Oxford Creative Writing Program - Week 2

Our second week at the Oxford creative writing summer school has come to an end, and how quickly it by as well!

This week was a interesting one. We went out on a weekend excursion to Blenheim Palace on Saturday the 4th of July.  The palace is a monumental home situated in the town of Woodstock in the Oxfordshire.  It is one of England's largest houses and the seat for the Dukes of Marlborough. It is also notable as the ancestral home and birth place of the celebrated Prime minister Sir Winston Churchill. The estate also houses many a stunning garden. Both the gardens and the palace were enthralling and stunning to walk around. We were also lucky to catch a jousting tournament complete with knights, horses and a bit of sword fighting! Much fun and enjoyment was had by all who attended.

On Friday afternoon the students from the classes held by Dr Sandie Byrne and Julie Hearn were treated to an afternoon tea in the Rector's drawing room. A vast array of delicious hand baked cakes and pastries were served. Many were also introduced to our first experience of the typical English summer drink, Pimms. A light and refreshing sort of fruity alcoholic cocktail. It was a lovely afternoon and everyone enjoyed mingling in the relaxed atmosphere whilst munching on the delectable produce.

Another thing that hit everyone this week were, the assignments! After receiving our assignments for our classes last week, I would have to admit that the realisation of how serious things getting didn't really hit me at least until the Monday of week 2. Therefore much of this week was indeed taken by just that, assignments. Panic! Many of us traveled down the street to Tesco and stocked up on student study snacks. 

Fortunately I got everything under control and pulled together all my pieces of assignments together, to a stage that I was pleased with them. So nervous about handing them in though ( I mean, it's Exeter college!)

We were fortunate last week to have gotten to experience some very hot and sunny weather. I was almost under the impression that the whole ' grey and rainy' English weather idea that I had been led to believe was in fact a myth. Well that myth was certainly dispelled this week, as we have been treated to plenty of overcast days. Not to mention the odd rain shower and thunder storm. To be honest, I had kind of been looking forward to seeing Oxford in the rain.  I can not believe that the second week went by so fast and we are up to our last week already!

The has been such a whirlwind of amazing experiences, I am looking forward to catching you all up on our last week!

See you later,

Kiri

Awesome Istanbul

Welcome to Istanbul

Taksim Square, Istanbul

Istanbul – it is one seriously awesome city. A perfect destination for students.

We’ve been in town here for a few days now, visiting Bogazici University and some other organisations, as well as getting in a bit of sneaky down-time to scope out some of the incredible sights that this place serves up. If you’re coming here on one of AIM Overseas’ academic short courses you are in for the adventure of a lifetime!

Istanbul = a unique, perfect place to study and embrace history and culture.

So let’s talk a little bit more about it.

First Impressions

I didn’t really know what to expect when I touched down, but the thing that really blew me away the most was the sheer diversity of Istanbul. It is truly wonderful.  

You’ll see every colour, shape and type of people here – blond with blue eyes, Asiatic, Mediterranean or Arabic – and they’re all Turkish. The people are wonderfully welcoming and accommodating.

The city is a blend of east and west, new and old. You’ll see stunning Romanesque buildings beside rundown, communist-looking pre-fab concrete architecture. Stunning Islamic mosques sit beside boulevards that you could find anywhere in Europe. Cobbled streets lead to nooks and crannies packed with small bars and restaurants. It’s a city of surprises, secret little corners and, unforgettably, stunning views.

Stunning Views

Ferries cross the Bosphorous - viewed from Topkapi Palace

Located on the Bosphorous (the waterway that joins the Mediterranean to the Black Sea), Istanbul is loaded full of incredible views.

The city is divided into east (the ‘Asian side’) and west (the ‘European side’) and it clings to hills that slope down to the magnificent turquoise waters of the Bosphorous. As you walk, bus or tram around the various areas of the city you catch glimpses of the water all over the place…it’s truly lovely!

You could sit for hours watching the ferries, tankers and other craft cruising up and down under the blazing blue sky.

One of the highlights of the stay was walking from Bebek (which is near both Bogazici University and the accommodation that AIM Overseas uses) back towards the centre of Istanbul. The walk hugs the edge of the Bosphorous and passes through some great places to eat, some pretty parks, and offers stunning views that rival the best waterway views in Europe: think lots of trees, palaces, crazy millionaire yachts and boats and even a man-made island devoted to bars and restaurants.

