The square is a historic part of Oxford, it is the cultural and economic hub of the city. It is kind of like what we would compare to downtown Calgary. I got to visit many stores like Square Books which is the local book store. It was really nice to visit local stores rather than only chain restaurants or brands. I might also add that this book store was so aesthetic and cozy it also had three floors and had a coffee shop on the third floor which was super cool. They had a really cool staircase too that had different words written on it, in the picture on the left. I bought sunglasses from a department store called Oniels which is similar to Hudsons Bay.
One of my favourite places to visit in the square was called YaYa’s Frozen Yogurt which is a family owned business. I would come here quite often it had some of the best frozen yogurt I have had and they also had a local ice cream spot called Oxford Creamery which was also quite good.
Lamar Park is a local park in Oxford, it has walking trails, a quiet lake and some sculptures throughout the park. I would often come here to go on walks or just quietly read it was a very nice and relaxing park to visit. When I first arrived Oxford MS, I noticed how green the entire state was so many trees everywhere you go, which was a nice change from Calgary where in the inner city it is all houses surrounding you.
There is a lot of history of William Faulkner in Oxford including his home which I also got to visit as well. Oxford nightlife has no shortage of energy. From live music in Oxford’s many venues to the various dining options, it is definitely the place to be. My friends took me around to visit different places like Tangos and Square Pizza. There is so much energy from everyone who is in the square so much excitement especially on the nights that the Rebels win their football games. It was unlike everything I ever experienced before.
Ole Miss
The Ole Miss campus is one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever been on. The grove on campus which is where the tailgating takes place on football games. Was a nice are where there were benches and tables to sit and do your work or just relax and eat your foot which I loved. It is the most central part of the campus. Walk of Champions is a really cool part of campus where on football game days two hours before the game starts Rebel fans line up in the Grove for a chance to see the team walk toward Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Walk of Champions has become a tradition for every home game at Ole Miss, and fans wait eagerly to get a high-five or a picture with their favourite players. It was also a huge campus which took some getting used to in order to find my way around. Some of the other classes I took were EDEL 401: Social Studies in the Elementary School with Dr. Gilbert and also a EDCI 352: Education, Society, and the K12 Learner with Dr. Brady . Within both of the classes I was able to learn lots about the Mississippi education system. I got to compare my experiences in Canada and our education system to theirs. One of the funniest moments in Dr. Gilberts class was when one the students asked to see Canadian money, I showed them a loonie and a $10 bill because that is all I had on me. I ended up giving them one of the loonies to keep.
I have loved all the moments I have experienced here so far I definitely think Oxford is such an underrated placement to choose from. There is so much to see and opportunities to learn as well, everyone is super kind and welcoming here as well.