Nick left for his work-trip to America this morning, and isn't coming back until October 30th. I kinda feel like Flash must feel when everyone leaves to have fun without her.
Since Nick's work had a taxi pick him up at his parents' house in Baldock at 5:00 this morning, we spent last night there. They fed us, as usual, which was nice -- stir fry and then a really good dessert that was like some sort of pie-crust thing that was holding a ton of fresh raspberries, which was really good. Then Nick had to finish packing and then get up at 4:30am. After he went off, I went back to bed for a bit but then took the train back to Cambridge. I even successfully found my way back from the Cambridge train station to my house! Ever since then I've been working on fixing my computer up, now that I finally have internet.
Finally got my email working, and downloaded all the messages I missed over the last 3 weeks. 925 messages, to be exact. Oh wait, I just got another. 926. This is going to take a while to clean up.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Oops
I have internet and heat right now. I'm pretty happy. So it turns out that they actually turned on my internet on Friday, but I had plugged one of my ethernet cables into my (illegal) router slightly askew, and it hadn't quite connected. My bad.
Punting from the Wrong End of the Boat
Yesterday afternoon, I went punting in Cambridge for the first time with other Darwin "freshers," plus stowaway Nick. There was me, Nick, Lawrence-from-Germany, Noa-from-Israel, Alexander-from-Albania, and Stijn-from-Belgium, who also happens to be the owner of the palace-room below mine in the Malting House (still haven't gotten over that one...).
As we were getting in the punts, our "Admiral of the Punts," a Darwin student, was reassuring the more nervous-looking freshers that "it's really really hard to sink a punt." (Famous last words -- the first punt-sinking I experienced at Oxford was truly accidental.) He went on to say that it takes five people pushing down hard on one side of the punt for it to start sinking (Nick scoffed at this one -- "I've sunk one all by myself, alone in the punt!") and saying that it really only happened with drunk people around in eighth week (Nick didn't disagree with this one). The freshers who didn't see Nick and I snickering at each other were duly reassured.
Things started off quite peacefully. Lawrence-from-Germany had spent a month in Cambridge once previously, and seemed to have really gotten the hang of punting much better than I did during my whole year in Oxford. Eventually he let Stijn take over, and Stijn got the idea immediately, too. Then, it was poor Alexander-from-Albania's turn. It took Alexander a while to figure out how to not punt us around in circles. Eventually, though, he more-or-less started to send us in a straight line, and things went more-or-less smoothly.
But then, the punt pole got just a little bit stuck. Now, everyone in the punt had already been warned that if the pole gets stuck you should just let go (apparently Lawrence once already had issues with this in the past and had learned the hard way). However, Alexander held on for just a split second too long, and SPLASH! Whoopsie.
He was pretty much okay, and a better sport than I would have been about it. He even chose to ride back in the punt rather than walking back to Darwin, which would have been faster (although it's also quite possible that he just didn't know how to get back to Darwin on foot). At that point, Nick took over the punting and took us all the way back. Noa-from-Israel didn't have much enthusiasm for trying it after Alexander's mishap, and I'm personally much better at sitting in the punt and giving know-it-all instructions to everyone rather than actually punting myself.
A few comparisons between Oxford and Cambridge punting: the punting at Cambridge feels a lot more "urban" than the Oxford punting, since basically everyone on the river is punting up and down a relatively short section of the River Cam along the backs of some of the big Cambridge colleges. There were times where I saw about four or five punts all right next to each other in the river. There are plenty more collisions and bottlenecks, as well, but they don't seem to disturb anyone. While the crowds provide a steering challenge for punters, the physical difficulties of punting are easier at Cambridge, since the river has a more solid bottom and is generally less deep than the Oxford one. Additionally, there are many more tourists taking pictures from the many bridges that cross the river, so if you do something dramatic (like fall in) you're sure to generate much more attention than in Oxford. At Oxford, you can go to generally out-of-the-way areas to practice going down weirs, sinking, bridge-climbing, or fitting a million people in the punt -- at Cambridge, everything you do is front-and-center and you can't get away with too much. Also, punting itself is more of a tourist attraction in Cambridge, so there are many more commercial punts on the river with bored-looking guides who expertly navigate the punt pile-ups.
And, of course, Oxford and Cambridge punt from opposite ends of the boat.
