2023

I think walking is one of the most important components that shaped my second year at Oxford. For those of you who have not heard of the term walking, it is basically hiking but without elevation, because there are not a lot of mountains around Oxford. I started by joining some of the walks organised by the Oxford University Walking Club during some of the weekends. The scenery is very nice. Although some of the locals think it is ordinary, it is something I never experienced before as a person living in the "concrete jungle" for nearly the whole of my life. What's even more interesting is the people I have met there, mainly post-graduates. We chat all along the way, like a 6-hour social but it is different from like a networking event where you have to keep talking. Just stop and enjoy the view whenever you feel tired of talking. You can see some photos I took during my walks this year.

I lived quite far away from the city center (a 40-minute walk) during my second year at Oxford, it is more frustrating than it might sound because there are no restaurants nearby and the buses are honestly not a reliable and affordable way of travelling to and from the city center. It kind of forced me to learn cooking, which I quite enjoy right now. I also bike to the department for lessons, to the grocery store, and to meet my friends at the city center. I don't think it is the most enjoyable ride in the whole world especially we are sharing the road with other cars. Riding on the road is indeed out of my comfort zone, learning to use hand signals and rules when encountering junctions certainly helps, but most importantly the patience of the drivers in Oxford helps me to get going. Anyways, it is an experience that you will never find in the hot and busy city of Hong Kong.