Food and Culture

Food and culture? Istanbul is loaded with both.

Let's start with culture.

The Blue Mosque at Sultanahmet

 Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the strategic value of the waterway that it encloses, Istanbul is a city with an ancient history full of sultans and conquests.

We visited the most famous monuments and you’re not going to be disappointed!!!

Amongst Istanbul’s treasures are some of the true wonders of the world (and our programs will explore many of these places as part of the culture day tours that are included).

Aya Sofra: Your breathe will be stolen as you walk into this incredible former church and mosque, now a museum. Its interior rivals any religious building in Europe.

The Blue Mosque: You will feel peace inside the calm interior of the mosque – being there in January, away from the hordes of tourists, will be a big plus.

Topkapi Palace – Perched above the Bosphorous, the sprawling magnificence that is Topkapi offers priceless views and limitless insight on the history of Istanbul. 

The Grand Bazaar – Words fail to capture the intrigue of the sensation of walking the Grand Bazaar – it’s enormous and so clean and organised compared to the bazaars of North Africa…not that the haggling is any less ferocious! You will go crazy buying souvenirs here!

The Spice Bazaar – even the locals shop here, and it’s the place for buying Turkisk Delight and sampling local cheeses and spices.

           

Food-wise, Istanbul is just fabulous.

The aptly-named Spice Bazaar

Red-blooded carnivores will adore the unrestricted access to tasty and cheap, cheap, CHEAP kebab. It’s absolutely everywhere and is very fine indeed.

Connoisseurs of desserts and sweet foods will appreciate the Turks’ love of arguably the day’s most important meal – think baklava, quality chocolate, Turkish Delight and you’ll get an idea of what I mean. We ate at a fantastic dessert-only restaurant on Straselviler Cd (the main ‘strip’ that runs from Taksim Square to the Bosphorous) and were in 7^th heaven. You should also also try the regional ice cream delicacy – I’ll post a video of it that will make you crack up laughing!

Vegetarians should usually be able to get around – there are brilliant veggie dishes based on tomato or eggplant. One of these, pureed smoked eggplant, is now on my list of ‘foods I would eat for a year on a desert island’…yes, it is that good!!!!

Shopping

Straselviler Cd is a cobbled street running from Taksim Square that rivals any shopping strip in Europe. We ate here on a Wednesday night and it was packed to the rafters – tens of thousands of Turks and tourists out to eat, drink, shop and party the night away. A must-see experience!

Entry to the Grand Bazaar

Turkish towels at the Grand Bazaar

Rob’s ‘Travel Difficulty’ Rating

5/10.

The incredible view from Bogazici University

Yes, there’s the foreign language aspect, public transport to master, the occasional tout and a new currency to get used to, but even with those with little travel experience will find Turkey a pretty easy place to settle into.

People are friendly and accommodating, finding an English speaker is easy (or bumbling through in English isn’t badly received), the public transport is intuitive and predictable and, most of all, you’ll never be short of something to do here!

It is easier to adapt to than many places in ‘western’ Europe.

As a place for students I would rank Istanbul a 9/10: there’s diversity, culture, history, amazing food, great shopping, monuments and fantastic travel opportunities. And it’s all at an affordable (sometimes even cheap) price.

Do not miss out on your chance to study in Turkey.

September 2012: AIM Overseas currently runs a program on Political Change in the Middle East: Can Turkey Play a Role?

It is hosted at Bogazici University, arguably Turkey’s finest university. The program next runs in January 2013 (check our website for all the details). 

Aya Sofra viewed from outside

Inside Aya Sofra

Final blog for New Media for Business and Digital Marketing

As I write this blog I am sitting in my amazing hotel room in the windy city of Chicago! Our last week at MSU was incredible and as much as we didn’t want to leave, we couldn’t wait to experience this beautiful city for a few days before we all began to head home, and onto new destinations.

