Thursday, October 05, 2006
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Ok so to continue...
Sunday morning the British arrived (I make it sound like the war). It was actually great knowing the internationals well already because it made it less awkward, and we had kind of been slowly introduced to our year instead of thrust into it like the brit students were. The int'l students JCR did a great job actually, they were awesome! On Sunday morning I did my washing (are you all proud?) and I arranged to meet Lorraine to go to St. Andrews the Great church in Market Square. It was a great service inside a small cathedral, probably very similar to a windsor morning service but full of students, and a slightly less established speaker. It was good being able to go with somebody I knew to make it a little less nerve-racking. The message however was still very good, and they are beginning to work through the book of Phillipians. The service is student-centred so they operate the layout of sermons, bible study groups and everything around when students will be in residence which is cool, so that specific 11:15am service community is engineered to be operating around student residence. After each service they have a lunch where they fill the hall with chairs and tables and for 2 quid you have a meal together whilst listening to a teaching, which you then discuss over coffee and a muffin. Everybody was so welcoming and it definitely seemed like a place I would like to return to to continue with my spiritual development. I signed up for a newcomers dinner with the VIcar's wife, which is apparently a must because he cooking is known Cambridge-wide. (I'm loving all this free food, I don't know if you noticed, but up to this point, I have only had to pay for 3 meals over 4 days, and the 2 quid meal above was free because it was my first time too :) ) Lorraine and I returned to Corpus. I changed into my black tie and gown and mingled with my year in the parker room over tea before our group photo. All the parents were standing around admiring their children, and some even packed into the old court, third story windows for a better view of everybody. It was just like a year 13 pre-ball. I apologise to my family in advance, but I have to say, I was glad not to have to feel like I needed to look after them, so I was free to talk to whoever I wished. After our group photo the families were asked to leave, and e proceeded to the great hall for matriculation. This is the big ceremony where we the Dean reads out our names individually and we go up to sign the register at the front, officially making us members of the college and university. Prof. Oliver Craccum (or as we know him - Merlin) bows to each of us and after we sign he hands us the college history and the rules we just agreed to. One of which is, as an undergraduate, we agree to keep all aircrafts outside of Cambridge city centre. I don't know who wrote out the book we signed, but it was all completed in perfect calligraphy and very fancy. The ceremony finished early leaving us time to hang about in the college bar, after which we went to the McCrum lecture theatre for the Master's Address. For the first time I could see Cambridge wasn't all old, after walking through the C16 exterior, the McCrum lecture theatre is fully automated and modern - so you can see why the university remains up to date and at the forefront. It's amazing what you find when you don't expect to find it here. The master himself I am sure is a genius haing heard him introduced by his achievements, but he's just not a genius with words. I'm glad it went for 5 minutes only, otherwise I may have been forced to bash my head on the concrete pillar next to me. Evensong was held in the college chapel, and was in a word beautiful. Inside, the chapel was lit entirely by candlelight and the stained glass, marble and wood all had this incredible glow. The choir sounds fantastic here, which is probably why I didn't get in after my audition yesterday, but I look forward to hearing them in the future. Chapel requires formal wear and gowns all year round, but the dress of everyone really completed the atmosphere. Despite not knowing any of the hymns, or understanding half of the prayers (in Latin) I really felt God's presence in that place, which is fantastic because the chapel really is at the heart of the college.
Myself, Lorraine and John before Matriculation
The college chapel from my staircase
Evensong was followed by Matriculation Dinner (freebie), another 4 course meal, the highlight of which was the chocolate brulee with amaretto biscuits at the end. Definitely one to have again. The dinner itself was very formal, with a gong to signal us to stand and the fellows to enter at the high table. When they sat, dinner immediately began with first course being served. I had some great conversation with my college mum Sarah on my left, the people across from me and Jan Leaver my tutorial officer on my right. The dinner itself was definitely the longest, but also the most people going for 3 hours, by which time I was shattered. The student's then had their own 'formal introduction' to give at Botolph Court which was broken up by the porter's an hour later at midnight. Following it was off to bed for another equally as big day.
