And the beat goes on...

Okay, so, lots to tell, lots to tell. This past weekend, Kristen and I went to a town called Corby in Northamtonshire. We went to see a decrepit castle called Kirby Hall and it was really cool. Unlike many of the other castles around England, the historical society decided to not completely refurbish it to its original grandeur. It was still really beautiful. We got to see a lot of English countryside (full of lots and lots of sheep), and also go to explore some small English villages. These villages didn't have so much as a gas station, just really old houses and couple of pubs (because it wouldn't be English if there wasn't a pub or two). We rode the trains out and back, so that was an experience in itself. I spent a grand total of fifteen minutes in London switching trains, but what I saw was cool. I think the other JYAs and myself are planning a trip to London soon. We are all so busy here that we forget to travel. For instance, the Cambridge Union Society is having a wine tasting Thursday night that Jacque and I are going to. Still grappling with how much it costs to live in general...buying groceries sucks. Other than that, things are great. We had our first rugby game last Thursday...we won 12-8. I play a forward, and if you don't know what that is, you should go watch a rugby game, because it is awesome!!! My favorite quote so far from an Englishman is that "Futbol (soccer) is a gentleman's game played by barbarians, but rugby is a barbarian's game played by gentlemen." Here's to the gentlemen. Well, that's all for now, but I will try to post again before another week passes before my unsuspecting eyes. Much love to all.

Cheers!

Cody

Just a Short One

Hello all. Sorry that it has been a week since my last post, but things got really busy really fast. I feel like every time I actually have time to write, all I want to do is vedge. I made it to Oxford to see Kristen last weekend, and it was a lot of fun. We went to a pub called the Turf, which is apparently a pretty popular landmark in Oxford. I also got to see Christ Church (beautiful!). However, despite the fact that I saw all of these wonderful sites, I didn't take any pictures, sorry. One the other hand, I was running some errands today all over Cambridge, and I randomly stumbled on the wall in the picture above. It just goes to show that history is literally around every corner here....really cool. I finished my first paper Sunday, and have another due next Tuesday. The first one went okay, so I'm hoping that the rest are the same. Again, hope all is well with all of you.

Cheers!

Cody

Rugby, Lectures, and my first Evensong

As the title suggests, yesterday and today have been pretty eventful with activities. First, I had my first rugby practice of the term, which was awesome! We didn't play contact because so many of us hadn't played before, but even still I am very very sore today. I actually had to leave practice early to get to choir in time, but it was very worth it. We had an hour and a half long practice before the service, and then had the hour long service. The choir did great and I really enjoyed being a part of the service. It was very different from what I am used to. High Anglican Church of England is far from a Southern Baptist service what with the bowing to the altar and the responses between the dean of the chapel and the choir.
My first lecture was this morning in a class called Understanding Religion. It is basically a look at the Sociology of Religion, which turns out to be pretty cool. I have two supervisions tomorrow (which is like a small group that discusses the lecture with a professor from the subject's faculty), and I get to go to a screening for a film class. One of the cool things about being a student in the university, is that if you want to go to a lecture that you aren't in, it doesn't matter! You can just go for the sake of going, or because you think it is interesting. Ah, academia. Anyways, this weekend I am going to Oxford by bus to see Kristen and some of the other Oxforders. I look forward to it. I hope all of you are well.

Cheers mates!

Cody

Punting and the Homerton Horn

Today was such a beautiful day so far as weather is concerned. It was sunny and was beautiful!!! We went punting, which, for those of you who don't know, is pushing a boat down a gentle river with a long stick. It was fun and apparently I am a natural. A couple of days ago we had the Matriculation dinner (a tradition that Jewell should adopt) where we sit with our tutors and eat and drink and be merry. At the end of the meal, everyone drinks from a traditional Saxon drinking horn as you see me with to the left. It was really awesome!!! I perform my first Evensong with the Queen's College Chapel Choir tomorrow, and I'm kind of nervous, but excited as well. It is GORGEOUS...Anyways, I hope that all of you are well as you read this, because I am doing great!

Cheers,

Cody

I made it!!!!

I just wanted to inform everyone that I just got an email that told me that I made the
Queen's College Chapel Choir....not only does this choir perform in one of the most beautiful chapels I have ever seen, but it goes on tour to New York and Boston on Dec. 8 (including Carnegie Hall), and to France Mar. 8....Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!! I am so freaking excited...sorry. Very late and must go now. To the left in the slideshow are pictures of the chapel I will be singing in 3 times a week. (Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday for rehearsal and Evensongs). The chapel is Church of England, so imagine a high Anglican approach, and that is pretty close to what we will be doing and practising.

Cheers,

Cody

Quite nice here

So, these are just a few of the people that I have met so far. From left in the first pic: Lucky and Jeremy (the Austrailians) and my fellow JYAs Carly, Nicole, and Jacque. From left in the second: Luke (I'm going to be on the rugby team with him), Fiona, Yusef, Vin, and Jeremy. Nationalities from left: English, Austrian, Irish, Shrilankan, and English. I live with five Austrailians on my hall, and it is so cool to be in such a diverse place.
We are still going through some of the Freshers week stuff, and I am about to go see Henry V. We don't start lectures until Thursday, so that is probably when I will update my blog again.
I am going to audition for the Queen's College Choir and maybe go on tour with them, but we will see. My audition is tomorrow at 3, so I should know soon enough. I will post a couple more pics from the tour that I went on today around Cambridge, and I'll keep you all posted on what is going on. Cheers!!!

First Week

I have been in Cambridge for almost a week now and am trying to finally get acclimated to everything going on. I have just gotten my bike and spent more money than any college student should.
I am absolutely in love with this place. We have to walk or bike almost everywhere because Homerton is pretty far away from City Centre where all of the other colleges and shops are. We have gone out on the town several times and have met tons of new people. This place is so international that it honestly sometimes doesn't feel like England. Other than the eleven Americans on my hall, we live with several Austrailians and a couple of Englishmen.
The food is not as bad as everyone said it is, but the beer is just as good as everyone said it is. More to come...lots to do.

Cheers