As we were getting in the punts, our "Admiral of the Punts," a Darwin student, was reassuring the more nervous-looking freshers that "it's really really hard to sink a punt." (Famous last words -- the first punt-sinking I experienced at Oxford was truly accidental.) He went on to say that it takes five people pushing down hard on one side of the punt for it to start sinking (Nick scoffed at this one -- "I've sunk one all by myself, alone in the punt!") and saying that it really only happened with drunk people around in eighth week (Nick didn't disagree with this one). The freshers who didn't see Nick and I snickering at each other were duly reassured.
Things started off quite peacefully. Lawrence-from-Germany had spent a month in Cambridge once previously, and seemed to have really gotten the hang of punting much better than I did during my whole year in Oxford. Eventually he let Stijn take over, and Stijn got the idea immediately, too. Then, it was poor Alexander-from-Albania's turn. It took Alexander a while to figure out how to not punt us around in circles. Eventually, though, he more-or-less started to send us in a straight line, and things went more-or-less smoothly.
But then, the punt pole got just a little bit stuck. Now, everyone in the punt had already been warned that if the pole gets stuck you should just let go (apparently Lawrence once already had issues with this in the past and had learned the hard way). However, Alexander held on for just a split second too long, and SPLASH! Whoopsie.
He was pretty much okay, and a better sport than I would have been about it. He even chose to ride back in the punt rather than walking back to Darwin, which would have been faster (although it's also quite possible that he just didn't know how to get back to Darwin on foot). At that point, Nick took over the punting and took us all the way back. Noa-from-Israel didn't have much enthusiasm for trying it after Alexander's mishap, and I'm personally much better at sitting in the punt and giving know-it-all instructions to everyone rather than actually punting myself.
A few comparisons between Oxford and Cambridge punting: the punting at Cambridge feels a lot more "urban" than the Oxford punting, since basically everyone on the river is punting up and down a relatively short section of the River Cam along the backs of some of the big Cambridge colleges. There were times where I saw about four or five punts all right next to each other in the river. There are plenty more collisions and bottlenecks, as well, but they don't seem to disturb anyone. While the crowds provide a steering challenge for punters, the physical difficulties of punting are easier at Cambridge, since the river has a more solid bottom and is generally less deep than the Oxford one. Additionally, there are many more tourists taking pictures from the many bridges that cross the river, so if you do something dramatic (like fall in) you're sure to generate much more attention than in Oxford. At Oxford, you can go to generally out-of-the-way areas to practice going down weirs, sinking, bridge-climbing, or fitting a million people in the punt -- at Cambridge, everything you do is front-and-center and you can't get away with too much. Also, punting itself is more of a tourist attraction in Cambridge, so there are many more commercial punts on the river with bored-looking guides who expertly navigate the punt pile-ups.
And, of course, Oxford and Cambridge punt from opposite ends of the boat.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Next Up: Watercress Tacos?
Dinner tonight at Nick's parents' house was a British interpretation of fajitas, which was interesting. Now, you need to know that up until I corrected Nick about three years ago, he had always pronounced the J in fajitas. So these Brits aren't exactly Mexican food connoisseurs. So, anyways, I got over the breaded chicken and the "soured" cream, but what really fascinated me was the fact that we included fresh cucumber slices in the fajitas. Oh England.
Meanwhile, Nick's parents seemed to be operating under the assumption that Nick and I had expertise on Mexican food based on our one week-long trip to El Potrero Chico, a gringo-y area of Mexico, two years ago, and they kept quizzing us on whether these fajitas were like the Mexican ones. I had no idea. The most memorable culinary experience of that trip was when I ordered a burger without avocado and Rachel's was also accidentally served without avocado. None of us spoke enough Spanish to remedy the situation, and Rachel is still bitter about that one.
Beefore I go, for your enjoyment, a few themed words that the Brits pronounce comically different:
Herbs
Oregano
Paprika
Meanwhile, Nick's parents seemed to be operating under the assumption that Nick and I had expertise on Mexican food based on our one week-long trip to El Potrero Chico, a gringo-y area of Mexico, two years ago, and they kept quizzing us on whether these fajitas were like the Mexican ones. I had no idea. The most memorable culinary experience of that trip was when I ordered a burger without avocado and Rachel's was also accidentally served without avocado. None of us spoke enough Spanish to remedy the situation, and Rachel is still bitter about that one.