Monday morning was the world's most exciting introductory talks, with a fire safety speech going for an hour. That concrete pillar was looking mighty tempting! The afternoon was quite interesting, as the college Fellows toured us around Corpus to the Parker and Butler Libraries and the College Silver. As they explained what each piece was, and it's significance in the history of england or the college I felt as if I was being shown my inheritance, what I as an heir to the college had the right to. They were cetainly very proud of their silver. It was definitely useless, but priceless. This one cup was designed so that if the consumer of the cup got particularly greedy and over filled it, the contents of the cup would spill out through tiny holes at it's base onto the lap of the drinker. Random! Later I completed the majority of my banking and internet worries (hence the updates now) and had a casual dinner with friends in Hall. It's great that everybody is so friendly, and Corpus being so small, is really easy to get to know everybody in the college, but I am constantly meeting new people and enjoying their company. Monday night was the beginning of Fresher's Week and the college had booked out Fez club. We went at 9pm - 12pm when the doors were opened to the public. Dancing the night away to some familiar songs, and even a kiwi artist in there, we left as the place crowded out completely so you couldn't move! That was certainly my first major taste of the student party scene, and I think I have come through it unscathed. This morning was hard to wake up at 5:30am for a 6:30am introduction lecture on my tripos. There was absolutely no need for it to be that early other than to dissuade people from going out the night before. So I am now off to enjoy my first free afternoon for a while in Market Square. Lectures start properly on Thursday, so expect shorter updates then (which will probably be easier on the eyes also).
Thank you all for your prayers, I can definitely witness some answers to them. Likewise I pray all is wel with you back home and we'll be in touch!
God Bless!
Sunday morning the British arrived (I make it sound like the war). It was actually great knowing the internationals well already because it made it less awkward, and we had kind of been slowly introduced to our year instead of thrust into it like the brit students were. The int'l students JCR did a great job actually, they were awesome! On Sunday morning I did my washing (are you all proud?) and I arranged to meet Lorraine to go to St. Andrews the Great church in Market Square. It was a great service inside a small cathedral, probably very similar to a windsor morning service but full of students, and a slightly less established speaker. It was good being able to go with somebody I knew to make it a little less nerve-racking. The message however was still very good, and they are beginning to work through the book of Phillipians. The service is student-centred so they operate the layout of sermons, bible study groups and everything around when students will be in residence which is cool, so that specific 11:15am service community is engineered to be operating around student residence. After each service they have a lunch where they fill the hall with chairs and tables and for 2 quid you have a meal together whilst listening to a teaching, which you then discuss over coffee and a muffin. Everybody was so welcoming and it definitely seemed like a place I would like to return to to continue with my spiritual development. I signed up for a newcomers dinner with the VIcar's wife, which is apparently a must because he cooking is known Cambridge-wide. (I'm loving all this free food, I don't know if you noticed, but up to this point, I have only had to pay for 3 meals over 4 days, and the 2 quid meal above was free because it was my first time too :) ) Lorraine and I returned to Corpus. I changed into my black tie and gown and mingled with my year in the parker room over tea before our group photo. All the parents were standing around admiring their children, and some even packed into the old court, third story windows for a better view of everybody. It was just like a year 13 pre-ball. I apologise to my family in advance, but I have to say, I was glad not to have to feel like I needed to look after them, so I was free to talk to whoever I wished. After our group photo the families were asked to leave, and e proceeded to the great hall for matriculation. This is the big ceremony where we the Dean reads out our names individually and we go up to sign the register at the front, officially making us members of the college and university. Prof. Oliver Craccum (or as we know him - Merlin) bows to each of us and after we sign he hands us the college history and the rules we just agreed to. One of which is, as an undergraduate, we agree to keep all aircrafts outside of Cambridge city centre. I don't know who wrote out the book we signed, but it was all completed in perfect calligraphy and very fancy. The ceremony finished early leaving us time to hang about in the college bar, after which we went to the McCrum lecture theatre for the Master's Address. For the first time I could see Cambridge wasn't all old, after walking through the C16 exterior, the McCrum lecture theatre is fully automated and modern - so you can see why the university remains up to date and at the forefront. It's amazing what you find when you don't expect to find it here. The master himself I am sure is a genius haing heard him introduced by his achievements, but he's just not a genius with words. I'm glad it went for 5 minutes only, otherwise I may have been forced to bash my head on the concrete pillar next to me. Evensong was held in the college chapel, and was in a word beautiful. Inside, the chapel was lit entirely by candlelight and the stained glass, marble and wood all had this incredible glow. The choir sounds fantastic here, which is probably why I didn't get in after my audition yesterday, but I look forward to hearing them in the future. Chapel requires formal wear and gowns all year round, but the dress of everyone really completed the atmosphere. Despite not knowing any of the hymns, or understanding half of the prayers (in Latin) I really felt God's presence in that place, which is fantastic because the chapel really is at the heart of the college.
