View from my window down to the river Cam

Fun fact, did you know that Cambridge is named after the many bridges that run over the river Cam?

Just a few differences right off the bat...

How many frustrated minutes does it take for Cindy to screw in a lightbulb? Here light bulbs don't screw, they just push in and slightly twist. Crazy.

Also, instead of having hot and cold knobs and 1 faucet, they have individual hot and cold knobs and 2 faucets. How does one use lukewarm water??!?!!

ALL SET

I'm all set to go to Cambridge, logistically that is. Nothing is packed and I still have a few trips to Target to make, but I have housing, I have a visa, I have a plane ticket. I'm all set.

Now just waiting for it to set in I'm actually going to be studying there.

Cambridge? What?

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies

Dear Cambridge,

May I please have my CAS form ASAP so I can apply for my visa!?!

Sincerely,

Clock is ticking in Oklahoma

Good News!!

I just found out that I have been "successful in attaining" a partial Cambridge Trust for £6,000 (almost $10,000)!!!!

I didn't even know I was still being considered. What a nice surprise email it was :) Not only does this really help me out financially, it sort of also makes me feel like they really want me to attend and that maybe I do belong at Cambridge. Hello confidence, please stay with me through October!!

aww shit (pun intended)

Glastonbury 2012 cancelled due to lack of portaloos and police officers caused by the London Olympics.

It's Official and Unconditional!

Finally, 9 months after applying and 3 months after receiving my conditional offer to Cambridge, I am officially, unconditionally accepted for the 2011 Michaelmas Term to read for the MPhil of Latin American Studies!!

Now, I only have to wait for my support letter from the university to apply for my Tier 4 student visa. WHEW! I was beginning to get antsy about this. Michaelmas term doesn't start until October but I'm leaving in early September for Germany and I need to get all my visa crap out of the way before then. Everything is on schedule :)

So, some more details about my upcoming stint across the pond. The MPhil program in Latin American studies is from October-June. The first term is composed of 1 core course (Critical Issues in Latin American Studies) and 2 electives, resulting in 2 2,500 word response papers. Term two is the continuation of the 2 electives, ending in 2 5,000 word essays. The third term, from April to June is spent in the preparation of a 15,000 word thesis. My research proposal was based on the concept of the political viability of indigenous groups of the Peruvian Amazonian region----but I'm hoping to be able to change this and focus on the Andean region.

My mentor during the program will be Dr. David Lehmann, current director of the Centre (notice the spelling?) of Latin American Studies. According to his website, "He is currently engaged in a major study of the spread of ideas about multiculturalism and interculturalidad in Latin America, and especially in Mexico, Peru and Brazil, focusing on the relationship between the politics of recognition, affirmative action and social justice". Score!! It's going to be a lot of hard work ahead of me, but I'm up for the challenge!

Every student at the university belongs to a college, kind of like Hogwarts Houses, which you live in, eat in and pay tuition to. My college is Darwin College. Founded in 1964 and obviously named after one of Cambridge's famous alumnus, it is the largest of 5 college specifically for graduate students. About 50% of all "Darwinians" are international students, so I'll be in good company.

Darwin College, from the river Cam

Darwin is widely known for its annual Darwin Lectures, which consists of a series of talks based around a single theme and examined by different perspectives (scientific, humanities, arts, etc). In 2011, the theme was "beauty". In 2012, the theme will be "life". I've been told ( by wikipedia, lol) that it is one of the key events on the Cambridge calendar! Go Darwin!

Darwin college is one of the few college located along the River Cam. So there should be some beautiful views from the college. Darwin is providing my housing, options range from living in the actually college itself, to small apartments over shops on the main street, or houses close to campus, but located in the fens (fields). I've applied for housing, but I won't know where exactly I'm living until later on. All the houses are located a short walk or bike ride away, and I'd like to get a bike and be one of these blokes....

I'm pretty excited about being a part of Darwin college. There website show a whole list of welcome week activities for their new "freshers" and the college bar and libraries both seem nice ;)

Thats all I really know about my Cambridge stuff right now. Still waiting on word over housing and when I can enroll in my electives at the Centre of LA Studies. I think I have my two choices picked out, but info is due to be updated and I'll wait until then to decide for sure. I'll post again once I can show pictures of my housing situation.

I still can't really wrap my head around the fact that I will be living in this city...but once reality sets in, I have a feeling it's still going to be surreal.