Beefore I go, for your enjoyment, a few themed words that the Brits pronounce comically different:
Herbs
Oregano
Paprika
Friday, September 26, 2008
Maladjusted Me
Also, I'm very bitter and jealous because the kid living on the floor directly below me in the house has a room that is literally twice the size of mine. It's directly below my room -- and the room next to mine. They clearly knocked down a wall in the house to make that room giant. He also has way better furniture than mine. His desk is almost twice the size of mine. Like, if I had that room, I'd be clothes-shopping right now so that I had something to fill up all the dressers and giant wardrobes with.
I also know that they clearly knocked down a wall in the house to make that room, since there is a painted-shut fake door in the hallway next to it that I was curious about. I thought there were probably like dead body skeletons behind it, but now I know that really it's just because it's all one giant room. I would guess that when it was originally two rooms, that door was functioning and opened into a separate room.
Anyway, when I mentioned this to the other kid in the house from Harvard, I described "that painted shut door on the second floor." He said "Oh, there's one of those on the first floor, too!" I hadn't noticed the one on the first floor. Since then, though, it twigged: We were describing the same door. He just has already adjusted to the UK system of numbering floors after being here for about 5 minutes, whereas I'm still super-Americanized after the ridiculous amount of time I've spent over here. Alright, fine, if I must: Americanised. Happy?
I also know that they clearly knocked down a wall in the house to make that room, since there is a painted-shut fake door in the hallway next to it that I was curious about. I thought there were probably like dead body skeletons behind it, but now I know that really it's just because it's all one giant room. I would guess that when it was originally two rooms, that door was functioning and opened into a separate room.
Anyway, when I mentioned this to the other kid in the house from Harvard, I described "that painted shut door on the second floor." He said "Oh, there's one of those on the first floor, too!" I hadn't noticed the one on the first floor. Since then, though, it twigged: We were describing the same door. He just has already adjusted to the UK system of numbering floors after being here for about 5 minutes, whereas I'm still super-Americanized after the ridiculous amount of time I've spent over here. Alright, fine, if I must: Americanised. Happy?
15 Minutes?!
Today I've pretty much just been sitting around, filling out forms and playing with pencils. I've been waiting for the college to give me a form that lets me apply for a UK bank account (looks like that won't happen until Monday -- so at the moment I'm still penniless) and for them to give me an internet connection (have no idea what the holdup is on that one). Very ho-hum. In the meantime I've been reading all the initial orientation information that I've already gotten (and I'm sure there will be lots more to come) and trying to keep track of what's happening when (no internet means no Google Calendar at the moment) -- so lots of notes and diagrams and circles and arrows and paragraphs on the back of each one explaining what each one was...
Meanwhile, I just saw this. That clearly would have been the way to get back from France, rather than a two-hour long bumpy stormy seasick-inducing ferry ride.
Meanwhile, I just saw this. That clearly would have been the way to get back from France, rather than a two-hour long bumpy stormy seasick-inducing ferry ride.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Address and Phone Number
So I just figured I should post my Cambridge address and phone # here so that you all could get in touch with me if you needed to. My address is:
Nika Engberg
Darwin College
Silver Street
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire (not clear whether you have to put in this line or not -- probably optional)
CB3 9EU
ENGLAND
UNITED KINGDOM (you probably don't need both "England" and "United Kingdom" -- choose which one you want)
Technically, though, I'm living in here in "The Malting House," which is where the other Harvard kid who is both on my program and at Darwin is also living (and it's a small house -- only 11 or 12 rooms total, I think). The house is okay, but could be better. My room is kinda dark since it faces north -- Zeb would call it a "gamer's room."
About the phone number -- don't call my normal US cell phone. I'm not bothering keeping it on/charged up while I'm here, so I won't get your message. Instead, I have a UK cell phone. The number is 07546 580017, but to call it from the US, call 011 44 7546 580017. I don't have voicemail set up on it yet, but that's on the list of things to do. It will probably cost you a million dollars to call it, but that's a good way to get in touch with me. Additionally, once I have internet, I typically keep myself logged into Skype whenever the computer is on, so you can always find me as NikaThinks there.
