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.

Was supposed to see DS yesterday (fitting in with another commitment in Cambridge) but the train was cancelled, I hired a car to try to get there, but traffic was so vile that I had to give up). Was really gutted about that.

News today that he is now isolating because someone at one of the very few social events he's attended has covid.

Thankfully he coincidentally happened to have a test yesterday (after the social event) so fingers crossed he will be out of jail soon... but it's quite a shock when it strikes and I don't think he's particularly prepared... nor do I expect that he'll be asking for or getting much TLC from his nice-but-hardly-intimate-friends household.

In better news, DD (O) is feeling more cheerful as the river is open, rowing has restarted, and she's generally happier.

Can't relate in the slightest to talk of tweed and tailors but I'm happy for those of you that can

I've been told via DM that the latest rules demand that he's in isolation regardless of his test result... argh.

Can't relate in the slightest to talk of tweed and tailors but I'm happy for those of you that can grin

This made me laugh out loud. I was on the verge of protesting that it's all DS as I'm not the tweed-wearing sort, and then I remembered that I do have a rather lovely soft pink tweed jacket.. So I'll just quit while I'm ahead (or not!).

I hope not but rather think that this thread will be filling up with news of self-isolating DC. I'm sorry to hear about your DS, pant. Its doubly hard if the bubble hasn't really bonded, but fingers crossed they will grow closer in adversity. I'm glad we have this place to share experiences and advice; hopefully we can help our DC to prepare for and then manage it when it happens to them.

Really hoping it’s a negative test result for your DS @PantTwizzler. It’s tough having to isolate so early in the term. You are probably realistic in assuming that households are not necessarily going to be hugely supportive (yet).

Good news about the rowing though for your DD. Anything “normal” really helps I think.

DD (O) has the last of her four hours long online exams today. DS (C) requested a family Zoom call this evening but DD has declined as she will be in the college bar. Quite right too!

Very little news coming from DS (O), but he's not a sharer. But it seems he has made a group of friends (1 from his household plus a "nearby" household). He has a "ridiculous amount of work" he thinks they are trying to fit two weeks into one week. He also seems to be mainly surviving on free food and hasn't braved hall yet! He is skinny as it is, so this has given me something new to worry about!

That's a bit frustrating @PantTwizzler, as if his test is clear, it would make sense not to isolate in a bubble with others who might have Covid, but to get out in the fresh air.

PantTwizzler that is true, but the isolation period is 14 days from when they last saw the infected person. DD was tested on Monday after contact with a positive case & had a negative result last night, but is confined to barracks along with a lot if others in her cohort until next week. Her college have now stopped testing anyone not displaying symptoms.

According to the Guardian the government are planning for students to be locked down 8th to 22nd December so they can all come home for Christmas then.

a)Oxbridge finish before then.
b) unless everyone can have room delivered to their rooms and don't need to share any bathrooms, I can't see how this would work.

The Guardian made the point about Oxford and Cambridge finishing earlier.

They did. I think some other unis do too?

I've started a separate thread to not derail things on here. I realised I was in danger of going down a massive derailing.

!

sorry about random !

It's not derailing OYBBK, it's fairly centrally on point!

Just had a text from DD (4th yr C). All lectures are online. Supervisions are a mixture of online and in person. She is back in the 1st year block in an ensuite room and with a shared basic kitchen. Several of her friends are also on her floor and staircase so they are now a bubble, and one of them is doing exactly the same course as DD so they can have joint supervisions. One is planned for the college garden!

Labs are not taught this term, but DD is starting her project so gets allocated lab time. Again, she can work with her mate, which is helpful.

So far she hasn't had a Covid test but every week 2 from each bubble in her college are being tested. So far, all negative.

She received an email from her college before she went back reminding her to keep a decent supply of clean clothes, lots of warm clothing like coats, hats, gloves etc., and 2 weeks' supply of dried and tinned food. She has LOADS of clothes so probably only does 2 washes per term normally and manages to wear everything so comes home with lots of dirty stuff.

I can sympathise with the empty nest feelings. I am super-busy at work (school) so don't get much time to wallow. Last night was lovely as my non-Oxbridge DD watched Bake Off a few seconds behind me online and the C DD watched it around an hour behind. The WhatsApp messages between us were fun.

I hope all the freshers are settling in. It seems to all have gone by very quickly for us - fingers crossed that your DC have an equally amazing time.

Malbec I dont feel that we were quite so paranoid with our supplies now. I did feel a numpty hauling boxes of food past the porters!

Coleo can you get your ds a delivery of those just add boiling water porridge pots for breakfast? or poptarts, amazon do them and they can be eaten cold.

Latest detail from DS is that he hasn’t been contacted by T&T and wasn’t in the room with the guy who is now positive... so I don’t think he needs to isolate after all.

Think I need to get him to be very well prepared with much more food and clean laundry in case it happens for real soon.

It’s so much harder being there than at home, obviously — they can’t even get deliveries unless porters/friends are hand delivering things.

So sorry your C DS is going through this Coleo. I am sending you a DM.

London (where we live) in Tier 2 lockdown from Saturday. Found this detail in the Metro:
"Those following tier two lockdown rules are also asked to only make essential journeys and not travel too far outside the area in which they live unless it is absolutely necessary."
Does this mean no trips to visit the DC? Or are Oxford and Cambridge "in the area"?

Pant - I think it's pretty clear that if you are in a Tier 2 area then you shouldn't be travelling to O or C - and visiting your DC is not absolutely necessary. But I sympathise: we're hoping to visit Oxford in half term, so would be sad if we couldn't see DS in his first term.

DS’s college (thinking it must be same as @Malbecfan’s DD’s from description above) has requested no visits this term. Haven’t heard anything specific from DD’s college (O).
I know it isn’t a great idea to visit either DC but sad nevertheless.

It doesn't look like we will be able to visit dd for her 21st later this term does it? :( We can't send her her main present, I wouldn't trust it by post.

But travelling is only restricted for tier 3?

Afraid not @OhYouBadBadKitten - unnecessary travel from tier 2 not allowed (i.e. London).

I need to re-read the restrictions. I thought I was on top of what is and isn't advised.

www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-level-high

This says you can even go on holiday outside of a tier 2 (high level area) as long as its within your own household. You can also meet people outside your household as long as you are outside. So socially distanced walks with your dc are fine if you are visiting from London.