School Starts

Over the past several days, I've gone through the "induction" process at Durham University. The first event was a formal dinner at St. John's college for new postgraduates (freshers). A little bit different than DTS, with champagne as we mixed and then 2 bottles of wine for each 6-person table. Also, for those returning that also attended robes were strongly encouraged. Several of the colleges did the formalities for undergrads today, and many required robes for that as well. And I thought Harry Potter was just a story.

On Monday, I sat through all the rules, regulations, and recommendation meetings put on by the Univ., and later got to meet the other fresher postgrads for the Theology Dept. About 70% were N. Americans, but several of those will be working part-time back in the US, so of the full-timers it's about 50% N.A. and 50% not (British--30%?, Hungarian, Greek, Indian, etc.). I was a little disappointed that it was so many N.A.'s so it will be more difficult to meet other cultures, but I can't complain since I am one myself. Again, a drinks reception concluded the Theology Dept's induction meetings. Of the Americans I met, one is from NW Arkansas and two are from Boston area (Gordon-Conwell)--one of these is originally from Oklahoma. So we've just about got the old SW Conference covered.