Myself, Lorraine and John before Matriculation
The college chapel from my staircase
Evensong was followed by Matriculation Dinner (freebie), another 4 course meal, the highlight of which was the chocolate brulee with amaretto biscuits at the end. Definitely one to have again. The dinner itself was very formal, with a gong to signal us to stand and the fellows to enter at the high table. When they sat, dinner immediately began with first course being served. I had some great conversation with my college mum Sarah on my left, the people across from me and Jan Leaver my tutorial officer on my right. The dinner itself was definitely the longest, but also the most people going for 3 hours, by which time I was shattered. The student's then had their own 'formal introduction' to give at Botolph Court which was broken up by the porter's an hour later at midnight. Following it was off to bed for another equally as big day.
Monday morning was the world's most exciting introductory talks, with a fire safety speech going for an hour. That concrete pillar was looking mighty tempting! The afternoon was quite interesting, as the college Fellows toured us around Corpus to the Parker and Butler Libraries and the College Silver. As they explained what each piece was, and it's significance in the history of england or the college I felt as if I was being shown my inheritance, what I as an heir to the college had the right to. They were cetainly very proud of their silver. It was definitely useless, but priceless. This one cup was designed so that if the consumer of the cup got particularly greedy and over filled it, the contents of the cup would spill out through tiny holes at it's base onto the lap of the drinker. Random! Later I completed the majority of my banking and internet worries (hence the updates now) and had a casual dinner with friends in Hall. It's great that everybody is so friendly, and Corpus being so small, is really easy to get to know everybody in the college, but I am constantly meeting new people and enjoying their company. Monday night was the beginning of Fresher's Week and the college had booked out Fez club. We went at 9pm - 12pm when the doors were opened to the public. Dancing the night away to some familiar songs, and even a kiwi artist in there, we left as the place crowded out completely so you couldn't move! That was certainly my first major taste of the student party scene, and I think I have come through it unscathed. This morning was hard to wake up at 5:30am for a 6:30am introduction lecture on my tripos. There was absolutely no need for it to be that early other than to dissuade people from going out the night before. So I am now off to enjoy my first free afternoon for a while in Market Square. Lectures start properly on Thursday, so expect shorter updates then (which will probably be easier on the eyes also).
Thank you all for your prayers, I can definitely witness some answers to them. Likewise I pray all is wel with you back home and we'll be in touch!
God Bless!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Hello again!
I can tell this is going to be another long one, just because I have done so much more stuff and want you all to share it with me. I was thinking this morning how I wish you could all just see one glimpse of what I am now seeing everyday.
But to start where I left off, I redeemed my London Bus Tour voucher and took in the sights of London once more, on a dodgy grey, but still warm wednesday. I spent about an hour trying to find Barker St. to start it when I realised it was Baker St. and there was a tube station directly next to it. (Yes I now go to Cambridge) The tour was remarkable, seeing some of the coolest things (some of which I viewed before so I didn't have to leave, which was great cause there was just so much). A highlight was definitely St. Paul's cathedral. It is beyond compare to anywhere I have seen. It is a bit odd walking amongst the memoriae sacrum in a place of worship but it is really quite common here. There are dead people all through my college chapel. At the cathedral there are some of the most magnificent artworks, and the mozaics lining the great dome are so intricate and clever. It's fun to try a decipher who each saint is based on the symbols around them. (As i later found out, you could look at the names, but the first way is much more entertaining) I couldn't tell you now who was housed there, but there are memorials to Florence Nightingale, Sir Christopher Wren and the tomb of Lord Nelson. If you venture up the 259 stairs you come to the base of the dome overlooking the hall below (the quire and nave). This room is so perfectly constructed that should you whisper along one side of the wall a person on the other side can hear you just as if you were talking to them, and it is a large distance. When there are plenty of people you start to think you are crazy because you can hear voices and not know where they're coming from. Even further up (a total 530 steps) is the golden gallery, overlooking the city of London with 360 degree views and one of the highest vantage points in the city. Quite simply breathtaking. Below is alonely backpackers photo of himself and a place he visited, just to prove he did it.
I visited many other places, namely Parliament House, Westminster Abbey (which I thought was a relatively large let-down, being a place that seems no longer dedicated to God, but rather the people who have died and are buried there, and there are plenty.) Big Ben, the Bridges, Shakespeare's Globe, the Tate Modern, Buckingham Palace and Downing Street; which was guarded by some particularly well armed guards...
But it was funny seeing all the tourists just taking photos of them, being one myself this was slightly more embarassing but I thought comical enough to take a photo of those taking photos.
The tour was fantastic, and I even got to try out my German on a German man.
German man: "something in german"
Me: "Sprechen Sie Englisch?"
German man: "yes I do."
It was a great experience.