Last Saturday brought the opportunity to head to Kellie’s hometown, Muskegon, for a day trip to the beaches of Lake Michigan. While I wasn’t feeling well that day and disappointingly couldn’t go, everyone came home exhausted, looking like lobsters, and very happy. Needless to say, there was a lot of aloe vera circulating the dorms that night. Sunday brought our last free day in East Lansing, and a chance to head to Meridian Mall, the local shopping centre that housed a Macy’s, and other bigger shops! Most of us spent the day participating in a little bit of retail therapy, enjoying the air conditioning while it was sweltering outside.

Muskegon beach photo

Monday arrived, and so began our last week of classes for the Social Media Marketing course. It was hard to believe that it would be over so soon, and especially hard to believe that we were sitting an exam on the Thursday! The week went by quicker than I think we all hoped, with lots of study and panic evident in Gilchrist Hall pre-exam. I think I speak for everyone when I say how much of a relief it was to finish that last question on the exam, but it really made it settle in that we were leaving so soon.

Thursday night brought a farewell dinner at Brody with Kellie, Dr. C, and the 3 staff that were joining us on the Chicago trip. We had some laughs playing Kellie’s ‘tweet’ game, and we all got to walk across the front of the room to get our certificates of completion, just like a real (mini) graduation, shaking Dr. C’s hand and getting a picture taken. Following this, we all sat down together and enjoyed our final meal at Brody as a group on our last night in East Lansing.

Perry and Dr. C.

Our farewell dinner on Thursday night was the beginning of everyone’s last opportunity to head out to the local bars, and in the spirit of MSU, we collectively organised to get dressed up in bed sheet toga’s to have a photo with Sparty; the Michigan State mascot who has a very large statue right near our hall. Everyone was excited, and we got some great photos of the group that we will all cherish I’m sure.

Getting our Toga gear on in true Sparty style

Friday morning came, and it was time for us to embark on the Mega Bus trip to Chicago for the weekend. With our masses of luggage, we all checked out of our rooms and headed down to the Amtrak station in anticipation of our long bus trip ahead. Might I take a second to mention that the taxi some of us took to the station included a karaoke machine, and everyone in our cab enjoyed a loud and obnoxious sing-a-long to ‘Yellow Submarine’!

The bus trip went relatively quickly, and before we knew it we were in the big city, Chicago. We made our way to the hotel, struggling with luggage, and checked in, finally, safe and sound. That evening, my roommate and I headed to the Willis Tower Skydeck to enjoy the scenic views of Chicago city, 103 stories up. It was scary, but well worth it for the beautiful view and photo opportunities!

The dizzying sites of Skydeck

On Saturday, we had the whole day to do whatever we wanted, and once again Cecilia and I set out to explore some of the touristy attractions that Chicago had to offer, as well as fitting in some shopping on the Magnificent Mile here and there. We firstly headed to the Lincoln Park Zoo, a free, and absolutely beautiful zoo located in the huge Lincoln Park just north of the city. The animals were amazing, and we were sure to buy some merchandise at the store! After the fun at the zoo we headed to the Navy Pier, which was absolutely incredible! We got lunch on the pier, and went on the gigantic Ferris wheel and got some great shots of the city and the surrounding area.

The Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier

After experiencing some of the touristy elements of Chicago, we couldn’t resist going shopping, and consequently we spent the rest of the day doing just that before we headed back to the hotel in the afternoon to get ready for our ‘last supper’ with the group. Kellie organised a great dinner at a restaurant called Uncommon Ground as a farewell to all of us, and we enjoyed some great food and drinks together for the very last time. It was a great opportunity to say our goodbyes yet again, and after dinner we all headed back to the Comfort Suites to have some drinks and a further farewell party in one of the boys’ hotel rooms.

On Sunday, it was time to check out of the hotel and be on our way to independent travels, or the beginning of a journey home for some. I was headed to my own hotel for 2 nights to continuing exploring Chicago a little more with some of the people I had met on the trip. Sunday afternoon consisted of more shopping, before I had to say farewell to Cecilia, who had been my roommate for the past 3 and a half weeks! It was sad to say goodbye, but I am sure we will all see each other again in the future.

