Moorhen

Kevin, you will probably derive the most joy from this post.

The picture to the right is of a male moorhen. I sat on the Paddock this afternoon and watched a male and a female run around the lawn and dive into the pond. It was quite a sight. Emma wasn't lying when they said that the ducks (and other water fowl, I suppose) are an integral part of the college!

Note: I did not take this photo! It is a google image. :)

Gowns and high mass

I have a skype name now, it is: laurenmpugh. I have not used it yet... but if you want to chat, let me know!

I went to church this morning at Little St Mary's. I had to laugh to myself when there was a note in the bulletin about their 650th anniversary. The service was a little bit higher than my taste (they used the common book of prayer from the 17th century or something!) ... but it tasted like they used dessert wine for communion. ;) I went to coffee hour after the service and met some interesting people. It is funny being in the awkward throws of initial meetings everywhere I go. I am waiting for the moment when everything is no longer new!

After church I went and bought my gown. Fifty quid for a bit of black fabric! Yar! This gown I wear to any formal dinner and other formal events. We have our first formal dinner tomorrow so I will take a photo.

Tomorrow is the first day of term. I suppose from after tomorrow life will be a bit more packed. I am still rather clueless about what I will be doing / have to do. O, boy... what an adventure!

It's a Girl!

This morning I met the mysterious tenant in room 3. Her name is Lizzy and she is an MPhil student in medieval history (a medievalist) and is from Edinburgh. So, not only is she female and delightful, but is also studying a similar subject! This is a wonderful thing! I think the house dynamic--as well as my personal interactions with the house--much more balanced. So good!

Today we had out garden party on the Paddock. Emma is known for its ducks, and today I learnt that the Mallards are extremely brave! (or just accumulated to humans.) It was funny to see the ducks mingling with the graduate students. It is neat that they are such a permanent part of the college.

Tomorrow I am going to try one of the local Anglican churches. In a conversation yesterday with Jeremy Caddick the school dean (like campus pastor) I learnt that Cambridge has the largest percentage of evangelicals (or "American" churches) in all of England. I found that rather interesting, really. He gave me some good pointers on a few churches to try, which range from high to middle in liturgy and tend to be more liberal. And, of course, he recommended the college chapel. I think I am going to try to go to a church in the morning and go to chapel for the evening evensong (and I LOVE English choirs, so that should be fabulous!)

....I did not take as many photos today as I wanted to. They will come soon, though!! :)

Cambridge Men.

Somehow I ended up in this lovely little room in Cambridge... surrounded by men. That's right: a house of seven and so far five of the occupants are men (the seventh has not arrived so we do not know his/her gender). That makes me the only girl thus far. It also means that I share my bathroom with three men and have no one to borrow clothes from. But it is all right. They all seem relatively charming and are aware that I am not available... so we should get on just fine (plus I do not think I will have to fight with them to use the kitchen...)

A few things to note:
1. Whenever I tell a Brit that I am from California (s)he apologizes for the weather (it has been rainy). It has happened several times, it is actually rather funny.
2. Cambridge has a daily open air market a short walk from my house. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies, bakery items, nic nacs, etc. It is great news. I think tomorrow I will buy a basil plant... I am just not sure how long it will survive here!

In regard to diary (British for day planner) logistics, my first official class meeting event is on Monday at 4pm; it is a tea for all of the history students. I believe the next day is the start of classes. This weekend is relatively slow; we have a garden party tomorrow afternoon (it will be a party in the Old Library building if the rain keeps up!!) and not loads more. It is a nice little time of adjustment.

I think tomorrow I am going to carry my camera around so that I can get some photos up for you all! :)

BIG sigh of relief

I am writing this entry from my smallish room on the second storey of 12 Emmanuel Road. I have a view of the garden; it is not the most thriving garden, but there is a giant tree in front of my window! (I will have to ask someone what kind of tree it is...) And my window is large and opens wide! I think with a little love this place will shape right up!

It was a long, tiresome journey, but I have arrived!

I am off to grab dinner with my neighbour... will write more later!

Materialism, mums and general musings

I tend to forget just how much a of materialist I am.... until I have to pack for a move. Excuse me, what is my maximum luggage allotment? I'll take that, please. I suppose it is justifiable, though. I am moving not only clothes and a few toiletries, but also sheets, towels, legitimately (not Cali) winter clothes, and enough kitchen supplies to significantly reduce my purchases at the local Tesco. But, my goodness! It ALWAYS seems so much less in my mind! Does it really weigh that much, honestly?!

Aside from my abrupt realization that I am just as materialistic as anyone of my age and economic status, my departure is approaching smoothly. My plane leaves LAX tomorrow afternoon at 4:40pm and arrives in London Thursday at 11...ish in the morning. From there it is a 2-hour bus ride to Cambridge and a 50 metre walk to my college. It's all pretty straightforward, really (hopefully!) I imagine it will be relatively similar to my arrival at Oxford (except that time I had a catch a lonely cab to a foreign airport and this time my mum is going to take me to LAX!) Note: I have my spell check set to "English UK", and it refused to recognise "mom" as a word... so mum's the word!

The photo to the right is of Maddie, a friend's daughter, and a going away cake. I could not resist posting it!

So the question that I keep asking myself: how do I feel? Good... I think. However, I must admit that my nerves are a bit on edge. The nerves come mostly when I enter into thoughts about my academic experience. I am so focused on the excitement of moving to a new country that I have nearly forgotten that I start term on Monday. Seventeen months after college graduation and I have found myself a student again. But this is a good thing; I thrive as a student.... I love academia! It will be difficult, but I have high hopes that I will be able to easily slip back into the identity of "student". But I guess I'll only know after it happens or does not happen.

That's it for now; more to follow from the other side of the Atlantic.

Eleven Days and Counting

I am eleven days from departure, and in a state of disbelief. Can I really be leaving the country for an indeterminate amount of time? Don't most people purchase a return ticket when leaving the country? Well, apparently not everyone. I think I like being in the one-way ticket crowd. I feel like a bird in the hand, aware that soon I will be let to fly. Will I come back to the familiarity of the gentle and secure, yet stationary grasp? Or will I find a tree or telephone wire upon which to perch? It is a wonderful feeling: security in the unknown. To be floating on my back down river, excited to open my eyes in the future and learn my surroundings. I suppose the only bit of knowledge in which I may be confident is this: tomorrow I will not be where I am today: the current will take me somewhere new. I have no idea where I will be in eleven month's time, but I am open for it. I am ready to become an active participant in the passive arrival of my future.