Week Eight: Cultural

The week before spring break definitely was an incredibly busy one.  With the days getting longer and warmer campus took on a new life with people lazing in the sun, or frantically trying to revise for their mid terms.  It seemed as everyone was truly ready for the week break which begins for me tomorrow.


On Monday I had to give my first American presentation on a Behavioural Theorist, Spencer Kagan.  I was in a group of four and we had to talk about his behavioural strategies for 30mins.  Although I found this initially nerve wreaking, it actually went really well, and I felt that I learned a lot by watching and participating in the presentations.  The rest of the week consisted of more work for classes, and assignments which were due.


Even during my observation this week I noticed a slightly more relaxed atmosphere.  On thursday the children were hyper, running around singing or bursting into tears for no apparent reason.  I am constantly learning every minute I spend with the kids.  Its a great experience getting to work with children so young and from a completely different culture.  As Willie Price is on the University campus the children tend to be from well off family's and I found it quite amusing to hear them talk about flying halfway across the county to their holiday home for the week, or going to stay at their beach house.  For such young children they really are extremely bright!

A Professional photo of Rowan Oak

This week I experienced even more of the wonderful american culture, with a trip to a southern restaurant on the square.  It really is so strange eating so much fried food! The Americans fry literally everything from chicken to pickles and tomatoes!  Also their love of catfish and grits is something I can't quite get used to!  We also visited the house of famous author and nobel prize winner, William Faulkner.  Faulkner grew up in a beautiful southern house in Oxford, which is now open to the general public.  Rowan Oak (Faulkner's house) was built in 1844 and is situated on over 29 acres of land. He is such an influential character within southern literature, and a big claim to fame for such a small town like Oxford.  I have also had a real interest in both history and reading so visiting his house was a lovely experience.


Walking around the square on a sunny March afternoon is a lovely experience, as the grass is getting greener, the leaves and flowers are growing back, and everyone seems happier.  Sometimes I forget that I'm in a different country.  I feel lucky that along with the stress of the last week before spring break, I was still able to experience a lot more of the culture of Oxford and it's local community.