As the days continue to go by, I am still in awe that I get to call myself a Cambridge student for the summer. Whether it's getting to walk straight into King's College using my student ID on a day flooded with tourists, or a quiet afternoon spent reading in the courtyards of Pembroke, I still catch myself wondering if I'm living in a dream. Every day I spend here is different from the one before, and for this week's blog I decided to document what one full day looks like for me.
Every morning I wake up at the amazingly not mid-morning hour of 4am to the sun rising. I almost immediately fall asleep after realizing the time (and realizing that I have done this every morning since I have been here). Today, I woke up for my Reading Jane Austen class that starts at 8:45. The reason why every day is so drastically different is due to the extremely well thought out and almost impossible to read time table. Each day classes meet at a different time, so I have had to curb my Type A personality in favor of enjoying the new challenges each day brings. Along with a new challenge each day, there comes the well-known Olympic Sport of crossing the busiest intersection at Cambridge; Trumpington Street and Mill Lane. My classes are technically only a 2 minute walk from Pembroke (if that), but crossing this intersection adds about 10 minutes and a chance of getting taken out by a cycler to the morning agenda. Once I had barely made it to class, I had the pleasure of listening to my professor, Dr. Varley-Winter, lecture on Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen and the use of poetry throughout her novels. Throughout Austen's work, she was influenced by poets such as Lord Byron and William Cowper. Austen's readings of these poets allowed her to blend the traditional satirical style of Cowper with the growing influence of romanticism during her time. She ever so gracefully romanticizes the idea of love in the eyes of her characters, but she also satirizes the love-centered society she lives in. Not to mention, especially throughout the witty banter of Northanger Abbey, she provides the reader with unintended comedic relief that is achieved through the dry sense of humor that is Austen. Jane Austen herself was influenced by the great poets of her own readings, just as the poetry and novels reveal a great deal about the likings and personalities of each of her characters, such as Marianne from Sense and Sensibility. During each lecture in Reading Jane Austen, I completely lose track of time. I become so enthralled with the content and analysis of a timeless author like Austen. I have always been an avid reader of romance novels, so each lecture has felt like an hour and fifteen minutes where I get to escape and absorb. Each day I find a new angle to look at the same text from, and I learn more about the social and historical context of Austen's time. As if I didn't already love Jane Austen before this class began, I have become captivated with her ability to write novels that put the real-life stories of the time onto the shelves for the public (and myself) to fall in love with. After my class wrapped up around 10am, I headed to my favorite reading spot to do some much needed catching up on Northanger Abbey. It was quiet, and Pembroke was not yet bustling with my fellow PKP students writing dissertations and rushing to class. These are some of my favorite moments, when it's just me, Jane Austen, and the view of one of my favorite places on earth. I find myself doing my best to truly take in every second of being here, to take mental pictures of every sight, and attempt to burn it into my memory. I know that when I return home and the waves of stress and anxiety attempt to drown me, I will go to this place in the courtyard. I will remember exactly how the sun gently warmed my skin, and how Jane Austen's characters slowly made their way into my heart. Reading always puts me in the best mood, but so does getting to spend time with the amazing friends I have made here. I went for a cup of coffee with one of the most genuine souls I know, my good friend Elizabeth. After catching up on the latest PKP news, we spent time studying and enjoying our iced honey lattes at Hot Numbers (I know, surprisingly I wasn't at Fitzbillies for once). I absolutely love that Cambridge has an endless supply of coffee shops for me to explore, because let's be honest nothing beats the white noise of a coffee shop while studying. After satisfying our caffeine addiction, Elizabeth and I headed to do the only normal thing that a history major and a literature junkie can do: wander the streets of Cambridge for antique books. Elizabeth and I became friends immediately when we realized we both knew every word to the song American Pie by Don McLean, grew up listening to James Taylor, and loved the smell of antique books. Novels have been such a huge part of who I am, and reading has shaped me into the student and person I have always aspired to be. Getting to share such a quirky interest like this with a friend like Elizabeth has been one of the little memories that will stick with me long past these six weeks. After sifting through shops filled with some of the most beautiful books I have ever seen, Elizabeth and I wandered around the market and did some shopping. We may sound like book nerds (which we are), but we both absolutely adore fashion, and besides, who says we can't successfully do both? Spending the afternoon with such a great friend, while exploring Cambridge was exactly what I needed, but I also needed to spend some time in the library studying. I ate at the Pembroke dining hall for dinner, then headed over to the King's Library to study. Don't get me wrong, I love the Pembroke Library, but the King's Library is open 24 hours (and I'm a late night studier by nature). Back at OCU, I'm "that" girl who frequently stays up until the ungodly hours of the morning studying for Organic Chemistry (or whatever exam I have that week). There's also something about King's College and the library specifically that I can't quite put my finger on. There's an aura of excellence that exists within the walls of a place like King's Library. It may sound silly, but I feel inherently more