I finished about 8pm when I returned to meet Alice at Liverpool St. Station, an almost second home for me in London, having travelled there everyday. It was unbelievably busy, as one of the major underground routes with several connecting lines it was used by almost everybody in the inner city at some stage or another. I couldn't get over how crowded it was, and it is not even high season. This picture is of the station, quite a nice wee building, at that time of night, still humming with people.
Alice and I went to a Dim Sum restaurant in central London, very classy but very reasonable, to celebrate my last night. It was just like one of those fancy and stylish London restaurants in the movies, and in walk Alice and I, backpacks on, and her props in tow to be seated. We had to place the order on a card ourselves, writing the number of each dish we wanted next to it. You all sat around in a semi circle and they cooked the meal against the wall on a steamer, almost in front of you. It was really novel, and delicious.
(Alice would kill me if I put in the one of her eating too)
Having returned by train Wednesday night, and sleeping beautifully in Alice's bed, I woke and took Ben to school in the morning, a lovely brisk walk through the english country. I attempted to finish my elusive maths assignment but failed miserably, making no more than two questions worth of progress. Karen returned home from work at 11:30 and drove me to Cambridge without any fuss. I owe her and the family heaps because they helped me settle in so well, and nothing I asked or needed, (or didn't ask for as the case of the drive was) was too difficult. I said a sad farewell to Essex and the Wimsett's and entered what can best be described as the mythical world of Cambridgeshire. It was an interesting start with Karen, full of good intention, driving the wrong way down a one way street. That was quickly rectified by a 3 point turn and in front of me was Corpus. It is so beautiful in real life. I cannot say how gorgeous this town is, and I apologise that there are so few photos of it, but I thought it a bit stalkerish to be taking photos of me and my friends when they weren't my friends yet. I checked in at the Porter's lodge, and Penny the international JCR (student union) rep helped me with my bags up to the top of the world in I staircase. It is actually 4 flights of high stairs to get to my room, but once you are there, the workout and thigh training is well worth it. I have a beautiful horizon view of the rooftops west of Cambridge. St. Botolph's church is right next door (which is also a great pain in the butt at 7:30 each morning) and the room itself is very large, and it is completed with a kitchen directly opposite and a bathroom and toilet down the hall.
The international fresher's had a meeting at 4pm to sort out their bank, insurance, university and tutorial issues, which were plenty, and even today I am still sorting out the last ends of moving country. The paper work seems to be never ending. Which is actually the only bad thing about this whole experience to date!
Later that night we went to Dojo's, one of the local Corpus hang-out's when hall is closed on Saturday's. It's an Asian noodle bar, and was a fantastic time of getting to know my fellow internationals. There a 4 americans, a russian, italian, 3 northern irish, 2 korean, 3 singaporean, one kiwi (me, and by far the furtherest away) and some others who I am still trying to meet but weren't present at that time. I had arranged to meet Matthew Flinn at the Ealge pub afterwards (the famous pub, where both teams of scientists celebrated after splitting the atom and discovering the structure of DNA). It was so incedibly english, and as far as the english go, I think this is as far as it's gotten. Small and kind of burrow like, with yellow lighting and plenty of wood, small tables and loads of people. The atmosphere was great. He had a pub meal cause I'd finish dinner, during which all the other Girdler's turned up - Francis (ex-Girdler now doing 7th year, completing his PhD in History of Science, recently married and expecting his first baby on the 11th Dec (my birthday)) Caleb (ex-Girdler, now doing 3rd year medicine having already completed a BA - Geography), Adam (oldest current Girdler, in his fourth and final year of chemical engineering) Matthew (also in his final year, but of law and is only a third year, very lovely guy!) Ryan (absent on a rugby tour, but a second year engineer) and myself. Despite all those elaborate introdutions they are all very normal, very nice people, and listening to them share about their experience and what I am now part of, really grounded me with a sense of belonging a family that I couldn't have hoped for more. They really are looking out for me here. I unfortunately don't have a photo, but all in due time. So they welcomed me in English style and we chatted away until 1am when we dispersed. I wandered back to college and got to use my famed A20 key (which as rumour has it, opens almost 1/4 of all doors in Cambridge) to get back into New Court where I am living. It actually is just like a castle. The photo below shows the chapel region at sunset. This is what I walk into and see each time I arrive at college. It's not the best angle in the photo, obviously being here in person helps too, but I had to run up to my room and get the camera before the sun set because it was a particularly beautiful setting.