Nika Engberg
Darwin College
Silver Street
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire (not clear whether you have to put in this line or not -- probably optional)
CB3 9EU
ENGLAND
UNITED KINGDOM (you probably don't need both "England" and "United Kingdom" -- choose which one you want)
Technically, though, I'm living in here in "The Malting House," which is where the other Harvard kid who is both on my program and at Darwin is also living (and it's a small house -- only 11 or 12 rooms total, I think). The house is okay, but could be better. My room is kinda dark since it faces north -- Zeb would call it a "gamer's room."
About the phone number -- don't call my normal US cell phone. I'm not bothering keeping it on/charged up while I'm here, so I won't get your message. Instead, I have a UK cell phone. The number is 07546 580017, but to call it from the US, call 011 44 7546 580017. I don't have voicemail set up on it yet, but that's on the list of things to do. It will probably cost you a million dollars to call it, but that's a good way to get in touch with me. Additionally, once I have internet, I typically keep myself logged into Skype whenever the computer is on, so you can always find me as NikaThinks there.
Punting and Swans
So I've arrived at Cambridge! I'm sitting in the library right now watching punts go by -- and I can also see a ton of swans. The punters don't seem to have much of a concern about being bitten by the swans -- but the swans are pretty much ignoring them anyway.
I've finally more-or-less unpacked my room -- at least until I get a few more items that I need tomorrow. I also have a big pile of stuff to send back to Nick's house -- which may end with his parents squawking, I'm not sure.
The next biggest step is to get internet in my room working. I've been charged £35 for a wired connection (crazy), which I'm apparently still in the process of getting. I hope that shows up tomorrow.
The weather in Cambridge is pretty mild today, but it rained/was overcast all day yesterday.
I'm doing laundry right now, which I gotta go check on. Expect a whole ton of blog updates when I get my own internet!
I've finally more-or-less unpacked my room -- at least until I get a few more items that I need tomorrow. I also have a big pile of stuff to send back to Nick's house -- which may end with his parents squawking, I'm not sure.
The next biggest step is to get internet in my room working. I've been charged £35 for a wired connection (crazy), which I'm apparently still in the process of getting. I hope that shows up tomorrow.
The weather in Cambridge is pretty mild today, but it rained/was overcast all day yesterday.
I'm doing laundry right now, which I gotta go check on. Expect a whole ton of blog updates when I get my own internet!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
I never want to speak French again
We survived our trip! Nick and I are now happily back in England. I plan to do a lot of blog posts with the whole story of the trip, but those will have to wait a few days because over the next few I need to move into Cambridge, collect everything I need for the year (since Nick leaves for America on Monday and then I will be carless), and set up the desktop computer I'll be using for the year. But the short story is that the trip was more-or-less good, and we had no real epics, which is pretty much a miracle!!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
I'm Here!
Good news -- I made it to England! Here's a recap of my events:
At the airport last night, everything went well. Checked luggage, security, boarding, etc. I kind of had to fight with people to get to an overhead bin to put my stuff in, since the bins were above the row behind my row (as to be expected, since I got extra big gigantic leg room by being in the front of the economy section). Also, side note for Daddy: I was reading an article in Newsweek while I was waiting around, and it mentioned trainers debating on ellipticals v. treadmills. One said that they preferred ellipticals because it is easier on your joints, and the other said "most people prefer treadmills because it feels more natural." So that's like our argument. You need to evolve so you can use ellipticals.
Then, after boarding, things weren't too eventful. We took off pretty much right on time (we would have been early for takeoff, but there was a slight delay because of a "cargo discrepancy" that they had to remedy). I didn't get any more details on the "cargo discrepancy." I ended up sitting next to a pretty chatty Irish girl who I had to hear go on and on and on about things. The good news was that I understood like 80-90% of what she said immediately, and another 5-15% of what she said within a few seconds after she said it, which is good, since to me Irish people sound pretty much like English people. The bad news is that she had just spent 3 months in the U.S., though, and pretty much seems to have adopted a manner of talking that is easy for Americans to understand (she says "movies," not "films" -- unless that's Irish, too, and not just American). But it's still good that I understand people pretty well.
