I have now been at Oxford for five days. We went through two whole days of orientation, which included lectures on anti-americanism, how our classes, would be set up and how to best utilize the experience. Orientation was full of jet lag, meeting new friends and tours of the colleges and libraries. When first walking around Oxford, before I was inducted to my college or to the Bodleian Library, I noticed that the whole city was divided into sections. I felt as if I had fallen into the Renaissance, as I was surrounded by spires, walls and buildings that fall just short of castles.

Of the 38 colleges present in Oxford, almost all of them are surrounded by walls, and all of them are blocked to the public unless you want to pay a fee just to tour. Once I was inducted into both my college and the libraries associated with the University of Oxford, it seems as though all the walls fell -- almost. While now I can walk into my own college, including all of the buildings, libraries and courtyards, as well as the greater set of Bodleian Libraries, there are still some restrictions. I can access the college I have been inducted into, but I am not allowed into any of the other colleges. Walking around as an associate member, you feel included, but still not quite like a full fledged Oxford student, but it has only been a week.

I have now spent the last several days going on field trips (Windsor Castle), starting my classes, and studying. Even in my classwork it seems that Oxford is a city of walls. My reading list for my six credit hours is extensive, and yet it’s hard to get your hands on the books needed. However, once I did, it was amazing. The amount of resources available at just my college library, not even the greater Bodleian, is incredible. Seventy thousand books are housed in this library alone. Oxford is a midsize city, and it seems that the number of books present outnumber the actual population of Oxford.

Whether you are comparing Oxford to a typical U.S. city or university, or not, Oxford will leave you as enchanted as it has left me. The architecture, cafes and friendly locals will cast a spell you will never forget. Being an outsider, while also being included is an odd experience but one I wouldn’t trade for the world.