distracted. so this is going to be in no way eloquent. just my thoughts.

times are good. life is great. but right now i am nostalgic. mostly i miss my long hair. yeah weird right? but i do. its almost my birthday. 1 week. feb 21st. im going to london that weekend. but im sad that i dont get to celebrate my golden birthday (21 on 21) with all of my friends and family. i have also been looking at pics from my 20th birthday last year. we went to disney land. also the weather was marvelous. i was able to wear jeans, a tank top and reefs. im jealous. of my last year self. its cold. i miss being able to just throw on clothes. not have to layer and layer and layer.

i also just miss apu family. the familiarity of at least recognizing everyone you see. always going to the same building. the same professors. the same coffee shop. feeling connected to people simply because of the APU bond. dont get me wrong. this has been an adventure. i LOVE meeting new people. but i miss really knowing people. and being known. being able to look someone in the eye and knowing that they understand. and know exactly what you are thinking and feeling. i dont think about this stuff much since everything here is so exciting and new and lovely.

i realize it when i look at pictures of friends. of things and happenings at apu. thank you facebook. i also realized it when i went to the house of a friend of a friend and the style of decor, clothing, hairstyles even were similar to friends at apu. its a different culture here. a culture of clean shaven men and twill. of boots and scarves. of academia and drinks. its just different. and i love it. but im nostalgic for the emotional amenities of apu. of home. the dress. the food. the culture of people. the weather. the little things you dont really think about but nevertheless enjoy. the one thing that i do cherish here more than anything else is time. my time has been precious. and exorbiant. enough for everything that i want and need. a slower pace. more sleep. people. walking. places. looking. listening. writing. reading. expressing. absorbing. holding on. letting go. feeling. experiencing. learning. knowing.

much of this time has passed since my last blog. many experiences. social. academic. spiritual. personal. cultural. but recounting specific events for you i dont think is as meaningful as relaying my inner journey. i felt compelled to share what was going on in my head and my heart. even though my MCAT review book is lying open in front of me, glaring. waiting for my return.

2 things i do have to tell you about though:

1) St. Aldate's Church has been my joy since the moment i have arrived in this city. the college group is amazing and i have made such great friendships already. it is the hub of my social and spiritual gratification. the people have welcomed me in and i feel at home with them. i make a new friend every time. a friend of a friend. then another friend of a friend. and it just keeps going. going to small group, student night, and just hanging out with friends of my church friends on the weekends. getting to lounge and just chill. just like home. but i guess a little different. they all have accents. irish. and english.

2) i went to my first Union Society Debate last night. it is the most famous and prestigous debating societies in all of england and debatably the world. haha. no pun intended. the debate was entitled "This House believes that the British Empire was a good thing." I went in with an open mind having studied much about the goods and evils of the British Empire in various past history courses. Both sides made a dashing argument. well spoken. funny. brilliant. at times very provocative, bold, even offensive. but its the union. its oxford. these people say what they want. the opposition was exceptional in their counter argument in discussing the fact that good is a moral judgement. etc etc. there were two brilliant opposition speeches that sold me. both made by brits. i voted with my feet like everyone else. there is a door with two sides one for ayes and one for nays. they tally all the votes. i voted nay. not only because i am american. but on account of the 2 brilliant opposition speeches. good is a relative thing. the british empire did good things. and may have had good qualities. but that does not make it good.

thats all for now. wow. that felt. good. all of those thoughts have been floating in my head for far too long. back to. MCAT. bye.

inside of our beautiful church

Outside of St. Aldates Church

St. Aldate's Street

Entrance to the high society, members only Oxford Union . Im a member :)

Inside of the Oxford Union debate chamber