A few pictures of Oxford

This week will be much less interesting than the last, since most of my time is devoted to studying for exams. Still, I can’t study all day, so I’ve done some fun things.

On Monday night a group of us went out to celebrate my friend’s engagement. Her boyfriend flew here from Ohio and they went to Paris together for the weekend. She came back with a shiny new ring, so we all wanted to celebrate! Since we’ve been going to a lot of pubs, we found a bar that served cocktails instead. It was definitely more like an American bar, but it was really nice. I got a drink called a Large Hadron Colada, which I thought was pretty clever.

Tuesday in class we talked about what a lawyer should do if a clerical error causes the opposing counsel’s confidential documents to be sent to him. The discussion ended up sounding eerily like the council of Rivendell. People were arguing whether or not to destroy it, some people wanted to use it, and someone actually said “It’s a gift!” (to the foes of Mordor) I really wanted to yell “Isildur, destroy it!” but I kept my mouth shut. It’s bad enough that basically the whole program knows I saw Merchant of Venice because I love Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard. I don’t need to start spouting Lord of the Rings references too.

In our final Comparative Legal Professions class, our professor showed us this definition of ethics from someone named Lord Moulton: ethics are “obedience to the unenforceable.” I think the real trouble with ethics for lawyers is that they’re so hard to enforce. Everyone makes ethical choices, but lawyers are far less likely to have their unethical actions come to light. Plus, since lawyers deal in such grey areas to begin with, it’s all too easy for a lawyer to justify something to himself and start down the slippery slope. Because of confidentiality and privilege, and because most non-lawyers really don’t understand the technicalities of what lawyers do, there’s a great opportunity to be unethical without anyone knowing it. I’m very glad I took Comparative Legal Professions class. At least now I recognize the danger. I hope when the time comes, I follow my conscience. 

Wednesday I went to my last two classes and then took the train to London to see one last show. I chose to see Les Mis again because it’s my favorite musical and I really loved seeing it in London. I know I probably should have chosen to see something new, but I really love Les Mis. On the way I realized that practically the only bits of Oxford I’ve seen are between St. Anne’s and the train station (and the inside of a couple of pubs). So this time I took a series of pictures while I was walking. The crowds in the centre of Oxford are horrendous, so I’m planning on seeing the sights of Oxford when I come back in the spring. Hopefully the cold will keep the tourists at home. I’m going to have to buy a new pair of boots and probably a new coat, too.

The back of my building

Looking out from St. Anne's

Part of St. Anne's

The view out from the gate of St. Anne's

Looking back from across the road at St. Anne's

A pretty college

Ugh, tourists.

The Royal Oak

Even the town buses are double-deckers!

Look at the silly tourists taking pictures with the phone booth. Who would do such a thing?

Oh, right. I did it too.

Look at the mob of tourists. I want to stay far far away.

Really good train snacks. They have fruit and sparkling water and gummies and shorbread cookies!

Inside the train station

While I’m describing my day, I feel I ought to address an allegation that I don’t seem to do much schoolwork. I assure you, just because I do not talk about it much does not mean it is not done. The plays I see are simply more interesting than how much studying I’ve achieved. Today I went to class, then tea, then my second class, then lunch, then straight to the train station. While I was on the train, I studied. I got to London and headed for a café and studied. I had dinner with Maria, saw Les Mis, got back on a train and studied. It’s pretty depressing, really, how much I study. I’m not planning on talking about it much more, but I had to point out that despite all the fun I’ve been having, I am taking this seriously.