Cambridge pics

I've been getting some requests for what Cambridge looks like. A good (albeit fairly standard) place to start with is http://www-digitalstudios.arct.cam.ac.uk/shapewalks/home.aspx . Some nics pics if you click on the Historic Highlights title. You gotta keep in mind though that it's all fairly tiny: it'll take you about 5 minutes to go around the center of town. And if you're wondering where I am in all this, i'm about a block behind number 11 on the HH map, and my department is across the street from number 15, same map. Still, everyone gets around town on a bike. Which is great except for the lucrative business of stealing all of the university students' bikes (reports of bikes stolen within the first or second day of ownership - with a good lock - are not uncommon). I had to use the bike yesterday to get back and forth quickly for a meeting, as a result of which I spent the entire lecture wondering if it would still be there. (Almost).

[Oh and a quick note on the meaning of 'college' for the americans: college here is a subdivision of the university. Everyone belongs to a college. It's got nothing to do with your department though. You pay your fees to your college. Your sense of loyalty (should) go to your college, and most people sleep in their College and eat there. For undergrads as well, it makes a big difference as all the tutorials are taught by the college. Not the same big deal for post-grads though. There's just over 30 of them in Cambridge, each with its own building and peculiarities in terms of history but also traditions for formal hall. Oh and each college has a different set of colors, so different scarfs, t-shirts and assorted paraphernalia.]

I came to a sad realization on Wednesday night: I'm the oldest of the women in the program. And by a few years... I was actually proud of being the only married woman (as Val is well aware!), but being the 'doyenne' is perhaps something i wasn't prepared for. I'm so used to being the absolute youngest in a group. No worries, i'll get over it in no time. Besides, some of the men in the class are in their 40's, and one is just about twice my age.

that's all folks for today...