So because she was so blabby, I missed the start of all the movies -- and like the first half-hour of them. When I started flipping through them (there was definitely no on-demand -- this was the oldest airplane I had flown on for a while -- it still had built-in ashtrays in the armrests and in the bathroom), I immediately turned to a channel with a guy climbing. It took me a second and then I was like, oh, it's Alain Robert. It turns out to be a documentary on him. It's surprisingly long, but overdramatic -- about as overdramatic as you'd expect. At one point, though, they're interviewing his wife and she's saying "you know, you can't really give your kids a good education if you're only available by phone," or something like that, criticizing Alain, and he's next to her and he just starts laughing at her. That was kind of funny.
Then I watched Friends and The Office. Then, some channel briefly showed a picture of people mountaineering, and I got out my headphones to hear what was going on, but it switched to like lions and monkeys, and didn't say a single word about mountaineering that I heard.
Oh yeah, for dinner I had chicken and mashed potatoes, and for breakfast (no choice) I had a croissant and orange juice. We were supposed to land like 20-25 minutes early, but apparently there was a queue at Heathrow so we had to circle the airport for 20-25 minutes. So we landed pretty much right on time.
But then, the trouble started. First, it took another 20-30 minutes to get a staircase over to the plane, because, apparently, no one at the airport was ready for us (no one is ever ready for me). Then we have to get on a bus to get to the terminal, and we must have been miles away from the terminal, because it takes like a solid 10-15 minutes to get into T4 on the bus. Next, I have to go through immigration. No major problems there (which is good, because I was worried since my student visa doesn't kick into effect until the 15th), but they did want to see my letter of acceptance at Cambridge. I was happy to bring it out for them -- I've always carried that around and immigration is never at all interested in seeing it -- but this time they did! But immigration took a while. They've also revamped the lines so that even if I have a UK visa I still have to go into the "Other Passports" line (I think). Then I had to get my bags. I got one off the carousel pretty quickly. The next one, though, I waited a few minutes for. I saw a bag on the floor next to the carousel that looked like mine, but I didn't investigate immediately. But I noticed that no one else was paying attention, so I dragged my stuff over, and it was mine. Go figure! I wonder why it was there. Maybe somebody else thought it was theirs, realized it wasn't, and then put it next to the turnstile rather than on it? Everything still seemed to be in it, so that's all good. Next time I should attach a ribbon to it.
So by this point, I was late to meet Nick's parents, and Nick was long gone. Apparently his parents were like 2 minutes later than they wanted to be at the airport, and they were worried I'd already have come out and wandered off. But it was all okay.
Then I had to get back to Baldock, which took quite a bit of time (from like 10am to after 1pm). First we had to do the Picadilly Line (lots of gaps to mind) all the way to King's Cross, which probably took like an hour. Then we have to get tickets at King's Cross for the train, which took a while, but our train wasn't for a while, so it was okay. Nick's parents went off in search of the tickets while I just sat there guarding the luggage and watching people take pictures of Platform 9 3/4. Then, we had to take the train up to Baldock, which was another solid hour, and then walk the 10-15 minutes from the train station in Baldock to his parents' house with all the luggage. But we all managed quite well.
For lunch we had like lunch meats, and salad, and bread, and so I made a sandwich out of it, but (and this has happened before) they don't seem to do that -- they eat it all separate, and just use the bread as like bread-and-butter. I tried to wait and see what they did with their food, but they made me take mine first so I just winged it. I don't know if they knew what to make of that. Also, at one point, I couldn't get a piece of meat with a fork and so had to use my (clean) fingers and I don't know if that went over too well.
Then we had to go to Tesco for contact lens stuff (all taken care of) and apparently lunch food for tomorrow -- Nick's mom is sending him off with a lot of food for this trip. Since then, I've been reorganizing and repacking for our 4am departure tomorrow. Still haven't seen Nick, although he could be back in an hour or so.
That's about it. Future blog posts will be shorter and better written, but this one is more about being informative -- plus I'm tired!
Also, I have a cell phone, and I *think* it's number is 07546 580017, which means that if you're calling it from the US, you dial 011 44 7546 580017. But I'll try to confirm that. Also, don't try to call it immediately, no matter what, because I'm going to France and once I'm out of England it's 15p/minute to receive calls -- and I haven't put any credit other than the built in 20p onto the phone yet (and probably won't till I get back).
See you all on like the 24th!
