Photos From the First Day

King's College



A View from the Hill






Another


Another, I felt sorry for the random British couple we interrupted with our noisy American tour group

St. Edmunds - my temporary college

Me, post trip

My bathroom

My delightful view

My bed

My desk

There and Not Back Again, Yet

My trip to merry old England began simply enough with a car ride to the airport with Heather. We got there without incident, although at check-in, we snuck a weighing of my bag to find that it was 56 lbs., meaning that I could be charged $100 each way for this bag. Heather sprung in to action and quickly divvied up my belongings so as to distribute the weight among my carry on and my newly unpacked backpack. All was well after this because the check in clerk was content to let a 52 lbs. bag slip by.

Heather and I made our goodbye's and I was alone starting at 10:30 AM. This will begin the countdown known as PHTT (Post Heather Travel Time). Security was frustrating, but I was not searched or detained, which is always good. Then I waited a bit and flew to Atlanta. The flight was uneventful with the exception of the obese girl next to me who kept having to shove the arm rest under her fat roll. I assume that my arm weight on the rest was pinching her love handles. Two hours PHTT. Thankfully, I had the aisle seat.

Atlanta was fine, I made some calls to say farewell, and then I was boarding the plane. For an hour and a half. We kept hearing on the intercom that maintenance was making some repairs etc., but it wasn't specified until an hour in to the process. Apparently on the previous flight someone vomitted ferociously because after two cleanings the smell was still impossible to remove. They actually had to find spare carpetting from the repair yard and replace the vomit carpet. Ew. All trhough this, the back plane door was open and we were treated to the delightful Atlanta air in our metal tube that steadily cooked us. 7.5 hrs PHTT. I kept envisioning hot dogs wrapped in aluminum foil. I think the delusions were starting to set in.

Finally, vomit carpet removed, we were free to fly away. On this flight I was next to a very large and hairy man, although I was in the aisle. The only issue is that we both wanted the armrest. Badly. This lead to an uspoken agreement that I would take the back portion and him the front. While this arrangement worked for a time, it also created a disturbing situation involving the rubbing of arm hair on forearms. I put on my jacket. It was cold. And awkward.

The movies were fine, but I don't think the Edge of Darkness and the Wolfman were good choices to watch when you are wanting to sleep. There's something about a movie with radiation poisoning mixed with airplane food that makes you feel terrible. It also didn't help that the hairy (Wolfman!) man next to me never seemed to want to sleep. He just watched his war film while I kept nodding off for 10-12 minute intervals. 15.5 hrs PHTT.

I gave up on sleep when the stewardesses emerged once more from their caves in the rear of the plane. Unbeknownst to me, broad shoulders are a severe disadvantage in air travel. I was clipped four times by the massive cart carrying either food and drinks each time they passed from behind me. I'm certain I seemed a twitchy fellow because every time I heard something resembling the cart's rattling I huddled inward. The stewardesses were unapologetic sadists. Especially when they provided the breakfast. Half-nuked egg and pepper jack cheese product biscuits with a nub banana.

Stomach filled, if not content, I left the plane to navigate to a line that could only be said to resemble Centipede, the arcade classic. Every once in a while the clerks would take another individual (the centipede getting shot) and the line would move avoiding the barriers (mushrooms) that kept us in line. This culminated for me with a very surly British man who was put out that I had no program information to show.

"Hello."

No response, but then, "What is your purpose here?"

"Study abroad."

"Where?"

"St. Edmund's College at Cambridge University"

"I need your program information."

"I don't believe I have anything, I can look."

"You have nothing?"

"I'm afraid not, I think I can dig something up from my profess-"

I start rummaging in my bag...

STAMP STAMP STAMP

"Go on."

16 hrs PHTT.

I got my bag and found the National Express Coaches booth where people were delightfully friendly and helpful. I also tried to get on the internet thinking the airport may have free wi-fi. This, however, was not America, so I was locked out. The bus showed up an hour and a half later.

This was easily the single worst travel experience of my life. Half-starved and blind with exhaustion I just wanted to curl up in my seat and play Pokemon. Yes, Pokemon, Heart Gold for the DS, try it, you may enjoy it. I was soon defeated in this endeavor because the driver seemed determined to either flip the bus, or to at least push the limits of how quickly it could take the turns, of which there were several billion, for a rough estimate. Pun, anyone? I was motion sick, and decided I would try and stare out the window. This attempt earned me a seat mate and cramped quarters. I then capituatled to exhaustion and proceeded to nod off every 10 minutes or so until I was awakened by my head banging in to the window on one of the devilishly intrepid driver's hairpin turns. After another four hours (21.5 hrs PHTT), I got to Cambridge, and that was the important part.

Something about the massive lawn and old buildings I drove up to pushed away the memories of the trip. And after an amusing taxi ride with the man's family in the back seat (odd), I was at St. Edmunds and my study abroad began.

I will post some pictures that I took on the first day, including my room, my self, and some panoramas from the top of the hill where the old Norman castle used to be. My personal favorite is King's College that we saw the outside of on one of the group's sojourns.

There will be more to come, and don't worry. I'm delighted to be here, now. The trip was worth the reward and I'm incredibly excited.

Next Up: Lorn, Cyclist Extraordinaire, a look at the city and University of Cambridge

Also, see the Beer List for continued updates. Feel free to post suggestions as well.

The Beer and Alcohol List

I'm going to be trying many new things abroad, one of which will be alcoholic beverages, and most notably, beers. This is a running list of the beers I have tried and my ratings of them.

Cheers!

1) Adnam's Bitter - (Draft, Pint) certainly bitter, but with a good hops flavor regardless, a darker beer. I hardly noticed it was room temperature. ****/*****
2) Greene King St. Edmund's - (Draft, Pint) served cool, darker than a pilsner, but with a similar, if heavier, flavor ****/*****
3) Greene King Abbot Ale - (Draft, Pint) also served cool, much darker and fuller tasting than St. Edmund's. It was not at all to my taste. *.5/*****
4) Everard's ______ Ale - (Draft, Pint) I can't recall the exact name, but it was a decent beer, just not that great. **/*****
5) Symond's Cider - (Draft, Pint) served cool, much more stout than Strongbow, though short of Magner's. Very tart, I liked it. ****.5/*****
6) Strongbow Cider - (Draft, Pint) served cool, actually a disappointment, it was watery and not nearly as tasty as the Symond's. I will avoid in the future. Sorry, Ian.