Oxford and Cambridge current students - discussion thread for anyone with daughters, sons etc there for Michaelmas 2020 (and not just freshers!)

[DadDadDad]

A continuation thread for those attending Oxbridge for the first time this term, but it makes sense to throw it open to anyone with a DC there (or other family member, or maybe you're a student yourself or teach / work there - all welcome!) Share your thoughts and questions on college life, courses, etc. A certain virus has made it a bit different for everyone this year...

I have a DS who is a fresher at a small Oxford college in a small subject. We will be taking him there in just over a week.

That's a great post @Dailyhandtowelwash.

DD has her first supervision today and is terrified, despite having had a taster one and excellent essay feedback from a PhD student last week. Freshers week coming to an end and hard work starting now.

Like the last horcrux latching onto the baby Harry Potter, I have no child to fret about so have drilled down on one of the guinea pigs who is a bit peaky. I hope those with empty nests finding the mental space expanding to accomodate those hobbies we set aside decades ago?

Yes, that's exactly it Dailyhandtowelwash - for now, small talk is good.

PantTwizzler DD has no processing issues, but still found the onslaught of emails in the early days completely overwhelming. We resorted to sharing her screen on Zoom so we could help her prioritise. It's all very well saying they are supposed to handle it all themselves, but even I need a hand sometimes figuring out how to manage my time and an out of control inbox is a horrible thing to confront. It's hardly surprising if these young kids find it a bit overwhelming.

Another empty nester here. I am also a cycling fanatic (hence username) and am so glad the rain has finally stopped today.
Anyone else making frequent trips to the post office? Three trips since Friday posting bits of kit to enhance DC’s online experiences (DH is in his element bringing their technology up to speed, quite literally).
Looking forward to our first family Zoom call with DC this evening .

Ooh, what kind of kit are you sending, @ofteninaspin ?

Today it was an Ethernet cable so that DD doesn’t have to rely on a wireless connection for her online exams next week.

The only thing I have sent DS1 is a £20 Cafe Nero card and some stamps. In his welcome park he had some postcards of the college and I suggested he should send one to each set of DGPs - stamps were a nudge to do so.

He actually phoned today He has a hangover. He says the food portions are too small and he is having to eat a lot of toast. One of his housemates has a serious nut allergy so he can't have his favourite nutty spreads, biscotti will have to do.

He's continually bumping his head on the period beams in his room. Actually did so during our call - leading to some choice language.

And he is happy for us to visit for lunch on 1 November to mark DH's birthday. The question is which DGP we invite to keep to the rule of six for lunch. Diplomatic nightmare...

It seems that many of us have had a flurry of communication from our respective DC. I’ve been scrupulously avoiding hovering over DS so was delighted that he phoned me for a long chat today. He’s being quite the social butterfly and is having a lot of fun within his bubble as well as getting to know the other bubbles. Full marks to his college for arranging entertaining events that allow them to interact with others whilst also sticking to the rules. What surprised me was that DS has already met many people from other colleges and is extending his network despite the difficult circumstances. I think these meet ups have been in small groups and a lot have been outside so let’s hope the good weather continues. When I pointed out to him that he’s made more friends from other colleges in one week than I did in three years at Cambridge he expressed an absence of surprise.

So, all fine on the social front. He seems excited about supervisions starting and luckily these are face to face. I’m sad for him that labs might be online, but it is what it is. At least they’re all in this together.

Sandy explain the situation to the DGP and let them make the decision.

DD appears to have cheered up this morning - first bit of practical work has been set. She is reporting that one of the staircases is in isolation. Also the covid police are patrolling Radcliffe Square to disperse students who are using it as an inter college party site.

Sandy explain the situation to the DGP and let them make the decision.

DD appears to have cheered up this morning - first bit of practical work has been set. She is reporting that one of the staircases is in isolation. Also the covid police are patrolling Radcliffe Square to disperse students who are using it as an inter college party site.

A staircase is in isolation at DD's college too Unescorted.... It's a third year who's tested positive apparently, not a fresher.

I think a lot more staircases are about to follow.

I think there's been a bit of inter college fraternisation going on inside college walls as well as in Radcliffe Square!

DS has messaged today about the important things, i.e. he has bought a bike. Nothing about anything else!

DS1 is at the Oxford Union tonight and even sent a picture. Uncharacteristically he admitted to a bit of a 'wow' moment. I feel really chuffed for him given all the other stuff that he'd imagined happening isn't happening at the moment.

On the downside it turns out one of his tutorials is on a Friday at 5.15. EVERY WEEK!

Enjoying everyone's updates and news of DC. I work in HE and we are three weeks in now and things have noticeably quietened down....students have settled in the new rules and generally, are sticking to them - they know that losing face-to-face teaching is the consequence, so it does feel (so far) that we are all working together.

I'm sure things will pick up for those who haven't had an easy first few days socially, even in these strange circumstances.

Hello all.

I'm a bit late to this, but it's nice to see some familiar faces, especially @goodbyestranger - her DS4 and my DD1 are friends from school.

DD1 is at C entering her 4th (Masters) year. So far, so good. DH dropped her off 2.5 weeks ago. I took her sister back to Leicester on the same day. Both have been in regular contact with me. DD1 has resumed socially distanced Chapel choir rehearsals at a neighbouring college, She's a bit fed up that the March tour to Italy was cancelled but she did several tours with the school choir.

Last September was our "empty nest" time. This year we have my dad staying, who has been here since March, apart from 18 days in July. I'm not sure who causes more work: when DDs are home they drive him around, vacuum and put washing on and hang it on the line. To be fair to an old man, he did bring the washing in today whilst I was at work, but he does cause quite a lot of extra hassle. Roll on December!

DS has joined two societies, both university-wide ones rather than college ones. One will be meeting online and the other (an orchestra) hopes to be able to meet in a local church to rehearse. His lectures start tomorrow.

DD due back at Oxford tomorrow. Call today as one of her flatmates has a cough. Have to wait for the rest result and if negative she can go tomorrow. If not then college preparing a plan B of a room somewhere else until 14 days ends and then moving her stuff in the college van to her flat. Actually seemed well organised - her test awaiting flatmates, had been delivered courgettes apples and, tangerines!!

Good to hear people's news.

DS has joined lots of random sports societies -- he's not especially sporty, but figures it's one of the few things going on. He's managed to get his timetable to download on to ical or similar by lengthy IT contortions so that makes it digestible. Alas, everything is online for him apart from labs. But at least there's that.

On which subject... do you need hockey boots to play hockey?! We did when I was at school, but no idea what happens now. DS has signed up for hockey having never played it in his life...

@PantTwizzler - robust trainers of the kind you might use for 5 a side football will do to start with. Most hockey is played on AstroTurf these days and regular players wear astroboots - like trainers but a bit tougher and with more grip.

I think you're remembering hockey in grass? You did need boots for that. I remember the difficulty of hitting a ball on grass and huge clumps of earth flying up.

DD plays and hasn't ever had hockey boots or astroboots (the latter are news to me!).

Good idea signing up for college sports PantTwizzler. That's a major bonus of collegiate unis, having college sports teams to play in where you don't need to be top level or even particularly proficient.

Gum shield probably the most important bit of kit for hockey!