motivated the second I walk through the doors. Being at Cambridge and learning from the environment around me has made me a better person, without even realizing it. After getting caught up on schoolwork, I walked back to Pembroke from King's. Walking about the city at night comes with a different kind of appreciation. The streets are quiet, minds of students are bustling, and the glow of the moonlight radiates effortlessly upon the buildings. This and many other reasons are why I choose to study at King's and why I feel that exploring this city every chance I get is so important to my experience here. When I sat down to write about my little moments from one full day at Cambridge, it truly made me realize how many seconds in a day I find myself feeling eternally grateful. There were a multitude of points in this post where I felt compelled to write about how lucky I am to be here, and there are and infinite amount of moments I didn't even have room to write about. Each week I think that I will finally be able to put into words how much this place means to me, and each time I try no combinations of words can do it justice. Maybe one day, when this place and these feelings are only a part of a beloved memory, will I be able to fully reflect on what is happening here. For now, all I can feel is gratefulness and anticipation for what's to come. XOXO, Loren
2 Comments
When I sat down to begin writing this post, I was almost at a loss for words. It seemed impossible for me to even try to explain the life-changing impact this first week at Cambridge has had on me. It sounds like a crazy concept, that one week can truly change a person, but if that's so I must be crazy. When I first arrived in one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen, I was awestruck. I would love to tell you that this place immediately felt like home, but arriving in a foreign country with no friends and no familiarity felt like the farthest thing from anything I've ever known.
After climbing up the three flights of twisty, creaky, old, wooden stairs to get to my room (trust me, this is the only description that does these stairs justice), I opened my door and my gaze immediately rested upon my little window with a view. When I looked at what was actually before my eyes, it suddenly hit me that I was going to wake up every morning to the view of the Pembroke Library Clock Tower. It felt like I was living in a dream. Despite the beauty around me, it was hard not to question every decision I had made to travel halfway across the world when I had not met a single friend. I was still trying to get my bearings by walking around Cambridge and I am so lucky to have had my family with me. I had been looking forward to the PKP welcome reception all day, but when it finally came around, I was irrationally nervous. Let me paint the picture for you. Imagine 350 students from all over the world, confined to one room, trying to navigate through crowds of people just to hopefully find one person they connect with. I have an incredibly big personality, and this sight scared me of all people. In spite of my fears, I immediately met so many individuals who would soon become family. All of my doubts about joining this program faded away, and I knew I was going to have the summer of a lifetime. Fast forward to just a week later, and I can confidently say that Cambridge has very quickly become like home to me. I have absolutely fallen in love with this city, this university, and this experience. The feeling I get when I walk the streets of Cambridge seems unexplainable. There is an overwhelming, intangible sense of learning and growth that course through the veins of this city. I have wrestled with how to express this feeling in words, and honestly debated whether or not to attempt to write about it. In the simplest way possible, there is a precedent set at the University of Cambridge that curiosity and acquiring knowledge can make tidal waves in the oceans of uncertainty around us. When I think about the fact that I am attending the same university as some of the world's greatest minds, I get the chills. The feeling I get by simply walking down the street here is one that inspires me to wonder. Just by looking at the intricate, gothic architecture of the buildings at Cambridge, I begin to grasp the history and tradition this place emulates. Whether it's watching the sunset at The Mill by the River Cam, or going on a morning jog at King's College, every single view has truly taken my breath away. Many of my nerves about attending PKP came from the fear of not finding true friends. With my talkative personality and willingness to use it, I figured I would at the very least meet a friend or two, but wow I never expected to have found what I did. To my girl gang, here is your much deserved shoutout (and an entire paragraph dedicated to how much I love you guys). If I've learned anything these past 20 years, it's that true friends are hard to come by, and they're rare (as they should be). Within a week, I was lucky enough to find a group of girls that I connected with immediately, and we have been inseparable ever since. What we quickly realized was that we all came here with the same hesitations and fears, but also with the goal of seeking out real relationships. One of the many misconceptions I've battled throughout my life was that people had to know each other for years in order to be "real" friends. I could not have been any more wrong. Taking this leap of faith has already given me a life filled with people who will impact me for years to come. Every person I have developed a relationship with has differed from me in many ways, whether it be where we're from or what our major is, but the most important thing we have in common is our willingness to connect with one another. Being around 350 other academically-centered students has felt like my own little oasis of rare people who actually enjoy studying (like myself). I have found my kind of people, you know the ones who are annoyingly obsessed with Harry Potter, and want to play trivia for fun on a Friday night. In fact, our results come back soon from our Sorting Hat Quiz, so we are all waiting with bated breath to hear which HP House