So Far So Good!

I’m having a wonderful wonderful time. This place is beautiful. The University of Cambridge is split into about 32 different Colleges which are spread all over the city and have their own name and defining features. I’m in the ‘science’ one, Fitzwilliam College, and will move into Newnham College for the International Term II summer school. My room is literally the smallest on my floor (there are only eight rooms per floor, three floors per block, each block is one sex, they are all attached to each other to make up one of the outer walls of Fitzwilliam College). It’s ok though since we don’t really spend much time in our rooms besides sleeping, showering, and dressing. The Colleges are completely enclosed and have their own gardens and everything you’d need. It’s nice because that makes it very safe at night. They serve us breakfast at 8, teatime at 11, and dinner at 6:30. The food is usually what I’m used to but sometimes they throw curve balls at you. Tea comes with everything, it’s nuts. We go out as a group to get lunch in the city when we’re in the mood. The city is completely fabulous and is actually comprised mostly of the University buildings and huge parks. The shops only make up about 1/3 of it, but are still very numerous and fun to check out. It’s always cool to wander down a random small side street with friends and find a hidden pub or shop or part of the river. The river is completely gorgeous and I have taken tons of pictures of all the cute bridges that span it. Punting is very very big here and you constantly see people wandering down waterways in those little boats. Biking is also a very very popular thing. That’s how most people get around. A lot of us have rented bikes for a few weeks, but I figure I’m fine walking cuz I want to save my money for more important things. The weather is completely lovely and you can be comfortable in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Today was the first day I’ve experience rain in Cambridge. I’ve been meeting so many people. Basically everyone in the Science Summer School (around 60 people) are all friends. I’ve hung out with people from a variety of countries, Switzerland, China, Spain, Germany, Vietnam, France, Czech Republic, Australia, Italy, and the US of course. The ages range from 18 to 50+ and everyone is very cool about that.

Classes are great. This is the Science Summer School format: We have six lectures for each subject and each subject is taught over one week. So my particle physics lectures are this week, universe/hubble study lectures are next week, and cosmology/string theory lectures are the week after. We only have the subject lectures on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (twice a day). Plenary lectures, which are on random scientific topics given by different professors, are at random times throughout the week along with various optional trips to museums and events hosted by the University. So far we’ve gone to the zoology museum and Whipple museum (history of science). We’re also going to Cavendish Laboratories and the Botanical Gardens next week.

Punting!!!