It is now Sunday night, and as I sit here writing this, I am planning my final days and all that I would like to see in this beautiful city before I head back to Australia. It is sad that the adventures are all over, and I am sure we are all going to miss each other when we return back home to different cities, and even different countries. This trip has formed some incredible friendships and memories that will last a lifetime! However, it’s not goodbye, just a ‘see you soon’.. :)

Natalie x

Natalie Miller is participating on our New Media for Business and Digital Marketing program at Michigan State University, USA. Natalie is in her second year of a Bachelor of Media and Communications at University of Canberra

Oxford Creative Writing Program - Week 1

 

After 2 long days of travel and a couple of wrong turns later I finally stumbled, heavily jet lagged through the grand entranceway of Exeter college.  I was relieved to meet some of  the other students joining the course -  'phew' I'd come to the right place! We were greeted at the door by the college porter. Who presented us with our room keys and directed us towards the summer school office, where we were given our welcome packs and names badges. After which people either went straight up to their rooms to relax or hung chatting in the front quadrangle. 

 

The first thing that struck me was the Exeter campus itself - it is breathtaking. We found ourselves surrounded by castle like sandstone buildings with vines and climbing roses, stunning stained glass windows and ancient gargoyles.  Having been built in 1314 Exeter college is the fourth oldest college in Oxford. Just don't walk on the grass in the front quad ( only the Oxford 'fellows' are allowed to do that sort of thing ).  

 At 5 o'clock that first evening we attended our orientation, meeting followed by a drinks reception in the fellows garden. Here we got a chance to mingle and get to know our peers and teachers, and the girls all made sure their heels didn't get stuck in the grass! ( the fellows have allowed us use of the garden during the summer school, usually only they are allowed in). We then moved on into the hall for our reception dinner ( think Harry Potter and you've about got it! ) with everyone dressed in their best and the teachers seated at the high table at the head of the hall. All the meals are served in the dining hall, and we are provided with plenty of delicious food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Everyone went off to bed early that evening, excited for the start of classes the next day.

 

 

Classes are held from 9-11 or 4-6 every day, with each student taking a seminar for one of their two chosen courses during one of the time slots on alternating days. We also attend a 1 and a half hour plenary session each day as well. The sessions are given by a different practitioner In the industry each time - literary agents, authors, poets.  Each of these sessions looked at a different element of the writing/publishing industry - with students eager to question the presenters at every opportunity. 

 

 

Last but definitely not least there is always plenty of fantastic friendly staff on hand, more then willing to help you out.  Our Summer school assistants Joe Bluck and Richard Broadbridge were quick to welcome us leading us out into Oxford for our very first pub walk on the Monday night. During the walk we also got to experience many beautiful and historical parts of the city - getting a look at the iconic 'bridge of sighs' and a few of the other colleges situated around Oxford, before getting to know each other over a cider at the King of Arms pub. Tuesday night introduced the first of our 'open mic nights' where students were given the opportunity to read their work aloud and have it discussed by their peers in the Audience. It was a very friendly atmosphere and a great experience was had by all. 

 

On Wednesday evening Richard led us on an enjoyable and informative tour through the university gardens, where (some of us at least) we're excited to spot our first squirrel!  

 

There is plenty for students to enjoy outside of their classes, whether it be taking part in an activity or just kicking back and playing some pool in Exeter's Undercroft bar. Our first week as students at Exeter college has been jam packed with study and with out a doubt - fun! I can't wait to fill you all in on our next week!

See you next time....

 

Kiri :- )

 

Kiri Zobel is participating on our Oxford Creative Writing program this July 2012. Kiri is in her 3rd year of a Bachelor of Arts at University of Canberra

Oxford Creative Writing Program: Pubs, chapels and Dining Halls

The sun is shining in Oxford today.

Blue sky frames the many spires and turrets that soar around this beautifully calm 8^th century city – although my new friends and I agree it feels more like a town. There is an air of tranquillity around the place - it puts you in the mood for classical music and literary fiction (which I guess is appropriate). It's amazing being able to walk around the same places as such figures as J.R.R. Tolkein and Oscar Wilde.

Speaking of friends, here’s a picture of us before setting out on our pub stroll (I don't think they like the term 'crawl' in Oxford). They have a lot of pubs in Oxford. Well over 50. One of the shops near Exeter College sells a black and white picture with 63 of the pubs ready to be coloured-in as you visit each of them. 

Heading out on the pub 'stroll'

Exeter College is filled with these marvellous old stone buildings – although most of our rooms are built from contradictorily modern materials. The dining hall and chapel remain in all their archaic glory however. Here are some shots I took of the chapel.