we will be in for the rest of the program. In traditional Cambridge style, of course there will be a program-long competition amongst the four houses, which has been the topic of much discussion and already brewing rivalries. As if the architecture, grandeur, and formal hall dinner at Cambridge didn't make me feel like I was at real-life Hogwarts already, this has definitely upped the ante. As expected, I am one of the few students from Texas (every other girl in my friend group happens to be from California), so I have loved being surrounded by so many differing outlooks and walks of life. We like to joke that we traveled all the way to the UK to meet a group of friends from the US, but honestly, these friendships wouldn't have been as meaningful (and probably would have never happened) without the environment PKP has provided us. As if I haven't stressed it enough, the people that I have surrounded myself with have promoted a change in me that I didn't even know I needed. Right off the bat, I was having incredibly real conversations with people about the inner workings of who we are, and from that I have been challenged to face the things that scare me most. By opening up to those around me, I have had to confront my struggles with the importance I place on how others see me. Constantly wanting to impress others has been one of my toughest battles and one of my steepest hills. However, being surrounded by people who lift me up, not tear me down, has allowed me to begin the process of letting go of these insecurities. Facing your struggles head on is frightening, but ultimately liberating. Without the help of some of the most genuine, loving, and honest people I have ever met, I would still be chained to the things that hold me back. Finding people that have inspired me in every way has made this experience so rewarding. Besides the friendships I have already made, the classes I am taking have been expectedly incredible. Cambridge is known worldwide for its academic prestige, and I am experiencing it firsthand. I am currently taking Reading Jane Austen, Sex and Death, and I will start Literary London: from Shakespeare to Sherlock after next week. As many of you already know, I am a cellular and molecular biology major studying to go to dental school. If you're wondering if I closed my eyes and selected my courses randomly, (it sure does sound like it), I actually deliberately chose not to take courses in hard sciences. Back at OCU, I excel in my science courses and I am very open about my passion for biology (which is a good thing because it is my major), but what I don't share don't too willingly is my love for literature. I would have done well in science courses here if I had taken them, but I wanted to explore a different side of my academic interests. For as long as I can remember, I was reading love stories and writing my own versions of these narratives. I am still an avid reader and I have the utmost appreciation for the humanities. I firmly believe that being an excellent student requires study in all areas of academia, not just major-specific courses. Not only do I want to be a skilled science student, but I also want to be a well-rounded student. Literature has been a hobby of mine and I haven't had the chance to develop this hobby in the classroom. When selecting my classes, I couldn't think of a better place than Cambridge to train myself as a student of literature. This was not an easy decision to make, and this has pushed me out of my comfort zone in every way. However, progress is never made by being static in our own safety nets. Every day during class, I am so enthralled by each lecture and seminar, but it is hard to ignore the feeling of insecurity that comes with my limited background in literature courses. Coming into this experience, I knew I wanted to grow as a student, and I can already feel myself making strides in the way I approach topics and discussions. One of the many reasons I chose Cambridge was to challenge myself, but also to learn from my peers and professors by not being the smartest person in the room. I truly believe in this philosophy and I know that I am bettering myself by being surrounded by others who think differently. Classes at Cambridge have been everything I ever dreamed them to be, and I know that learning at a place like this will develop me into a well-versed student, and more importantly a better person. I've titled this post 'The Cambridge Effect' and I cannot think of a better way to describe the imprint this university has made on my heart. Whether it be the way I see the world around me, the techniques I use for close reading of Jane Austen, or the desire to look deeper into the unknown parts of myself, Cambridge has made a lasting impression on who I am. I take comfort in knowing that I still have plenty of time left to let this place make it's mark on me. Cheers to many more memories to come! XOXO, Loren So if you couldn't tell from my Instagram posts, this past week I enjoyed an incredible vacation in London with my family. Our days were jam packed with many of the most touristy things you can imagine, and as each day went by, I fell more and more in love with everything London and the UK has to offer. I'm writing this post from a coffee shop (Fitzbillies by Pembroke of course) with four amazing friends that I've already met at Cambridge, and I cannot believe I've finished my first day of classes. However, I haven't had the chance to blog about my time in London, so I'll save my photos and updates about Cambridge for the next post. To my girl gang...I hope you're reading this, but you'll be featured soon ;)