Friday morning I got up and met Adam to go to London. Dressed in our finest black suits we wandered down Trumpington Street to the railway station, each eating a sausage sandwich for breakfast, with a free coffee (every morning before 10:30am :) ) Absolute rubbish breakfast but hall was not open yet and I had not yet had a chance to go to the supermarket. We caught the train and tubed into Moorgate Station, London and emerged surrounded by 6-7 storey gothic buildings. As we walked along we all of a sudden came across a modest home the size of a mansion, wedged in on 3 sides by english skyscrapers. Adam led me in and I thought I fell into wonderland. I cannot really describe Girdler's hall - oh I should really say, the reason Adam brought me to London was as the oldest scholar in residence, it is his responsibility to accompany the youngest scholar to Girdler's hall in London to meet the Girdler's themselves. So we walked in, met by the head porter and house guests, and were directed to the sitting area where I met Peter Trimmingham, ex-master of Girdler's Court and head of the benefactions committee. We wagged chins for a drop and were then escorted into the pre-hall. A large, ironically hall sized room, where Champagne (actual champagne!) and orange juice was served before the meal. Here was where I met, and truly understood the roots of my scholarship, in amongst the upper rungs of english society. The whole affair was entirely lavish, and I felt totally out of place, being waited on hand and foot, and being served any desire I could imagine. The beadle (or as I affectionately think of him as 'the town-crier') introduced luncheon and we entered the great hall (and great is saying absolutely nothing about this place, it was like an epic hall, intricately decorated and adorned with some of the finest furnishings the C17 had to offer after it was gutted during the great fire of london). Lunch was 4 courses - breads, salmon entree, chicken and bread and berry puddding, followed by coffee and truffles. Oh my goodness! The conversations, the atmosphere, the toasts and formalities are beyond description, so I won't describe them, but I will tell you all about this day in person next time I see you. I expect it shall be one of the most important and memorable. I will say that they were incredibly friendly and generous people - and they presented me with a history of the company, it's hall, and the schoalrship. We spent about 4 hours at Girdler's hall which seemed like nothing - and travelled back to London on the longest train imaginable stopping at every station on the way, almost holding us back from the International Fresher's Formal (by Formal they mean Formal hall, and not a dance). Basically, it was exactly the same thing as Girdler's Hall, repeated on a slightly less lavish, but still overwhelming scale for all international fresher's. I was on the end of the table, and whilst I'm sure it was a position of honour there weren't many people to talk to. Again, I couldn't help but feel out of place as we milled around in the bacon room, a 500 year old section of the college, being served drinks by waiters, wearing a suit, having masters of the college from C14 look at me out of their portraits, and about to walk into another (free might I add :) ) 4 course meal! And just as delicious. Another rumour has it that Corpus Christi College, being a wealthy land owner all throughout the UK owns a Salmon Farm, which is why we are served so much salmon there. But for some reason, and I suspect a purely comical one, the Tutors and Tutorial Officers maintain negligence on the issue. There are so many querky little stories about the place, and I only have time left to give one. The Crest of the College is a mythical pelican. Now it is thought the pelican, because it quite often has blood on it's chest, would peck at it's chest to make itself bleed, and feed that to it's young. Obviously the blood comes from hunting fish, but it was chosen as the symbol for the crest because as it spills it's blood for it's children, so too did Christ spill his blood for us. Ok, I said one but I have one more. One of the College libraries, the Parker library, was donated as a collection from the life of a past master and the first archbishop of canterbury, somebody Parker. It houses the earliest books known to England, and certainly the oldest anglo-saxon scriptures ecer created. It is home to the world famous chaucer and also many other priceless treasures. This would be much better explained by the eccentric, frizy haired, corduroy pants, tartan jacket and messy tie professor who runs the library. But anyway, when Parker donated the books to Corpus in his old age, he donated only a 1/3 of the collection. Another 1/3 went to Gonville and Caius and the last third to St. John's. As part of the legal agreement for receiving and maintaining the books, Parker included a clause that stated that should Corpus lose, ruin or destroy 6 largr manuscripts or 12 little ones, the entire collection would be forefeit to Gonville and Caius, likewise should Caius destroy/lose/ruin that then they would forefeit to John's and John's would forefeit to Corpus. So to check this each year the colleges inspect the other colleges Libraries. As a serious practise this has long since finished (though it has maintained a fabulous collection) and nowadays the colleges still inspect each other's collections as a means for getting together to have a large expensive and very formal meal. Stuff like this happens al the time. And the only reason it happen's is because 400 years ago somebody did it, they've done it since, and nobody has thought to question why they still do. But it certainly adds to making the whole experience fun!
