In which I enjoy England's health system and food

I was diagnosed with bronchitis by the college doctor who informed me it was probably because the Thames Valley is so cold and so damp. So maybe it is time to close my windows? I feel like that would probably help.

Immediately after being diagnosed, I felt much better. I'm guessing this was due to the relief that the doctor did not sentence me to seven days of isolation and Tamiflu like my poor neighbor Brian.

Here's the upside to being sick: I went to Boots (like Walgreens, but better) to have my prescription for five days of antibiotics filled and it only cost £7.20! I didn't have to show my insurance card or anything! Thanks National Health Service!

Yesterday, instead of studying, Elena and I went shopping. Oxford has an amazing variety of clothing and things available for an amazing variety of prices. I am on the hunt for brown ankle boots though I was unsuccessful (Surprise! Even though I wear a size 9 here, my feet are still too large for most stores! Just like home!) We did stop into Accessorize, a store which I loved when I last visited at the age of 11. Accessorize has grown up with me! It has really nice jewelry and bags which was a very pleasant discovery.

One of my favorite parts about living here: taking study breaks to go get fries ("chips") covered in vinegar and ketchup at Hussein's, the food cart a five minute walk away. Nom nom nom.

Speaking of food, I am a huge fan of the breakfast here (minus the baked beans). There are fried eggs, bacon (fried ham), sausage and toast available everyday (along with cereal, yogurt, fruit, whatever). There are also occasionally hash browns (potatoes are omnipresent here - as Elena said last night at dinner, "More potatoes? Shocking!") It's nice to be able to go get hot food in the morning as opposed to eating cereal day in and day out as I do at WashU. Just one more advantage to living on a campus of about 400 people as opposed to 10,000.

That being said, it is a little weird to live on a college campus where tourists show up daily to take pictures as Keble's brick structures are famous for looking nothing like the other colleges. Many people prrrrrrrobably also come to check out the painting in the chapel which is worth more than the college's entire endowment (I have yet to do so). Upside: nothing like tourists to make you feel more like a legitimate Student and Local.

Okay, last food thing. We had apple-blackberry crumble for dessert last night which was put on the table along with gravy boats of cream (I'm sure there is a more official term for that type of dish). It was another one of those times when I was like well I'm just going to wait and see what everyone else does with this (added to the list along with how to hold a fork, cross the street, open the evil library door etc). Other people proceeded to drown their crumble with cream, like their bowls were filled with cream instead of crumble. I followed suit, and guess what? Heavenly. And so bad for you.

I suppose I keep writing list-esque entries because summaries of my days here would go like this: wake up, eat yummy breakfast, go to library, eat lunch, walk to history library, come home, watch some show online, work, dinner in hall, talk to people in the US online, go to sleep. I hope that my days will be more interesting once a) I am less run-down from being sick and b) I don't have to keep studying the parliamentary Reform Act of 1832. I was informed by two history freshers that I am studying the boring part of British history (1815-1914) but I am holding out hope for some imperial drama!