I am very lucky to visit the prestigious Oxford University at a good age, especially the prestigious department of philosophy. Many famous philosophers in history came from the Oxford department of philosophy (Bacon, Isaiah Berlin, etc.). For the first time, I got close to the "British" accent (although I still like to listen to the "American") and felt the elegance of the British style.
The campus of Oxford University is full of classical buildings, so as to maintain the connection between tradition and modernity, which makes me deeply understand the respect of British people for the culture of their ancestors in the long history. In particular, the first day of arrival coincided with Britain's annual Remembrance Day, when citizens went to streets and joined military bands to express their respect and love for the martyrs with music and words.
What surprises me most is the structure of the university. Different from the domestic "school-major", Oxford University "school" and "major" are not unified. Under a college (such as Regent College, which was responsible for our program), students may have different majors: philosophy, physics, law, archaeology and so on. Students from China can really be "surprised" by such structures.
One day during the project, we also visited the university of Cambridge. It should be said that compared with Oxford, Cambridge may have a special flavor. It is not only " Farewell to Cambridge" that makes me so fascinated, nor is it just that Wittgenstein spent a short and legendary life there. What is important is that under the guidance of the tour guide, I truly understand the inclusive atmosphere of Cambridge, which encourages innovation and tolerates differences. Although many people think of Britain as "conservative" (although I agree with this idea), Cambridge is (to some extent) "open".
I was also gratified by the "gentlemanliness" of the British. Most of the British citizens I met, both male and female, were polite: offered to open the door for you, said "thank you" at all times, and behaved very well. As I attach great importance to this aspect, I have been impressed by this trip to Britain.