As soon as we landed at London Heathrow, I could feel the excitement of everything I had been dreaming about for the last 8 months. The anticipation of getting to see London for myself often kept me up at night (actually googling pictures and videos of London kept me up). As we drove closer to central London, I was in complete awe at how beautiful this city truly was. Pictures just don't do it justice. Being the stereotypical Type A person that I am, on our first day in London I wanted to stick to the itinerary (shoutout to my also Type A mother for making the best schedule). Stop one was the Churchill War Rooms, so we hopped in a cab and we were greeted by a long line of tourists waiting to go into tiny underground war bunkers. Although I wanted to stick to the itinerary, the line would have taken up most of our already short first afternoon in London, so we began our impromptu walk. We stumbled upon Trafalgar Square, and continued on until we ended up at Covent Garden. If you know me, you know I love my planner and I love schedules, but seeing London this way allowed me to pick my head up from my itinerary planning app and actually see what was around me. Honestly, I'm glad our plans didn't work out because we ended up enjoying the kind of London experience that cannot be generated by an app. Once I let go of my ever so present need to organize and plan, I wasn't worried about trying to get to our next scheduled event at a specific time. This freeness allowed me to enjoy the energy and adrenaline that comes from not knowing what your next move. If I learned anything from my week in London, it's that the most genuine memories are not made in the planned time blocks of my itinerary. Instead, some of my favorite moments in London sprouted from the unexpected. One of my many reasons for choosing to study abroad in the UK (and admittedly my most silly reason) is that I am a royal family junkie, and I am obsessed with "The Crown" and "Downton Abbey". When I got to see Buckingham Palace and the changing of the guards with my own eyes, my royal family-loving heart skipped a beat. I know it sounds silly to most, but this was one of the things I looked forward to the most about visiting London. Witnessing the pageantry and elegance of the ceremony seemed like something out of a television show. The overwhelming sense of tradition that tags along with this ceremony was breathtaking, and I couldn't help but even come to enjoy the mass of people who were bumping into me at every turn. One thing that I was worried about before coming to England was the food. For those of you who don't know, I have Celiac Disease so anything with gluten is off the table for me (I plan to write a post about traveling with Celiac). After I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease back in October, I struggled with transitioning to a gluten free lifestyle. In the first few months, I wrestled with the contradiction of not wanting to be a burden to others and speaking up for my own health and safety. Being a science student, I researched everything about the disease, and knew exactly what my body needed to function properly. However, when it came to voicing my restrictions to a waiter or anyone really, I couldn't find the courage to advocate for myself. If you know me, you know that I am proud of my ability to stand up for myself and others, but learning to speak up about having Celiac has taken me a lot more time than I expected. This trip allowed me to finally get to a place of being able to explicitly state my requirements and not be ashamed of being "difficult". After all, our difficulties make us who we are and grow us into the person we are supposed to be. I was finally able to break the chains of embarrassment I had put on myself about this disease. Whether this change came from the confidence I had in myself to take on an experience like studying abroad, or if it was the 8 months I've spent trying to come to terms with my situation, I'm not quite sure. One thing I am sure of, however, is that pushing yourself toward an experience that challenges you or even scares you, can produce the change you have been longing to see in yourself. However, I was thoroughly impressed with the gluten free options at EVERY single restaurant in London. This was my family and I's first time in London, so when it came to our meals we just trusted our gut and picked random trip advisor-reviewed restaurants around us whenever it was time to eat. Some of my favorites from the week were Flat Iron, Fumo, and the Butlers Wharf Chop House. All three of these restaurants were so aesthetic (yes girls, perfect pictures for the gram), and provided top notch dishes...all gluten free of course. Everyone in London has been so kind and accommodating which has made the transition of being abroad so much easier. Two words...Afternoon. Tea. My mom and I had tea at The Corinthia hotel and I was so excited to experience the tradition of a true afternoon tea in England. When I say it exceeded my expectations...it did that and more. The staff at The Corinthia was outstanding, and by no surprise, there was an AMAZING gluten free pastry menu that I was able to enjoy. The finger sandwiches, scones, and desserts were all prepared gluten free, and everything was so decadent that I had to ask our waiter if he had accidentally served me the regular options. As if the GF pastries and earl grey tea weren't enough to make me the happiest girl in the UK, I even got to enjoy tea one table over from one of my favorite actresses, Rebel Wilson (you're lying if you say you don't love Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids). Over and over again I was so impressed by the level of attentiveness I received while dining in London, and it truly made the experience so much less stressful for my family and I. These are just a few of the many incredible places I experienced during my week in London, and I couldn't possibly talk about them all without writing a novel. I was so lucky to have had a week in London to get used to the UK and get everything I needed to move into Cambridge. There were a couple moments while walking down the bustling streets of London where I looked at my surroundings and almost couldn't believe that I was here. Every day has felt like a dream, and I know my six weeks in the UK, studying at Cambridge, are just going to keep getting better and better. I have already met some of the most amazing people in my short time here, and I know many more trips to London are in my future. Cheers to six more weeks in Cambridge and so many more memories, GF scones, and English nights to come! XOXO, Loren |
AuthorHello! My name is Loren, and yes that's Loren with an 'o' not 'au'. It's nice to virtually meet you all...welcome to my blog! Archives
August 2019
Categories |