This post is going to be a bit different. Because it’s going to be about something very very good!!
When I left Oxford over a year ago, I had not actually graduated from the University. I had earned a degree, but it had not actually been conferred. Oxford puts a lot of sock in their traditions, you see. At the time - mid July if I recall - the only ceremony which my college was scheduled for was in mid September. And I couldn’t afford to stick around that log. I needed to move back to the States, where I had clearance to be employed, and where rent was significantly less - in my case nil, as my parents have been generous enough to let me move back in with them.
In any case, I said then that I would prefer not to graduate in absentia - meaning they hold a ceremony without you and mail you your papers. So I delayed it, saying I’d be back in a year and a few months. It would give me the excuse to travel again and see friends. And, well, it finally has.
I’m writing the opening of what will hopefully be a long post on the flight east. It’s a 7-8h flight which is shorter than I’m used to as I’m taking a different layover and a different airline than normal. You see, when you don’t need to check a bag, it turns out it’s significantly cheaper if you take a layover in Iceland. And hey. It means I get to see Iceland!!
Last night and this morning I was a bundle of nerves. The kind that keep you up at night and upset your stomach. I’m honestly not used to feeling that way about trips. But it’s been a while. It turns out that, so far at least, I had nothing whatsoever to worry about. And have only and exclusively been made more and more aware of God’s blessings on this trip.
I’ve been planning this for months. My summer job gave me a lot of time waiting around for a phone to ring with access to a computer. And honestly if I had my eyes open at all I could have seen the blessings in all that. I found very affordable air fare that is giving me some amazing opportunities (more on that later) and everything is working out.
I had a bit of a scare last night, as when I checked in, the wrong name was put on my boarding pass. An error, I believe, in the passage of information from Priceline to Icelandair, resulting in a typo that causes me some stress, and $30 to fix. I also stressed a LOT over packing. Challenging myself to really under pack for this trip as I always over pack. But I have to bring my sub fusc (formal attire for the graduation ceremony) and that takes a lot of space and weight. But so far that’s worked out too, as the airline gave me no trouble for my bag.
Even the little things have worked out. When o originally checked in I was given a middle seat on the plane (as in between two people) but when I re-checked in after correcting my name, I was given the option - previously unavailable but mysteriously now allowed - to switch one seat to the right and sit by a window (does this mean the seat next to me will be empty? Perhaps. We’ll see). But I’ve had even MORE amazing fortune in the seating department.
When boarding, I came to my row (mine was the isle seat) and found the lady who had booked the window seat asking to switch - I don’t know the reason, maybe she was claustrophobic and wanted an aisle too. But not switch with me, switch rows. The flight attendants helped her and that means there would only be two passengers. The guy who had booked the middle seat asked if I minded switching with him just for take off - saying that once we were at altitude he wanted to try and switch to a different aisle seat too, giving me mine back. But before we even took off it became clear that the aisle seat right across the aisle from us had not been claimed. Which means that I’ve ended up on a 7h flight with an entire 3 seat row to myself. Miracles, right?
I also, because I’m so used to just listening to podcasts, kind of forgot that you can watch good films on airplanes. Finally got to watch Isle of Dogs. It’s good. As I write this I’m watching the last minute or so of a sunset over what I believe to be Lake Superior. Don’t know that I’ve ever seen that lake before. But I guess now I have. I forgot how much I love traveling.
My first stop on this trip is, as I’ve said, Iceland! I have a 10h layover. Which is an interesting amount of time. I’m leaving the airport and going to try to get breakfast at this museum nearby. Then I’ll decide whether I want to try going elsewhere or just back to the airport early. Probably the later tbh. Then I fly to London, to catch the bus to Oxford, for not the first and hopefully not the last time.
I cannot say how excited I am to be back in this city and win these people. The amount of friends I’ve had that are willing to take off work and even to cross the country to come into town this weekend has been truly humbling. Most of my plans have just been to be in my favorite spaces - the parks, the pubs, and the libraries (I still have a readers card, but can’t check books out) but my friends have been great in arranging other trips too! Especially the friend I am staying with, whose love of theater and experience with London theaters is to my extreme benefit, as she has landed us tickets to not one but two shows which I have very much wanted to see; Harry Potter and Hamilton! I know right?!? Lizzy you’re amazing.
I am a little bit sad that because of the way timing has worked out, I will likely be unable to attend either Sunday or Tuesday night services at the church and chapel I used to. I’ve got a lot of great memories with those places and people and services, so it’s a real shame. But the people and places are still there and I am excited to share with them again. And, I think, return to thank them for helping to put me on the path I am on, and introducing me to the Anglican tradition.
After my time in Oxford I’ll fly home, but not before I stop in Iceland again. This time, overnight. I’ve planned a very ambitious day. For the first time in my life I will be renting a car, and driving myself first to my hostel, and then the following day on a 5-8-ish hour road trip around Iceland’s “golden circle”! I think I spent more time planning those 26 hours than I did the entire rest of the trip!
I know that this is probably another occasion of me letting myself be blown by the whims of fate. I’ve noticed more and more how fragile my mental state is. How quickly bad weather - figuratively or quite literally - can throw me into deeper depression. And it’s been a while since fortune as it were has blown so strongly in my favor. But even if I am being blown around I want to seize this opportunity. To perhaps regain some ground and some perspective.
Even the process of packing - or rather of going through Sony things to find a few items I wanted to pack - worked to open my eyes. Going through old papers it felt like I had forgotten my life in Oxford, and forgotten how entirely blessed I have been. Being back in all of this feels like a real wind beneath my wings. And I’ve no clue if it’s all going to come crashing back down when I go back to working as a substitute teacher September 24th. But here’s to hoping I guess.
My prayer for this trip is to have open eyes to see and know and remember how God has blessed me. And for it not to fall through my fingers like sand on the way home. I would appreciate any prayers on my behalf towards that end as well. Thank you very much for reading, and to all of my Oxford friends who are helping make this trip great.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above the heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Rissa
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