Classes and Sport

This is my first real official week of class, as last week was more introductory. I love my course in Politics, Development, and Democratic Education. Unfortunately I do in fact have to take the core research training course, which is truly unnecessary since I have a PhD in it. But as I already know everything they are teaching, it does afford me a great opportunity to pursue more advanced topics in research methodology that I have been interested in.

I think I've settled into Cambridge quite well. I know pretty much the layout of the entire city centre, and I have established a routine with going to the gym. I played a soccer match for my college last Sunday, and though I wasn't impressed with my performance (very rusty) I feel I can bounce back quickly. The captain of the Rugby League here at Cambridge called me the other day, remembering what I looked like and asked if I was going to come out and train and play with them. Looks like I am. Additionally, I have my first polo lesson on Thursday, which I'm quite excited about. So that gives me four activities at Cambridge: Union Society, Soccer, Rugby, and Polo.

I spent most of Tuesday (I don't have classes on Tuesday) exploring the rest of the colleges in the city centre. I now have explored every college of interest to me at Cambridge, the only 5 or so that remain are the more modern colleges that are much further away from the centre of town. I'm sure I'll see the rest of them in time, but it's not such a huge deal for me. I of course took many more pictures and will link to some at the end of this entry.

The next task for me to do is go see some of the keynote speakers. As my professors keep telling me, the most brilliant, renowned minds in the entire world will inevitably get to Cambridge and give talks or lectures or presentations, and that we should use this opportunity to see them. And that's what I plan on doing. Earlier I mentioned that I can sit in any lecture given by any Cambridge professor at any time, but I will be waiting until my third semester to do this when I do not have any course work.

This year marks Cambridge's 800 year anniversary, and there are plenty of events to be had and seen. I hope to take advantage of them.

Matriculation, part 2

Friday marked the conclusion of my matriculation procedures. This time, we all met at the chapel in gowns to be formally inducted into the University of Cambridge and St. Edmund's College, which was followed by a formal, three course dinner with multiple wines. It was very beautiful.

We also party-hopped, post-matriculation. We stopped by the huge fresher's party for the Union Society, but it really was heavily dominated by 1st year students and we quickly found ourselves wanting a change of scenery. We headed over to Murray Edwards, an all girls college of Cambridge just a bit northbound of Edmund's. After hanging out there, we jumped again to Churchill college, before finally returning back to St. Edmund's. I found myself in a room drinking whiskey with an Aussie, a Dutch, an Scot, and an English, debating the futures of American hegemony. It was, surprisingly, a lot of fun.

It's been a busy couple of days...I had another introduction session at St. Edmund's, just about our MCRs (Camspeak for "Middle Combination Room", a lounge area with television, game systems, couches, pool table, and bar for students to use. Also have free tea!) and the various freshers (incoming student) events that I don't particularly care to participate in.

Wednesday was also the society fair, and it's nice to see that no matter the prestige of the university, somethings are just completely planned inefficiently. They packed a few thousand people into a basketball stadium and it was hot, humid, and packed. And they placed the Dominos Free Pizza kiosk next to the exit door. Who does that? In any case, I knew exactly where to go and picked up the information for the Rugby League and the Polo Club. I have tryouts for Rugby on Saturday.

Today was the programme induction for my course, Politics, Democracy, and Democratic Education. The system is ENTIRELY different from the one in the states. When I was doing my doctoral work at Virginia, I had 5 courses a semester. Here, we have two "Modules" a semester. It works out to three classes, 2 hours each. Monday I have "Core Research Training", Wednesdays I have Modernity and Education, and Thursdays I have Philosophy and Politics. Six hours of course work a week, compared to what I'm used to, this seems rather light.

For Core Research Training, or CRT, I have a dilemma. It's basically an introduction course to Research Methodology, and for anyone reading this that doesnt know, I have a Ph.D. in that. I proposed today that I stay in the course but study more advanced research topics of interest to me (particularly psychometrics and hierarchical linear modeling). Hopefully that will workout for all involved.

I love my professors and I think the course will be very enlightening. I also benefit in that compared to my PhD, it's not much work, so I have time to truly experience Cambridge. I have little classwork (homework), no exams, and only three papers.

One great thing about Cambridge is that as a student at Cambridge, I am authorized to sit in for any lecture presented anytime at the university. I plan on going to a few math, physics, and economics lectures. I'm sure I won't understand most of them, I just want to see some of the world's leading professors (just like I do every day in my program area). I know Stephen Hawking is still around, as well.

No pictures from this as they were all internal--but the Faculty of Education reception held post-induction was wonderful. Great finger food and wine.

Matriculation!

Today was matriculation at St. Edmund's college, where we come in and have our picture taken. For us it's two parts, the next part is a formal dinner and reception in the college chapel. I also met with my tutor, and in Cambridge-speak that's basically an advisor but with little academic input (for instance, my tutor is a lecturer in Anglo-Saxon Art). They are just there to be on our side if something goes wrong, and give advice, and help adjustment. She may be able to find me a supervision of my own (sort of like a teaching job, but low paying). I met a few friends today, including an aspiring teacher that wants to pick my brain because of my experience.

I also visited the Cambridge Union Society today, a debating society that I have joined. The house where the society resides is remarkable, it's huge. They would like for me to teach the incoming freshers in debating style, and I may do so if I have the time.

I'm enjoying my time here immensely, I love this place. My butt hurts from all the cycling, though. Anyway, onto the pictures! Most of these were taken by my friend Sophie, who is a very talented photographer. The pictures at the end (of obvious inferior quality) are mine of the Cambridge Union Society.






















This is St. Edmund's, my college (which for graduate students just means where my pidgeonhole (mailbox) and advisor reside)




I'm the big guy in the middle!




Here are some shots of the Union,

Exploring!

Saturday and Sunday were spent buying necessities (bike, gym membership, gown, some university apparel, food, etc) and exploring the city centre. I wandered around and snapped some pictures of fantastic architecture. Here are some,





















I still can't believe I study at this University.

Arrival

My flight departed from JFK at 9pm, unbeknownst to both my girlfriend Maria and I, we had left each other a card to help ease in the quick transition to suddenly being continents apart. I arrived in London at 930AM, and spent a bout an hour waiting in line at customs. The customs agent asked what I was doing in England, after seeing my student visa. Upon hearing "Cambridge" he smiled and said it was good to come and get a proper education.

I had three bags, my duffel, my carry on secondary duffel, and a briefcase. They were all getting increasingly heavy. I had misread the national rail website, which seemed to infer I could catch a direct train from Heathrow to Cambridge. Unfortunately that was not the case, and I did not remember the bus option. So I took the complicated way. While hauling all of my bags and on no sleep (I can't sleep in public areas, like a plane), I took the Heathrow Express train into London-Paddington Station. Then I took the tube (subway) to central London at King's Cross, before finally taking another train express into Cambridge. Of course then I needed to take a cab to get to my flat, as I had absolutely no idea where I was.

After that though, things became relatively painless. My tenants are wonderful and provided me with linens, hangars, etc. The room is small, but for 300 pounds a month, I can't complain. I went out and purchased groceries and wandered a bit around the flat to get my bearings, Visiting the Faculty of Education (which is incredibly close by, handy as my courses will be there). First round of pictures,










Homerton College, near the Faculty of Education


Faculty of Education


Thus ended my first day in Cambridge!