oxford

Oxford, Mississippi may not have the same prestige as the place of a similar name in the UK, but I've heard it is considered one of the top ten college towns in the US. And there are some strange similarities, for instance they have a Double-decker Day where they drive a double-decker bus around The Square.

Lots of folks have asked me what I think of Oxford and whether I've found a friendly welcome. Oxford is a fine place to have landed myself. Still being new there, I couldn't tell you exactly what it is known for besides Ole Miss. I arrived at the height of football season and Ole Miss football is one of the town's biggest attractions. Oxford swells by the thousands (or maybe more like 10's of thousands). Fans gather in The Grove all gussied up in their finest, tailgating before the game.

Besides the university, Oxford is a small town of 12-15,000 or so...with lots of little expensive shops on The Square, a variety of restaurants, some classy independent stores, and a fair number of box stores on the outskirts. It is a semi-liberal college town bringing in folks from all over the country and all around the world. This gives the town its indie flair of theater, music, and world-renowned speakers. There are little art shops, independent bookstores, live radio shows, and plenty to do if so inclined. And of course, like any classic college town there are plenty of late-night bars and pizza joints.

I have felt very welcomed. Lauren and Danny (my co-workers/landlords/friends/gracious hosts) have included me in many of their activities. Through them and other folks from work, I have met a lot of new people and gotten a chance to see a bit of Oxford. Folks at NSL (the lab I work at) have been very friendly and generous. It is good to land yourself in a new workplace just before the holidays...there are more gatherings which make it easier to meet people and get to know them better.

As for town and the outskirts...I have also explored a bit on my own, but honestly I have spent most of the daylight hours working. In winter it is dark so early that it is a bit harder to get out and see the area. There are some small parks and a reservoir close by, but to do some real hiking you need to drive to the Ozarks or towards the Appalachians. Since hiking is my main method for getting to know the local fauna and flora (as opposed to hunting - which is done in abundance nearby and also the reason I probably shouldn't be hiking about randomly in the woods) I have not gotten too much exploring done.

And no, I have not visited Memphis at all yet. Some time this winter I hope to meet up with some friends and see a bit of the city...if I can squeeze it in between experiments!