Every meal is held in the hall, which is extremely Hogwarts-esque with long oak tables and lamps along the length. Waiters (and not magic) bring the food however, and nobody sits at the high table except for very formal occasions. It will be a shock when I leave here and need to start cleaning up after myself again.

Exeter College Dining Hall

Maybe it's the historic setting; or maybe it's the crowd of writers like myself; but Oxford just feels like a lovely place to be. Already we look at the tourists scornfully, almost as outsiders, as we swan our way back to College after a day trip around the city. I expect these three weeks will vanish all too soon.

~Damon

Damon Meredith is completing AIM Overseas' Oxford Creative Writing Program this July 2012. Damon is currently in his second year of a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at University of Technology Sydney.

Oxford International Human Rights Law - Week 3

Wow, what a week! A lot has certainly been happening since I last updated you all. This week’s classes were mostly spent learning about the different areas of international human rights law, focusing on international humanitarian law; international criminal law; and gender and sexuality. We also learnt about the role of non-governmental organisations and human rights defenders. One very important message, which was emphasised in our classes, was how, besides the relevant legal mechanisms, people power really is the key to making a difference in the realm of human rights.

My afternoon classes were about the practice of targeting killings; the means and methods of warfare; and the rules pertaining to belligerent occupation. For many us, these topics were quite confronting and challenging and led to much discussion. I also spent one afternoon attending a careers panel that the faculty had set up for us. It was really interesting gaining an insight into how some of the most eminent scholars in the field ended up getting to where they are now.

Since the weather has remained beautiful this week, we spent one afternoon punting. A few of us opted to get a chauffeured boat, something we were really happy about once we saw some of our friends who’d chosen to do it themselves stuck in some trees and struggling to get out! A big group of us headed to Jamie Oliver’s restaurant another night, to celebrate a birthday on our program. The food there really was amazing!

We spent Friday night in the Junior Common Room watching the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics. The eight Aussies on the program all cheered when we saw our athletes march but we were definitely outnumbered by all the Americans here! The weekend was then spent in London and I was lucky enough to have gotten tickets to the hockey a few months back. As chance would have it, I ended up seeing Australia and New Zealand play, which was very exciting! However, the large number of Australian spectators wasn’t enough for the Hockeyroos, who lost 1-0 to the Kiwis. I also stayed to watch the Netherlands play Belgium – the Dutch sure love their hockey!

With exams coming up next week, the last week of the program is set to be a fair bit quieter than this one.

~ Lindsey

 

Lindsey Chu is participating on our Oxford International Human Rights Law Program in the UK. Lindsey is in her 5th year of Bachelor of Communications/Law at University of Newcastle.

Oxford Creative Writing: English tea and winding paths

I’m in London and the sun is shining.

Wait – no it’s gone again.

Since arriving here a few days ago I’ve taken a while simply to soak in the atmosphere of the place. The beautiful, old brick houses with their iconic chimneys. The classic double-decker red buses. The interchangeably rainy weather.

And the tea. The cliché doesn’t prepare you enough for the truth. The English really, really like their tea. I think I’ve drunk more tea in these three days than I have for the entire year.

I told my English friend my thoughts and she responded with a very puzzled – “But…if someone comes over to your house what do you do?”

Fair enough.

I’m staying next to this beautifully sprawling cemetery called Abney Park. Paths wind sneakily through verdant greenery, between which gravestones dot the ground in all shapes and sizes. It has been so long since I’ve seen a nettle that I’m actually happy to find them growing in such wild abundance.

Sculptures such as this magnificent lion statue can be stumbled across along many of the narrow paths.

 In the centre (if you can find it) rears this awe-inspiring ruined church. Any place you can find a church older than your own country is a pretty amazing location. 

Damon Meredith is completing AIM Overseas' Oxford Creative Writing Program this July 2012. Damon is currently in his second year of a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at University of Technology Sydney.

New Media for Business and Digital Marketing: Week 2

It’s hard to believe that we are past the halfway mark and there is only 1 week left of both our class, and the adventures that we’ve all been having. The weekend brought a chance for us to check out the local Premium Outlet stores and to do a little too much shopping, and, after we filled the school bus with bags and bags of purchases and presents, we got to experience (my) ultimate enjoyment at a store called Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth – Michigan’s Little Bavaria – that is the home of the most amazing Christmas shop I have ever seen in my life, and also the biggest - open 361 days a year! This was definitely a highlight of the weekend for me; both my roommate and I went crazy with little Christmas ornaments and gifts.

