Lost in Translation?

Much as I adore the British accent, and although it's considerably easier to understand everything here than it was in Germany, I'm afraid there are some things I just don't get. Such as this. I asked Jonathan, the Junior Dean presiding over the house on Woodstock Road, to explain it to me, but was still more confused after the explanation.

We're not doing anything particularly interesting lately--still being oriented. Effusively. It is, to put it Britishly, "dreary." We did get to tour the city today, with a bit more information than I had on Saturday with Sara and Christy.

Pictures I took on the tour:
1. the church I went to yesterday (University Chuch of St. Mary)
2. Clarendon Building (University facility, offices and such)