My Future University

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Today, we drove to Oxford – my future university. We went on two tours to learn about the city’s history and see where I’ll be going to class. In the city, I learned about the flag.  The flag looks like an ox crossing a river or a ford.  If you put “ox” and “ford” together you will get Oxford and that is what the flag means.

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On the tours and through research, I found out that during World War I, Hitler decided not to bomb Oxford so if he won, he could use it as a base.  I also learned that during the English Civil War, Oxford was the capital for Charles the First.

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I learned lots of things about the university like there are 38 colleges that makeup the university and there are over 16,000 students who go there. There are so many beautiful buildings with large windows, gardens, lawns, and small statues everywhere the eye can see.

Radcliffe Private Building

We went to an Evensong service in the church part of Christ Church college and it was amazing.  There is a beautiful altar covered in gold, benches that have cushions on them, and everyone has their own sections with beautiful carvings on them.  There is also a big bell called “Old Tom” in the bell tower which rings 101 times at 9:05 PM every evening.  It rings at 9:05 PM instead of 9:00 PM because Oxford is 5 minutes away from Greenwich and say that there is a 5 minute difference from GMT and Oxford time.

Christ Church College

At Oxford University it is a tradition to write your exams in full Oxford uniform.  Then after you finish writing them, when you go outside, your friends and family throw things at you like sparkles and confetti to celebrate.

Lots of famous people went to Oxford University.  Here are just a few:

C.S. Lewis was a professor there and wrote The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.  He was inspired to write the book because every day when he came out of his room, he would see a lamp post, two statues that looked like Mr. Tumnus and a carving on the door of a lion – perhaps Aslan?

Narnia!

J.R.R. Tolkien was also a professor at the university and wrote The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.  Tolkien actually wrote the Elvish language first and then wrote a book in that language.  What I think inspired him were all those little statues around the campus that looked magical.

Magical Scene

Lewis Carroll, also a professor in this amazing university wrote one of my favourite children’s stories.  Guess what book it is!  Here are some hints.  What inspired him was everything around him but mostly the Chancellor of Christ Church College’s little daughter.  Every week Carroll would take her on a punt and tell her stories with her name in it.  Her name was Alice.  If you still don’t know the book title it is Alice in Wonderland.

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I want to go to this university when I am older because the whole city is beautiful, it is one of the most famous, and one of the best universities to go to.  But the main reason that I really want to attend Oxford is because some scenes of Harry Potter (my favourite book series) were filmed there!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hallway at New College

 


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Comments

8 responses to “My Future University”

  1. Hey Zoe
    Great blog! Remind your parents to start saving for that Oxford education!
    Continue having fun.
    Love Teta Doreen xoxox

    1. Hi!

      My Mom and Dad are going to buy a condo in Oxford and live there with me for two years. They are going to be tour guides to help me raise money for my school. 🙂

  2. Hi Zoe,
    You are right! This is one of the best universities in the world! Truly beautiful as well! I loved all your information and pictures! Love, Baba

    1. Hi!

      You should come and live with us in Oxford when we buy a condo for two years! 🙂

  3. Hi, Zoe, I am just catching up on reading your blog and was glad for the references to the famous authors that were also Prof. at this prestigious University. When I see the pictures and the beautiful old buildings it seems that history comes alive. I enjoyed everything very much. Love Oma

  4. All those famous authors – no wonder you want to go there!
    My Dad went to U of Cambridge and we lived there until I was about 10. I loved it. Your pictures of Oxford look exactly like I remember Cambridge so thank you for posting them.

  5. Stephane, Isabelle, Karianne and Zoe Avatar
    Stephane, Isabelle, Karianne and Zoe

    Hello Zoe

    Your parents may have to cut your trip short so they can have money for Oxford!!! We enjoy reading your blog.

    Have fun!

  6. Hi Zoe,

    If you like Harry Potter, you will document the university city of Coimbra in Portugal …… the author lived there and was inspired by the uniform of the university (the cape) and the stairs of a famous bookstore for scenes.
    I will show the photos as we visited these sites in April during our last vacation.
    Claire from France, Lyon