Bronner's Christmas Wonderland

On Sunday, it was Luigi’s birthday and in celebration we had a big cake and he rapped for the group, which was amazing! In the spirit of having dessert before dinner we then ventured down to the Roadhouse for a celebratory meal and Karaoke afterwards. I think he really enjoyed his birthday!

Since we’ve all been living together there are some funny things that we’ve picked up from each like taking photo’s of everyone sleeping on the bus, and dropping to do 10 push ups anytime we catch people saying the word ‘MINE’ in a passing conversation. It makes the long bus rides go much faster!

Chris H. doing pushups

Chris L. Sleeping

The week went on as usual with class everyday and then little shopping trips afterwards, followed by dinner and hangs with the rest of the group, and before we knew it, it was Friday again.

Friday brought a super fun adventure to Greenfield Village – a sort of museum of old famous houses that had been all brought together – and the Detroit Tigers game. Greenfield was really interesting and we learnt a lot, also enjoying a ride on a really old carousel that has been around since the 1800’s. After a really nice day exploring the gardens and houses, we headed to Detroit for the much anticipated Detroit Tigers v. Chicago White Sox game at Comerica Park. The major league baseball games are always fun and it was really great to be able to have the full American baseball game experience, especially at such a nail-biting match. We all experienced the typical American baseball food and, of course, also enjoyed some souvenirs from the Detroit Tigers shop.

Greenfield

Tigers game

After an awesome day, we all arrived home at midnight, very tired, but having really enjoyed our trip to Detroit. It’s hard to believe there is only one week to go, and we’re really looking forward to a good sleep, and a beach trip tomorrow to Kellie’s hometown!

Natalie x

Natalie Miller is participating on our New Media for Business and Digital Marketing program at Michigan State University, USA. Natalie is in her second year of a Bachelor of Media and Communications at University of Canberra

Oxford International Human Rights Law – Week 2

Week 2 of the program has certainly been busy! This was the only week where we were scheduled to have classes every day so Friday was a welcome relief for most of us. This week saw us learn about the different human rights systems in the world – we learnt about the African, Inter-American and European systems, something which made the Australians amongst us frustrated at the lack of human rights protection and enforcement mechanisms at home. We also spent time discussing the role of the United Nations in protecting human rights. My afternoon classes focused on 9/11, the NATO bombing of Kosovo and the treatment of prisoners of war and combatants – all extremely thought provoking issues.

Aside from study, we have quickly learnt that the Kings Arms is the best pub on our street and that shopping in Oxford is quite good! Lots of time has been spent trawling the main shopping areas in Oxford on weekends – the big question now is how I’m going to get my luggage down to 20kg for the next leg of my trip! We also had our second formal dinner on Friday night and it was fun to see everyone dressed up and being able to relax for the evening. This was followed by drinks at the college bar and a night out on the town.

The weather has finally gotten better this week although it is still far from ‘summer’. It was nice to be able to get out and explore Oxford and finally not have to wear a jumper everywhere! Fingers crossed the weather stays this way for the rest of our time here!

Another part of the program that I’m really enjoying is meeting new friends from all around the world. Everyone seems to be fascinated by Australian accents! As one of only two non-Americans in one of my classes, I’m being made constantly aware of how differently we pronounce some words, something that has made for some funny discussions. The word ‘combatant’ was subject to a lengthy debate! Having people here from all over the world has also added many different perspectives to our class discussions and I feel like I’m learning just as much from this as from the course content itself.

It’s hard to believe we’re at the half way point of the program now – there’s still so many things I want to do and see in Oxford. With the arrival of the Olympics next week, Oxford, as well as the rest of the UK is buzzing. I know I’m certainly looking forward to donning my green and gold next weekend watching Australia play at the hockey.

Until next time… 

 Lindsey 

Lindsey Chu is participating on our Oxford International Human Rights Law Program in the UK. Lindsey is in her 5th year of Bachelor of Communications/Law at University of Newcastle.