Official Start as Oxford Lecturer

Brian officially started his new job this week. As his colleague, the Senior Physics Tutor at Keble College, was stuck in Singapore, Brian had to jump right in (he's a big fan of baptism by fire). So yesterday he met with the undergraduate physics students as they return for the start of the third term of the academic year (called Trinity Term). And today, he administered their review exams - to find out how much they have been studying during their 6 week break in-between terms. Academics must wear their academic gown (which Brian had to borrow) and the students wear a certain black and white outfit called sub fusc. Doesn't he look good in the gown?! Very academic looking I must say . . .

Colleagues Returning

Just thought I'd share - while the news is talking about how the airlines are all back to normal over here in the UK and Europe - there is still a lot of chaos. The airlines are doing their best to stick to their regularly planned schedules for the current day. Which means that people who already have tickets have "Priority"over the poor people who were stuck from last week. The stuck people are being put on stand by flights and rebooked, but in many cases not for another week or longer! Two colleagues still stuck in NYC are on flights finally this weekend, same for a colleague in California. A friend stuck in North Carolina is put on a flight back next week. And the colleague in Hong Kong - the soonest they could rebook her flight is not until May 13!!!

Ash Over the UK

Well it's been five days now that UK airspace has been almost completely shut down and Heathrow airport has been closed. Some flights supposedly were able to fly in/out of Scotland. I have colleagues stuck in NYC, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Germany. Loads of Oxford students and professors are unable to make it make for the start of term soon. Brian starts his new job this week, and will already be jumping right into new responsiblities - the Senior Tutor in Physics is stuck in Singapore, so Brian will have to pick up some of the student meetings and give exams this week and next. Thank goodness we weren't on holiday (well being stuck in Singapore would have been great) but it sounds like a nightmare to get home to the UK. While other countries in Europe also have closed airports, the ground transport can still get everyone somewhere (great train system, bus systems and cars). But as the UK is a island, it's much more difficult. Brits are having to get to continental Europe first, and then try to get the Eurostar train (which travels from Paris/Brussels under the English Channel to London) or take a Ferry across the Channel. The trains and ferries are fully booked for weeks and sounds like the UK navy is heading to Spain to pick up stranded Brits and bring them home. What a mess!

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is definitely the most crazy overwhelming place I've ever been. While Singapore is a very Westernized city in southeast asia (feels very similar to big city America), Bangkok is definitely not. It's a huge Asia city, with lots of people, lights, sounds, smells, fashion, food, motorbikes, buses, pollution, shopping, and religion. It is a city that is used to tourism, but as a tourist it's a place to always be a bit weary and careful. Looking back, I'm so glad we went and visited, but I was also happy when we were leaving to the next place. It's an overwhelming and exhausting city. But spectacular, amazing and unique.

We stayed in a great location in the city - in a big shopping area and next to the University. The area was called Siam Square, and very popular with the Bangkok teens and twentysomethings. That was fun to see their energy and lifestyle. Fashion is a huge industry there so tons of great small boutiques, or huge shopping centres. Also any kind of spa, massage, and foot treatments are around every corner and super cheap. Even botox, hair colouring and other beauty treatments available at walk in centers. While I would not even question eating any food off the street in Singapore, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole in Bangkok. They cook things like deep fried squid on a stick - yikes!

95% of people living in Thailand are Buddhists. It's a lovely religion that believes in reincarnation and having a successful afterlife. It's the fourth largest religion in the world. All over the city and country we were reminded of the Buddhist religion. There are spirit houses at each home/hotel/office, which protect the buildings from evil spirits. And there are Wats (Temples), which you could say are akin to churches, where you go pray to Buddha and get a blessing from the Monks. Depending on your prayers, you burn incense sticks, offer flowers, offer food/drink or gold leaf to Buddha.

Singapore and Thailand - First Four Days

Wow what an amazing trip! This was probably one of my top favorite holidays - for both adventure and relaxation! Even the professor finally had a chance to relax, tune out work, and just enjoy. Our first four days we spent in Singapore. Remember, the National University of Singapore has been Brian's employer for the past year. So now that he will be starting his new job with Oxford (soon on 19 April), he had some work, papers, and banking stuff to close down and wrap up. In the meantime, we still were able to check out some touristy things. One day we spent all day at the Singapore Zoo- fantastic - so many unique species to see there.

We even fed the 80 year old tortoise some apples! Another day we checked out Singapore's well known export beer brewery -Tiger beer. We've been on a lot of brewery tours (big surprise) and thought this was one of the best.

Our favourite things to do in Singapore include eating dinner in the Hawker centers (just think State Fair food stalls, but yummy Asian concoctions),  wandering the streets of Chinatown, and enjoying ice cream on the bridge at Clark Quay.

They have some odd flavoured ice cream. Including their smelly and disgusting fruit called the Durian, and a Sweet Corn flavour. Yes, I tried them both and they were both awful! (Was hoping the corn was somewhat edible to tell everyone from back home about corn ice cream.) :)