Saturday was a little quieter, with the International's being taken out to the Backs in the morning (the section of Cambridge where the colleg lawns meet the river Cam) to go punting. We had 15 people, one too many for two boats, and only two people who could punt, so by default of having being in a punt before, I was diesgnated third punter. After running into roughly 40 walls, and freaking my crew out, I managed to stop going in zig-zags along the lake and take them on an enjoyable journey. This was fantastic fun and I really got to know Lorraine from Ireland, John from America and Andrew from Italy well. The weather was beautiful and the sun hitting the cam, the willows, the colleges and the well kepts lawns was stunning. We stopped for a picnic about midday and headed back. I didn't want to destroy my camera more than it already is so I left it home. By the time we hopped off it was 2pm, and we went on a tour of faculties. My biochemical faculty (which I will be in from next year) is so unbelievably new and state of the art, I swear it must be the only building in Cambridge that is newer than 100 years old. Guy (from America also), John, Lorraine and I had Pizza for dinner in Market Square then went back to the JCR (a.k.a the college common room with the biggest TV in Cambridge of 70") to talk.
Sunday is where the extra fun begins but I really have no time left. I will finish this soon.
Love and miss you all. Thank you for your emails, texts and prayers. I have felt so welcome and part of that is knowing I have your support. Please keep filling me in on back home.
God bless,
Blake
I can tell this is going to be another long one, just because I have done so much more stuff and want you all to share it with me. I was thinking this morning how I wish you could all just see one glimpse of what I am now seeing everyday.
But to start where I left off, I redeemed my London Bus Tour voucher and took in the sights of London once more, on a dodgy grey, but still warm wednesday. I spent about an hour trying to find Barker St. to start it when I realised it was Baker St. and there was a tube station directly next to it. (Yes I now go to Cambridge) The tour was remarkable, seeing some of the coolest things (some of which I viewed before so I didn't have to leave, which was great cause there was just so much). A highlight was definitely St. Paul's cathedral. It is beyond compare to anywhere I have seen. It is a bit odd walking amongst the memoriae sacrum in a place of worship but it is really quite common here. There are dead people all through my college chapel. At the cathedral there are some of the most magnificent artworks, and the mozaics lining the great dome are so intricate and clever. It's fun to try a decipher who each saint is based on the symbols around them. (As i later found out, you could look at the names, but the first way is much more entertaining) I couldn't tell you now who was housed there, but there are memorials to Florence Nightingale, Sir Christopher Wren and the tomb of Lord Nelson. If you venture up the 259 stairs you come to the base of the dome overlooking the hall below (the quire and nave). This room is so perfectly constructed that should you whisper along one side of the wall a person on the other side can hear you just as if you were talking to them, and it is a large distance. When there are plenty of people you start to think you are crazy because you can hear voices and not know where they're coming from. Even further up (a total 530 steps) is the golden gallery, overlooking the city of London with 360 degree views and one of the highest vantage points in the city. Quite simply breathtaking. Below is alonely backpackers photo of himself and a place he visited, just to prove he did it.
I visited many other places, namely Parliament House, Westminster Abbey (which I thought was a relatively large let-down, being a place that seems no longer dedicated to God, but rather the people who have died and are buried there, and there are plenty.) Big Ben, the Bridges, Shakespeare's Globe, the Tate Modern, Buckingham Palace and Downing Street; which was guarded by some particularly well armed guards...
But it was funny seeing all the tourists just taking photos of them, being one myself this was slightly more embarassing but I thought comical enough to take a photo of those taking photos.
The tour was fantastic, and I even got to try out my German on a German man.
German man: "something in german"
Me: "Sprechen Sie Englisch?"
German man: "yes I do."
It was a great experience.
I finished about 8pm when I returned to meet Alice at Liverpool St. Station, an almost second home for me in London, having travelled there everyday. It was unbelievably busy, as one of the major underground routes with several connecting lines it was used by almost everybody in the inner city at some stage or another. I couldn't get over how crowded it was, and it is not even high season. This picture is of the station, quite a nice wee building, at that time of night, still humming with people.
Alice and I went to a Dim Sum restaurant in central London, very classy but very reasonable, to celebrate my last night. It was just like one of those fancy and stylish London restaurants in the movies, and in walk Alice and I, backpacks on, and her props in tow to be seated. We had to place the order on a card ourselves, writing the number of each dish we wanted next to it. You all sat around in a semi circle and they cooked the meal against the wall on a steamer, almost in front of you. It was really novel, and delicious.