At the airport last night, everything went well. Checked luggage, security, boarding, etc. I kind of had to fight with people to get to an overhead bin to put my stuff in, since the bins were above the row behind my row (as to be expected, since I got extra big gigantic leg room by being in the front of the economy section). Also, side note for Daddy: I was reading an article in Newsweek while I was waiting around, and it mentioned trainers debating on ellipticals v. treadmills. One said that they preferred ellipticals because it is easier on your joints, and the other said "most people prefer treadmills because it feels more natural." So that's like our argument. You need to evolve so you can use ellipticals.
Then, after boarding, things weren't too eventful. We took off pretty much right on time (we would have been early for takeoff, but there was a slight delay because of a "cargo discrepancy" that they had to remedy). I didn't get any more details on the "cargo discrepancy." I ended up sitting next to a pretty chatty Irish girl who I had to hear go on and on and on about things. The good news was that I understood like 80-90% of what she said immediately, and another 5-15% of what she said within a few seconds after she said it, which is good, since to me Irish people sound pretty much like English people. The bad news is that she had just spent 3 months in the U.S., though, and pretty much seems to have adopted a manner of talking that is easy for Americans to understand (she says "movies," not "films" -- unless that's Irish, too, and not just American). But it's still good that I understand people pretty well.
So because she was so blabby, I missed the start of all the movies -- and like the first half-hour of them. When I started flipping through them (there was definitely no on-demand -- this was the oldest airplane I had flown on for a while -- it still had built-in ashtrays in the armrests and in the bathroom), I immediately turned to a channel with a guy climbing. It took me a second and then I was like, oh, it's Alain Robert. It turns out to be a documentary on him. It's surprisingly long, but overdramatic -- about as overdramatic as you'd expect. At one point, though, they're interviewing his wife and she's saying "you know, you can't really give your kids a good education if you're only available by phone," or something like that, criticizing Alain, and he's next to her and he just starts laughing at her. That was kind of funny.
Then I watched Friends and The Office. Then, some channel briefly showed a picture of people mountaineering, and I got out my headphones to hear what was going on, but it switched to like lions and monkeys, and didn't say a single word about mountaineering that I heard.
Oh yeah, for dinner I had chicken and mashed potatoes, and for breakfast (no choice) I had a croissant and orange juice. We were supposed to land like 20-25 minutes early, but apparently there was a queue at Heathrow so we had to circle the airport for 20-25 minutes. So we landed pretty much right on time.
But then, the trouble started. First, it took another 20-30 minutes to get a staircase over to the plane, because, apparently, no one at the airport was ready for us (no one is ever ready for me). Then we have to get on a bus to get to the terminal, and we must have been miles away from the terminal, because it takes like a solid 10-15 minutes to get into T4 on the bus. Next, I have to go through immigration. No major problems there (which is good, because I was worried since my student visa doesn't kick into effect until the 15th), but they did want to see my letter of acceptance at Cambridge. I was happy to bring it out for them -- I've always carried that around and immigration is never at all interested in seeing it -- but this time they did! But immigration took a while. They've also revamped the lines so that even if I have a UK visa I still have to go into the "Other Passports" line (I think). Then I had to get my bags. I got one off the carousel pretty quickly. The next one, though, I waited a few minutes for. I saw a bag on the floor next to the carousel that looked like mine, but I didn't investigate immediately. But I noticed that no one else was paying attention, so I dragged my stuff over, and it was mine. Go figure! I wonder why it was there. Maybe somebody else thought it was theirs, realized it wasn't, and then put it next to the turnstile rather than on it? Everything still seemed to be in it, so that's all good. Next time I should attach a ribbon to it.
So by this point, I was late to meet Nick's parents, and Nick was long gone. Apparently his parents were like 2 minutes later than they wanted to be at the airport, and they were worried I'd already have come out and wandered off. But it was all okay.
Then I had to get back to Baldock, which took quite a bit of time (from like 10am to after 1pm). First we had to do the Picadilly Line (lots of gaps to mind) all the way to King's Cross, which probably took like an hour. Then we have to get tickets at King's Cross for the train, which took a while, but our train wasn't for a while, so it was okay. Nick's parents went off in search of the tickets while I just sat there guarding the luggage and watching people take pictures of Platform 9 3/4. Then, we had to take the train up to Baldock, which was another solid hour, and then walk the 10-15 minutes from the train station in Baldock to his parents' house with all the luggage. But we all managed quite well.
