I don’t know how to describe the feelings that consume me right now. Having just returned from the city centre with a little bag full of gifts for friends, it hit me: in seven short days I will be back in the States: one week. that’s it. Our schedule for the next few days is ridiculous. Tomorrow is our final exam for Murphy’s British History, as well as our last common meal. Prof Farmer is has invited us over to his home for a bbq. Thursday will be fully dedicated to cleaning the centre, and when we finish, a few of the girls are going to take a tour of the famous Cambridge Backs. I am excited to see the landscapes in full bloom rather than the drab winter garb they have been wearing all semester. Friday is our final group trip to the Lake District. I’ll elaborate on those adventures as they come. We will return on Sunday evening. Monday will be our final day in the house. We will clean our rooms, pack, and have our final English pub meal with our professors. It will be a bittersweet event. Tuesday, at 6AM, we will load up Phil’s bus and make our way to London. Only this time, our bus will be Hethrow-bound, and United Airlines will be waiting for us to check in. No more waving to the Queen or squishing into red telephone booths. We’ll trade in our tiaras for grand American cheeseburgers, and familiar faces. It’s not a bad trade, but I am not ready to leave; and yet, I know I can’t stay.
Internally conflicted: I think that is the best way to put it. Part of me wants, so desperately, to be home. To be back with my family, friends, and my big cozy bed. But at the same time, I never want to leave this fairy-tale life. Once I’m back in the States, weekend trips to London will be long-planned excursions rather than the spontaneous junkets they have now become. I have experienced so much in such a small amount of time here.
I came to Cambridge excited about the opportunity to do some serious personal rediscovery: to reevaluate what I want in life, to soak up culture in hopes it would ooze from me, and to push myself to the limits and beyond. I needed to grow. That’s what I wanted. This is what I got: a singularly unforgettable five month journey through Europe and Great Britain that tested my character, patience, and moral standards, forcing me to form opinions on heavy topics and have the information to back them up. Oddly, I feel older, more independent, and more responsible. Nothing forces you into adulthood like raw travel.
Cambridge is, historically, a place of learning. (duh) And it has taught me many things. Here are a few examples for your mild amusement: 1.) It is possible for things to be “jolly good” without reference to Santa Clause. 2.) The best way to learn geography is to travel the world, or to get stick in Spain while the Icelandic volcano, Ejafjallajokull, erupts. 3.) It is never too early or too late to call your mom. I think the amount of times I accidentally woke her up at 4AM- because I switched the time change backwards in my head- could rival her number of sleepless nights when I was a baby. But in all seriousness, it is so wonderful to know that no matter where I am in the world, my family, and besties, are unconditionally there for me.
Anyways, our last English Life & Culture Assignment was to write a letter or give advice to the next group coming to Cambridge: C86. My top 10 tips are as follows in no specific order:
1.) Get out of the house. Pick one thing a day that forces you to leave. Visit one of the college campuses. (King’s and Trinity are my favorites. St. John’s is also beautiful.) Go to the market, go to tea, or make it a goal to go to a different pub every week. You won’t regret it.
2.) Do not be afraid of going into town alone. Be aware, but not afraid. (I bought a map. It was a good life choice.) Cambridge is very safe. That being said, girls- you shouldn’t go alone at night. Travel in threes after the pubs close. Have fun. Be safe.
3.) Bring at least two adaptors. One for your computer, and one for everything else. Don’t forget that the continent uses different plugs than England. Bring those too.
4.) Don’t worry about making friends in the house. It’ll happen naturally. Let it. You will soon realize that “C86” is just another way to say “family.” And know this: don’t take “it” personally. There will be a lot of “it”s to deal with throughout the semester. Tempers flare, homesick spells catch different people at different times, and sleep eludes everyone. There is no downtime. For five months you will go to class from Monday to Thursday, and Thursday evenings you will travel to various places in Europe, only to return Sunday night, unpack, shower, and go to class on Monday, ready to repeat the pattern. Sounds fabulous- and it is- but is also exhausting. You will be beleaguered and euphorically happy continually. Just roll with the punches.
5.) Be open-minded. If you’ve never heard of a bramley or lycee, buy one from the market, and try it. Then, *poof* new experience and gained knowledge! (A Bramley is basically a huge, super sour apple. A lycee is crazy. Ask the market shop owner that you buy it from how to eat it. I don’t want to spoil the fun for you here.) Try lemon curd, eat a crumpet, and have cream tea every chance you get. Ask for fruit scones. those are the best. (Especially at the Jane Austin House in Bath. The clotted cream they give you for scones is to die for.) Have that attitude everywhere you go. Don’t be cautious about trying new things. After all, that’s one of the reasons you are coming here.
6.) When you pack for the semester, bring half the number of pairs of jeans you think you need, twice as many nice outfits/ dresses, and three times as much money. England dresses well, but some people do wear sweatpants. I wouldn’t suggest it, but it has been done. Also, think of what you will want to buy over here, and do not bring it: i.e. a sweatshirt. Also, bring a regular-size backpack for weekends, and use the hiking backpack for long breaks. You’re not going to want to use your hiking one for weekends. Trust me. Also, the less you bring, the more room you will have when you go home. You will be surprised at how much you accumulate throughout the semester: especially when it’s time to pack to return to the States…
7.) Try to figure out what places you are interested in seeing before you come over here. I wanted to go to Vienna really bad, but ran out of time. I guess it’s just another reason to come back. :) Know where you want to go, and plan the trip. Do it! and bring friends.
8.) That being said, make sure you spend at least two weekends in Cambridge. I would suggest the weekend before midterms and before finals. While you are here on the weekends, go to the tourist centre and see what there is to do. Don’t miss the Friday lunchtime concerts at Kettle’s Yard. They are free and fabulous: top notch musicians and composers. And go to the ADC Theatre, Arts Picture House, and Saturday Arts Market. There is so much to do!
9.) You will get homesick once or twice. It definitely happened to me. Let yourself cry for a minute. just a minute, mind you. Wipe your tears, and remind yourself why you came. In fact, on the plane-ride over, make a list of what you are excited about, what your anxieties are, and what compelled you to choose England in the first place. When you have a bad day, take it out, read it, skype a friend or family member for a bit, and then get over it. They all love you, are proud of you, and enthusiastically await your return. So, instead of wishing they were here and wallowing in self-pity, get out of the house and do something so that you have fabulous experiences to share back in the States. I don’t mean to sound heartless, I’m just telling it how it is.
10.) Relish the moments. They will not linger but in your memory. Tempus fugit.
Finally, on the subject of Roommates. Em, as I call her, is one of my sorority sisters. We were friends before we came here, but we didn’t know each other then, as well as we do now. She has become a sounding board, study buddy and best friend. If it was not for Cambridge, we would probably not have had the opportunity to become so close. Our worlds at Valpo are not conducive to a real social life. I guess that’s what we get for being a triple major and pre-PT. At any rate, that friendship, in and of itself, is one of the biggest blessings I’ve been given on this trip. It’s been a long road, and I’m glad that I’ve had her to walk it with. So, pick your roommate as best you can. The people you are with will make your travels unforgettable.
