English knife woes

Artfully Martial,

Congratulations on your admission to a very world-class university. That will definitely make your resume stand out later in life.

If you have the opportunity for travel elsewhere in Europe, I would recommend Prague as the ultimate Mideval experience. Great beer in the Czech Republic, also.

Oh yeah, the Czech girls are gorgeous!

Paris is a good choice too, if the jihadists haven't sacked the place by the time you get there.
 
Well, Oxford, from my literature, doesn't seem to be keen on negotiating one semester stays, so I might be there for a whole year, depending on how it goes down.

And not to rain on the parade, but I have not been accepted yet. I've worked extraordarily hard in my years in college and I'm very confident about this sort of thing, but Oxford is way the heck up there--there's a real possibility of me not making it. I sent in a brief resume to the office of admissions after a short chat to see if they thought I had good chances, because there's not really an easy way to compare my US accomplishments with their requirements, at least, none that I can tell. I hope to receive some sort of feedback early this morning, where I will certainly update yall.

I'm also applying for a rotary club scholarship to pay for a full ride for any one year or less study abroad to TCU students. This scholarship, among others, are fairly crucial.

I do have some second thoughts as its quickly looking like it's becoming a reality, but I think some folks are misinterpreting what I'm writing. I wasn't questioning whether or not I'd go, just lamenting the loss of certain favorite things.

I really do appreciate yall's support though, I had no idea this would get such a large response.
 
Google to the rescue! OK, Ocelot777, I am betting CRS stands for "Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité". I hope those guys can do a good job. From what I have read the French government has mostly wimped out in dealing with the jihadists. I hope that is an overly pessimistic appraisal.
 
W.T. Beck said:
Google to the rescue! OK, Ocelot777, I am betting CRS stands for "Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité". I hope those guys can do a good job. From what I have read the French government has mostly wimped out in dealing with the jihadists. I hope that is an overly pessimistic appraisal.
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The French Government always bails out. They'll be expecting the Yanks to come over to save their sorry asses once again then carry on the anti-american demonstrations. What a bunch of sorry losers.
 
Wow, must be an exciting time for you, I hope you can make it happen.

Your concern over knives and cars will, I'm quite sure, disapear mid Atlantic.

The UK for all of it's problems remains a great place and I'm sure your time here would be productive in a variety of ways. Yes it may well increase your employability and earning potential but perhaps more importantly it will give you a slightly different take on the world. Who knows we may even make a socialist out of you :eek: :D
 
Well, if you get in IT'S F-ING OXFORD!!!!! Get these experiences in now while you can. When/if you're married with kids and all that lovely school debt you'll wish you had gone if you don't. The knives will still be here, and so will the cars. Good luck on it.

-Anthony
 
If you get the chance, go!

Although I prefer Cambridge as a tourist attraction, Oxford can be delightful.

You will also be following in the august footsteps of that pillar of propriety, William Jefferson Clinton, who studied at Oxford 1968-1970 and did not inhale...

As to knives, sub-3" slipjoints are perfectly legal. Pick up a Spyderco UK Penknife, you'll barely miss the lock.

Try a pint in Tolkien's favourite pub, the Eagle and Child, usually known as the Bird and Baby.

Besides, as a chap from the colonies, you need an infusion of culture. :rolleyes:

maximus otter
 
Don't think of what you will be missing, think instead of what you will be learning:

1. How to speak English [Be careful though, because words don't necessarily sound the same as they're written.]
2. How to drink alcoholic beverages. For fun, ask for American beer and watch the bartender have to walk all the way to nearest piss-trough to get you some.
3. How to buy a batman costume for a frat party and not have the salesperson caution you that you cannot really fly with it. [How do folks know these things without trying?]

oh and finally...

4. How to love the smell and pur of a small diesel powered automobile.

:D
 
One fairly unique thing about Oxford - and I'm going on your username here - is the opportunity to study Zen Shorin Do karate.

It's a 'soft' martial art that a martial artist called Nathan Johnson developed from historical research into forms and katas - he set about exploring possible hidden origins of movements in the Gong-Fu katas and came up with some truly amazing results in terms of grappling and locking technique.

I don't have the terminology to explain better, I'm afraid, but I practised it for a while and you can learn the basics very quickly. Nathan travels up to Oxford from Southampton two or three times a week to give lessons at the University athletic facility. Well worth a look, and there are six or seven other martial arts classes in the same place.

As for the knife situation - you can fondle them all you want at home or in your room and no one will bother you for it. The Spydie UK penknife is, technically, legal carry. BUT - in reality, you could get grief from an LEO if found with it in public - and likewise from University staff.

The college staff are the ones you'd need to worry about. The Oxford disciplinary system is a law unto itself and is very arbitrary. It's based on 'probability of guilt' rather than 'beyond reasonable doubt' and they can do anything from levying fines to kicking students out. And you have no legal recourse. Leave the Spydie in your room and go with something like an SAK classic on a keychain. It sounds paranoid, but there is general paranoia in the UK at the moment regarding 'knife crime', especially with regards to educational institutions, and Oxford is very conscious that the press loves stories about its students 'misbehaving'.

Paranoid, I know - and it's largely a hypothetical situation - but I'd rather go with the SAK than take the chance of having to explain to my folks why I'm home eight months early.

As for racing cars... a ride in the front seat of a London private cab on a Friday night should take care of any excess adrenaline.

Good luck with the test scores.
 
Kind of annoyed this morning, the second reply was from the graduate school, to which I am not applying.

So I'll take this in stride and tell my friends that Oxford said I was so smart I could just skip undergrad altogether.

So I guess this means I have to call them late at night mon-thurs and clarify that I am not a graduate student and start this all over. Yippee.

I woke up from that dream that you're taking a test that no one told you about to the letter from the incorrecnt part of Oxford. And to my alarm. And in five minutes, I have to leave for molecular biology. aughhh
 
AM,
I think that you may just be worried about your knives. I can hold them for you if you like. I'd take good care of them while you are gone. No need to carry that burden by yourself. Good luck on your exam.
 
Hot British chicks? Are you guys feeling ok?

At least the beer's good.

Hop over to Ireland on the weekends. :D
 
Johnnysharp is right about the paranoia level in the U.K. right now. The police are now setting up metal detectors, the archway airport type, supplemented with the hand wand variety, on the London Underground. They set up at different stations each day and it's specifically to catch guys carrying knives. I guess a SAK would be OK but even though the UK Pen is technically legal for daily carry, you might have a bit of explaining to do because its not so sheeple friendly. Trying times for the good folk...:rolleyes:
 
Artfully Martial said:
How's the feeling there torwards Texans at the moment?
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One of them's a bit of a love/hate figure... George something-or-other - I forget :D

but it's a very diverse place, the university. It's like the UN without the squabbling.
 
There are PLENTY of hot British girls, believe me!! Im shallow enough that I usually only date "absolute scorchers!", and there really are some lovely ladies, though I know youve got some cuties over there. (I must admit Im rather partial to the "sun-kissed Californian blonde look"! & Ooooooh, Cheerleaders!)

Sorry, drifted off for a second there! LOL

The good thing about English ladies is, I find, that theyre very er...."bold". My current girlfriend loves having her picture taken, and though she'd go mad at my posting her pic on here, you guys would just be stunned if you could see my present wallet photograph of her, (bless er!)
 
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