In Recent News

Well we have been living in England for over a month now. It is wonderful, and there is so much history in every town. We have had the opportunity to visit a couple of of towns, we went up to the Cotswold's, and up to Bath! They are wonderful! We took the train there, and it was so much fun. I am getting used to the public transportation that everyone uses around here. It was tough at first, but now I can get to any place in Oxford by bus. For the most part I still have not made friends, but am working on it. The grocery stores have so much less than the states, but everything seems to be very fresh. Most of the food does not have preservatives in it so it spoils quite easily. We have to go shopping just about every other day. One of my favorite things to do on Wednesdays is go to city center and hit up the farmers market! They have everything and some things there.

(Museum in Oxford)

We are on the NHS medical system, and everything is free. It is different and a little weird, but what can you do. The way they have it set up is by location. If you live in Summertown for example you go to the Summertown Clinic and they have a variety of GP doctors. Once you have one then they refer you to which ever doctor you may need to see.

The reason we have been to the doctors much is because we are going to have a baby! That's right ladies and gentlemen, after much trying and seeing the fertility specialists, it has finally worked. On August we went and had an IUI, the last one before our move, we weren't too hopeful, but since our insurance covered it, we figured why not. Well so far, so good. I have had a little complications nothing a little bed rest cant help, but its worth it! Hence the part of me not making friends yet, its hard to make friends when you are stuck at home. Baby Bowerbank is due May 9. Let me tell you it has been a bit of a hassle to explain my IUI and all the medication I had been on to my GP and Midwife. We are excited, and he/she will be born here in Oxford.

(Me the Day of our IUI)


(The baby at 10 weeks) (The Baby at 6 weeks)

Mike:

He is working hard in school right now! The second week is almost over, and is reading so much. He has also been doing more than his share around the house, cooking, cleaning, and making sure all my needs are met. His matriculation (he has to wear the Harry Potter robes) was this past Saturday. Bought some new soccer shoes, and is playing with some of the guys in his college!







Janie:
Stuck at home, and always craving food that she cant have! She is always dreaming of Texas, and the great food that is there. Tired, and glad that there is only a week and a half before this first trimester comes to an end! Has been making tortillas from scratch to satisfy her Mexican food cravings,(wished I had learned as child, my little sister can make tortillas so much better than I can)hopefully they will eventually turn out round! Love the candy, and some food. I am still having strong aversions to their meat here, it smells funny!

See you in July

That's right, I'll see you in July because apparently, if I listen to my professors and former students, I probably won't have much of a life outside of school for the next 9 months. Monday and Tuesday we had our Induction into the African Studies program here at Oxford and they were successful in scaring all of us into thinking that this was going to be a lot of work. The program is very different than US programs. We are only officially graded on four elements: Three final exams and your thesis. Also, if you get over 70 on any paper/test that is considered great. And it is normal to get 60s and even a few 50s. Anything below a 50 is a fail. On the first day we received our reading lists of what we are supposed to read before classes and be prepared to discuss....can you save overwhelming! We're talking 15 articles/books per week, per class! Thankfully former students came in and advised us to not try to read everything. Do what you can and then read summaries/reviews of the rest (except anything that is relevant to your thesis or a final exam you need to read). By the end of the day we are all pumped to start reading/scared that it was going to be painful. I asked the last question of the day to the former students, "So is it worth the pain?" They all said yes, which was re-assuring.

I am definitely a minority (for once in my life). I am the only American but there is a Canadian. They refer to us both as North Americans, which is funny because we don't think of ourselves that way very often.

My next task is to start reading and to pick a thesis topic. The thesis topic is going to be hard because we have received various pieces of advice from all over. All I know for sure is that I want to do something that is current, utilizes my Portuguese, and can help me get a job in a more international relations/foreign affairs role after graduation. I have about 4 weeks to submit my thesis title, so please feel free to suggest topics (perhaps Who will win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa? I'm sure I could do some kind of statistical analysis of the odds).

Everything else is the same here. Janie is in love with a website that allows her to watch all the American TV shows...and it even skips the commercials. We also got a 703 area code number to make it easier for people in the states to call us. E-mail us if you don't have it yet.

Lastly, we are excited to have friends already committed to come and visit us in December. Let us know if any of you are interested, we know a great flat in Oxford that is cheap where you can stay!

Cheers! (Almost said Cheerio...OK not really)

Wow, look at the buns on that one!

That's what I think people are going to be saying about me in a few weeks. Let me tell you that my legs and butt have been getting a workout since we moved here. No car, no bike, just this fine set of legs and a bus pass.

On Monday, in order to save money, I walked from our flat down to the examinations room. To give you an idea on how far that is see below:

Okay, so it wasn't a 3.4 mile walk like the map says (I didn't have to follow the one-way streets), but it was probably a good 2.5-3 mile walk. I was dead when I got there and don't think I'll be doing that again. I definitely haven't walked this much since my mission and I'm pretty sure Janie hasn't walked this much ever, but it is good for you and forces me to exercise. My classes will only be about a 25 minute walk but I do plan on getting a bike soon. Janie will be getting her TV tomorrow, but only a 21" one...but who's counting.

A few observations from the past week and a half-

It is not easy opening a bank account in another country. I have been trying for a week now with no success. Armed with a letter of introduction from my college, I'm hoping it happens tomorrow. I have to get my student loan money somehow. Or maybe I'll just create a PayPal account to accept anonymous donations from wealthy philanthropists....

I just can't come to say "Cheerio" Nothing against the saying or anything but it just can't roll off my tongue. Cheers I will get used to but Cheerio? I don't know. We'll see if I change.

Living in a foreign country with a spouse is a lot different than doing it on your own. When we were preparing to leave, I didn't think about kitchen supplies and I laughed at Janie for wanting to bring her steak knives and potato peeler. In my mind, I was like all we need are a couple of plates, cups, and a frying pan. Evidently (and $200 later) I was wrong. We need pots, soup bowls, cutting boards, three pots, two frying pans, etc.) If I have to do it again, I'd ship a box of kitchen stuff....

It can be really confusing when you say you would like a pound of potatoes when pound can mean the weight or the dollar amount. When I said it the lady was like "You want a pound of potatoes or 4 pounds of potatoes for a pound?" I thought four pounds for the equivalent of $1.70 wasn't bad, but now Janie and I have to eat them (not to mention the 14 bananas I got for a pound, and the strawberries, and the oranges). The markets are definitely the best place to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. El Cheapo Tip #1

I have a feeling it isn't going to be easy finding Janie a job in Oxford. We have applied (actually I have done all the paperwork...it's like she isn't in a rush) to four or five places with no response. I'm thinking retail is her best bet...but hopefully something easy. I just don't want to have to dip into our savings or take out more loans.....I know I know, it will be worth it for the experience....I'm not convinced...yet.

Overall Oxford is very nice...smaller than I imagined with less shops than I imagined outside of the city centre (notice the British spell check of the work Centre, just getting ready for my thesis). I do think we will enjoy it and know time is going to fly. On the 17th I get to do my Harry Potter impression....we will be taking pictures that can be autographed for a small fee.