(Alice would kill me if I put in the one of her eating too) Having returned by train Wednesday night, and sleeping beautifully in Alice's bed, I woke and took Ben to school in the morning, a lovely brisk walk through the english country. I attempted to finish my elusive maths assignment but failed miserably, making no more than two questions worth of progress. Karen returned home from work at 11:30 and drove me to Cambridge without any fuss. I owe her and the family heaps because they helped me settle in so well, and nothing I asked or needed, (or didn't ask for as the case of the drive was) was too difficult. I said a sad farewell to Essex and the Wimsett's and entered what can best be described as the mythical world of Cambridgeshire. It was an interesting start with Karen, full of good intention, driving the wrong way down a one way street. That was quickly rectified by a 3 point turn and in front of me was Corpus. It is so beautiful in real life. I cannot say how gorgeous this town is, and I apologise that there are so few photos of it, but I thought it a bit stalkerish to be taking photos of me and my friends when they weren't my friends yet. I checked in at the Porter's lodge, and Penny the international JCR (student union) rep helped me with my bags up to the top of the world in I staircase. It is actually 4 flights of high stairs to get to my room, but once you are there, the workout and thigh training is well worth it. I have a beautiful horizon view of the rooftops west of Cambridge. St. Botolph's church is right next door (which is also a great pain in the butt at 7:30 each morning) and the room itself is very large, and it is completed with a kitchen directly opposite and a bathroom and toilet down the hall.
The international fresher's had a meeting at 4pm to sort out their bank, insurance, university and tutorial issues, which were plenty, and even today I am still sorting out the last ends of moving country. The paper work seems to be never ending. Which is actually the only bad thing about this whole experience to date!
Later that night we went to Dojo's, one of the local Corpus hang-out's when hall is closed on Saturday's. It's an Asian noodle bar, and was a fantastic time of getting to know my fellow internationals. There a 4 americans, a russian, italian, 3 northern irish, 2 korean, 3 singaporean, one kiwi (me, and by far the furtherest away) and some others who I am still trying to meet but weren't present at that time. I had arranged to meet Matthew Flinn at the Ealge pub afterwards (the famous pub, where both teams of scientists celebrated after splitting the atom and discovering the structure of DNA). It was so incedibly english, and as far as the english go, I think this is as far as it's gotten. Small and kind of burrow like, with yellow lighting and plenty of wood, small tables and loads of people. The atmosphere was great. He had a pub meal cause I'd finish dinner, during which all the other Girdler's turned up - Francis (ex-Girdler now doing 7th year, completing his PhD in History of Science, recently married and expecting his first baby on the 11th Dec (my birthday)) Caleb (ex-Girdler, now doing 3rd year medicine having already completed a BA - Geography), Adam (oldest current Girdler, in his fourth and final year of chemical engineering) Matthew (also in his final year, but of law and is only a third year, very lovely guy!) Ryan (absent on a rugby tour, but a second year engineer) and myself. Despite all those elaborate introdutions they are all very normal, very nice people, and listening to them share about their experience and what I am now part of, really grounded me with a sense of belonging a family that I couldn't have hoped for more. They really are looking out for me here. I unfortunately don't have a photo, but all in due time. So they welcomed me in English style and we chatted away until 1am when we dispersed. I wandered back to college and got to use my famed A20 key (which as rumour has it, opens almost 1/4 of all doors in Cambridge) to get back into New Court where I am living. It actually is just like a castle. The photo below shows the chapel region at sunset. This is what I walk into and see each time I arrive at college. It's not the best angle in the photo, obviously being here in person helps too, but I had to run up to my room and get the camera before the sun set because it was a particularly beautiful setting.