For lunch we had like lunch meats, and salad, and bread, and so I made a sandwich out of it, but (and this has happened before) they don't seem to do that -- they eat it all separate, and just use the bread as like bread-and-butter. I tried to wait and see what they did with their food, but they made me take mine first so I just winged it. I don't know if they knew what to make of that. Also, at one point, I couldn't get a piece of meat with a fork and so had to use my (clean) fingers and I don't know if that went over too well.
Then we had to go to Tesco for contact lens stuff (all taken care of) and apparently lunch food for tomorrow -- Nick's mom is sending him off with a lot of food for this trip. Since then, I've been reorganizing and repacking for our 4am departure tomorrow. Still haven't seen Nick, although he could be back in an hour or so.
That's about it. Future blog posts will be shorter and better written, but this one is more about being informative -- plus I'm tired!
Also, I have a cell phone, and I *think* it's number is 07546 580017, which means that if you're calling it from the US, you dial 011 44 7546 580017. But I'll try to confirm that. Also, don't try to call it immediately, no matter what, because I'm going to France and once I'm out of England it's 15p/minute to receive calls -- and I haven't put any credit other than the built in 20p onto the phone yet (and probably won't till I get back).
See you all on like the 24th!
Monday, September 8, 2008
What about Spring?
English universities typically run on trimester systems. Both Oxford and Cambridge name their trimesters, but just to be confusing, they name them different things. At Oxford, "autumn" term is called Michaelmas, "winter" term is Hilary, and "summer" term is Trinity. At Cambridge, though, we've got another Michaelmas in the fall, but then Lent in winter and Easter in "summer."
Anyways, the point of this is, today I found out the dates of my various terms, which should help with planning various antics and adventures. As well as, of course, the off-term studying that I will be doing 100% during every moment of "hols." They are, in Brit format:
Michaelmas: Tue 7 Oct 2008 - Fri 5 Dec 2008
Lent: Tue 13 Jan 2009 - Fri 13 Mar 2009
Easter: Tue 21 Apr 2009 - Fri 12 Jun 2009
My impression is that during Michaelmas and Lent, I'll be taking 4 lecture courses (the same 4 in both terms -- they continue through both). They all meet for 2 hour-long lectures every week (or sometimes 1 two-hour-long lecture, I think). In addition to that, there's possibly group discussions tied to these that you also go to, I think. Then, during Easter, classes no longer meet, but you just studystudystudy to prepare for your exams that start in late May. One 3-hour long exam for each course, given at the end of the school year in May/June, is all you get that determines your grade.
Anyways, the point of this is, today I found out the dates of my various terms, which should help with planning various antics and adventures. As well as, of course, the off-term studying that I will be doing 100% during every moment of "hols." They are, in Brit format:
Michaelmas: Tue 7 Oct 2008 - Fri 5 Dec 2008
Lent: Tue 13 Jan 2009 - Fri 13 Mar 2009
Easter: Tue 21 Apr 2009 - Fri 12 Jun 2009
My impression is that during Michaelmas and Lent, I'll be taking 4 lecture courses (the same 4 in both terms -- they continue through both). They all meet for 2 hour-long lectures every week (or sometimes 1 two-hour-long lecture, I think). In addition to that, there's possibly group discussions tied to these that you also go to, I think. Then, during Easter, classes no longer meet, but you just studystudystudy to prepare for your exams that start in late May. One 3-hour long exam for each course, given at the end of the school year in May/June, is all you get that determines your grade.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Crockery?
So, today, I received a letter from Darwin confirming that I had been provided with college housing for next year. In typical British style, though, they still have not told me which building I'll be living in. The goal is to get a room in a building with showers, not just bathtubs. Also, they need me to pay a L100 ($200) "key deposit," which I hope is really a damage deposit and not just a "key" deposit -- because that would be a pretty expensive key to lose.
Additionally, the letter told me that I will need to supply a number of things (pillows, sheets, blankets, etc.) for myself, including "crockery."
I have no idea what that is.
Additionally, the letter told me that I will need to supply a number of things (pillows, sheets, blankets, etc.) for myself, including "crockery."
I have no idea what that is.
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