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
GMA
7/31/2019 06:54:50 am
You will have those beautiful memories forever. They seemed to have become a permanent part of you. Take in every minute. So proud of you. Love you. 😊❤️💕
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Mom
7/31/2019 07:35:57 am
This was so beautifully written. I can feel your joy, awe and even a little wistfulness on how fleeting this time is. Take in every moment. I miss you but am so happy knowing how much you have loved this experience. Love you more. Mom❤️
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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
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