Friday morning I got up and met Adam to go to London. Dressed in our finest black suits we wandered down Trumpington Street to the railway station, each eating a sausage sandwich for breakfast, with a free coffee (every morning before 10:30am :) ) Absolute rubbish breakfast but hall was not open yet and I had not yet had a chance to go to the supermarket. We caught the train and tubed into Moorgate Station, London and emerged surrounded by 6-7 storey gothic buildings. As we walked along we all of a sudden came across a modest home the size of a mansion, wedged in on 3 sides by english skyscrapers. Adam led me in and I thought I fell into wonderland. I cannot really describe Girdler's hall - oh I should really say, the reason Adam brought me to London was as the oldest scholar in residence, it is his responsibility to accompany the youngest scholar to Girdler's hall in London to meet the Girdler's themselves. So we walked in, met by the head porter and house guests, and were directed to the sitting area where I met Peter Trimmingham, ex-master of Girdler's Court and head of the benefactions committee. We wagged chins for a drop and were then escorted into the pre-hall. A large, ironically hall sized room, where Champagne (actual champagne!) and orange juice was served before the meal. Here was where I met, and truly understood the roots of my scholarship, in amongst the upper rungs of english society. The whole affair was entirely lavish, and I felt totally out of place, being waited on hand and foot, and being served any desire I could imagine. The beadle (or as I affectionately think of him as 'the town-crier') introduced luncheon and we entered the great hall (and great is saying absolutely nothing about this place, it was like an epic hall, intricately decorated and adorned with some of the finest furnishings the C17 had to offer after it was gutted during the great fire of london). Lunch was 4 courses - breads, salmon entree, chicken and bread and berry puddding, followed by coffee and truffles. Oh my goodness! The conversations, the atmosphere, the toasts and formalities are beyond description, so I won't describe them, but I will tell you all about this day in person next time I see you. I expect it shall be one of the most important and memorable. I will say that they were incredibly friendly and generous people - and they presented me with a history of the company, it's hall, and the schoalrship. We spent about 4 hours at Girdler's hall which seemed like nothing - and travelled back to London on the longest train imaginable stopping at every station on the way, almost holding us back from the International Fresher's Formal (by Formal they mean Formal hall, and not a dance). Basically, it was exactly the same thing as Girdler's Hall, repeated on a slightly less lavish, but still overwhelming scale for all international fresher's. I was on the end of the table, and whilst I'm sure it was a position of honour there weren't many people to talk to. Again, I couldn't help but feel out of place as we milled around in the bacon room, a 500 year old section of the college, being served drinks by waiters, wearing a suit, having masters of the college from C14 look at me out of their portraits, and about to walk into another (free might I add :) ) 4 course meal! And just as delicious. Another rumour has it that Corpus Christi College, being a wealthy land owner all throughout the UK owns a Salmon Farm, which is why we are served so much salmon there. But for some reason, and I suspect a purely comical one, the Tutors and Tutorial Officers maintain negligence on the issue. There are so many querky little stories about the place, and I only have time left to give one. The Crest of the College is a mythical pelican. Now it is thought the pelican, because it quite often has blood on it's chest, would peck at it's chest to make itself bleed, and feed that to it's young. Obviously the blood comes from hunting fish, but it was chosen as the symbol for the crest because as it spills it's blood for it's children, so too did Christ spill his blood for us. Ok, I said one but I have one more. One of the College libraries, the Parker library, was donated as a collection from the life of a past master and the first archbishop of canterbury, somebody Parker. It houses the earliest books known to England, and certainly the oldest anglo-saxon scriptures ecer created. It is home to the world famous chaucer and also many other priceless treasures. This would be much better explained by the eccentric, frizy haired, corduroy pants, tartan jacket and messy tie professor who runs the library. But anyway, when Parker donated the books to Corpus in his old age, he donated only a 1/3 of the collection. Another 1/3 went to Gonville and Caius and the last third to St. John's. As part of the legal agreement for receiving and maintaining the books, Parker included a clause that stated that should Corpus lose, ruin or destroy 6 largr manuscripts or 12 little ones, the entire collection would be forefeit to Gonville and Caius, likewise should Caius destroy/lose/ruin that then they would forefeit to John's and John's would forefeit to Corpus. So to check this each year the colleges inspect the other colleges Libraries. As a serious practise this has long since finished (though it has maintained a fabulous collection) and nowadays the colleges still inspect each other's collections as a means for getting together to have a large expensive and very formal meal. Stuff like this happens al the time. And the only reason it happen's is because 400 years ago somebody did it, they've done it since, and nobody has thought to question why they still do. But it certainly adds to making the whole experience fun!
Saturday was a little quieter, with the International's being taken out to the Backs in the morning (the section of Cambridge where the colleg lawns meet the river Cam) to go punting. We had 15 people, one too many for two boats, and only two people who could punt, so by default of having being in a punt before, I was diesgnated third punter. After running into roughly 40 walls, and freaking my crew out, I managed to stop going in zig-zags along the lake and take them on an enjoyable journey. This was fantastic fun and I really got to know Lorraine from Ireland, John from America and Andrew from Italy well. The weather was beautiful and the sun hitting the cam, the willows, the colleges and the well kepts lawns was stunning. We stopped for a picnic about midday and headed back. I didn't want to destroy my camera more than it already is so I left it home. By the time we hopped off it was 2pm, and we went on a tour of faculties. My biochemical faculty (which I will be in from next year) is so unbelievably new and state of the art, I swear it must be the only building in Cambridge that is newer than 100 years old. Guy (from America also), John, Lorraine and I had Pizza for dinner in Market Square then went back to the JCR (a.k.a the college common room with the biggest TV in Cambridge of 70") to talk.
Sunday is where the extra fun begins but I really have no time left. I will finish this soon.
Love and miss you all. Thank you for your emails, texts and prayers. I have felt so welcome and part of that is knowing I have your support. Please keep filling me in on back home.
God bless,
Blake
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