Year at Cambridge

Last one from the UK...

2009-06-15T04:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know it has been a long time, but I have a lot to tell you. Since my last post, I went to the Southwest Coast of England to St. Ives, Cornwall to the beach with some friends. The weather was absolutely amazing! See the picture...I spent a lot of time on the beach with some wonderful people, and I made some new friends in the process. The food there was great, and the scenery was just as good! Shortly after my return from the coast, Sarah and I spent a couple of days in London. We went to the Victoria and Albert museum, the Science museum, the British Museum, Camden Market, China Town, and Leicster Square (said Les-ter). I have so many pictures from that you will have to check out my facebook album for it. Then, the Homerton May ball got into full swing. For all of you who do not know what a May ball is, it is the last hoorah for all of the students in Cambridge. Every college has one, and they are extravagant. Black tie, themes (ours was Bond), and the event goes from 6pm to 6am...we even take a survivor's photo in the morning. It was a blast. They had a casino inside, bond movies playing all night, live bands (Noah and the Whale played!), a carousel, and a ton of food and drink. See next photo...I stayed the whole night, and had a choir rehearsal at 10am the next morning. Interesting day on very little sleep. However, as soon as I caught up on my sleep, Suicide Sunday happened. Suicide Sunday is the day that everyone in the university is done with exams, so a lot of the colleges host garden parties with pimms, bbq's, and just a lot of sun. I got burnt, but I had an absolutely wonderful time. Oi...I have one more May Ball to attend on Wednesday night, and the dress code is white tie (Wikipedia it). The choir records this weekend, and I will provide information for all of you as to how to find the recording after it is finished...I know it will be on itunes, but not sure what is going to be called yet. I leave a week from today to return to the States, and will be back in KC for a couple of days before I return to Arkansas for the month of July to spend time with the family and help at Praiseworks. I will then go back to KC for the end of July on to try and find a job and study for the GRE so that I can get into grad school. Okay, so that's it for now, but I hope that all of you are doing well, and know that I miss you tremendously. This year has provided me with the most amazing opportunities to study with the brightest people on the planet, sing in an amazing choir in one of the historic chapels in Cambridge, I have travelled Europed and toured it with the choir, I am to record and be on an album with the choir, I have gone to balls, dinners, and formals with Lords and Ladies, Vicars, Bishops, Presidents of the Colleges, and even the Vice-chancellor of the university. All in all, I think that this has been a year well spent. I have made friends here that will last a lifetime, and I can't wait to come back to visit them all. Tiddly-pip and what what...Cheerio!

Catching up as usual...

2009-05-27T04:59:00.000-07:00

Hey yall...So, the beer festival was AWESOME!!! Myself and the four other guys I went with reverted to six-year-old-boy-in-toy-store mode when we entered the tent with over 200 beers...we spent 5 1/2 hours there! Most of my friends are starting their exams, so I am left to entertain myself, but I haven't felt too good the past couple of days, so it's not like I could do much anyways. However, immediately before I came under the weather, my friend Josh Jowitt suggested that we have a Pimm's afternoon...so we did. Look up "Pimm's Cup" on wikipedia if you wish, but imagine sangria based on gin with citrus fruits, strawberries, and cucumber slices on ice on a hot summer day with the sun out. We had a great time. Also, when my choir records in a couple of weeks, we will wind up on iTunes, so you will only be a click away from hearing our angellic voices! Enjoy the pictures, and I will try to update this after this weekend since I will be in St. Ives all next week. Much love,

Cody

The week ahead...

2009-05-18T10:46:00.001-07:00

Not too much exciting this past week, but I did go to St. John's College Chapel yesterday morning for the sung Eucharist (that's communion for all you Baptists out there). It was a beautiful and very insightful service...more than I can say for the preacher at Queens' Evensong last night....she was a bore. Anyways, tomorrow is Cambridge's Annual Beer Festival! It actually started today, but goes on until Saturday, and we are going tomorrow...Over 200 real ales, 80 ciders and perrys (that's pear-cider), and local wine too...website: http://www.cambridgebeerfestival.com/summer/. Enjoy, I do. Also, Thursday at 1:00 in the neighboring town of Ely, the William Jewell Concert Choir is going to have a concert as a part of their tour of England and Scotland, and I can't wait to go to hear and see my friends from school. After the concert, I intend to show them around Cambridge before they go to evensong at King's College. I have my own evensong that night, so I can't join them, but we are singing great music at the sung Eucharist for Ascension Day. I have really enjoyed getting to know the High Anglican tradition...I promise to update this later on this week with pictures of the beer festival and the choir if they will let me take pictures, but until then I leave you with a gratutitous picture of friends and joy (from left: Luke, Tobias, Me, and Josh)...Much love to all.

2009-05-11T04:25:00.000-07:00

Yo! So I have to say that the English Springtime is absolutely wonderful. It has been a cool but sunny 60 or 65 most of the time since I have returned. I have gotten to catch back up with all of my friends here who are starting to stress out about exams (I don't have to take them until the end of my senior year, so although it is nice now, my time will come). Choir has been great so far this term with absolutely wonderful music, and great times with my friends in choir. I have become rather proficient at the game of croquet, and challenge any of you to beat me upon my return. I am starting to prepare for next year, so I am already looking into graduate schools and fellowships (coming back to Cambridge maybe?). Picked up a GRE prep book, and already feeling the pressure to succeed again in that all-too-American fashion. You can take the boy out of America...Also, per my mother's request (happy Mother's day again btw, since I know you will read this soon), I have posted a couple of pictures of the more common streets in Cambridge...what the Brits would call the "High Street." This is very similart to our concept of "Downtown," which they don't understand because it is not geographically "down." I hasten to point out that the "Highstreet" is not "up," and they scamper away in shame in their red coats. As seen in the picture here, The Mitre is one of my favorite pubs in Cambridge...It is right on the river and has an incription inside that reads "Here, many drinks and food rended upon the river once depended." Enjoy the pictures, and I hope to hear from all of you soon. God bless!

It's been a long time...

2009-05-01T03:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Everybody,

I know that I have been really crap at these posts ever since I went home, but I'm back, I'm busy, and I am in business...sounded catchy didn't it? Anyways, ever since I have been back, I have just been trying to get used to things again. It is amazing how much you can forget about in a few short weeks. I loved being home, but I also love being here. It is incredible to be taught by the people in this university who quite literally wrote the book on their subjects. The academic atmosphere here is astounding, and it encourages me to look beyond my small little world that seems exponentially smaller as time goes by. I haven't taken many pictures since I have bee back yet, but I do have a few more from France...so here's one of them. This is the choir singing with the cathedral choir at the cathedral in Angers (pronounced "On-sjay" for you French unsavvy) I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that I am here for less than two more months, and am facing the reality of having to face reality when I get back. If any of you reading this feel like giving me a job that doesn't require a sledge-hammer or shovel for when I get back, it would make my life a lot easier :). Much love to all of you, and God bless.

Cody

So, France...

2009-03-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

It was awesome! As we rode into Angers on the coach, we could see the river La Maine and the castle...it was absolutely astounding. We were immediately greeted by our host families, and were carted off to our host homes. Our family consisted of two parents and, wait for it...five children! They then graciously accepted my friend Geoff and I into their home. The parent's names were Larent and Emmanuel, and the children ranged in age from 3 to 15. In ascending order their names are: Charlotte, Margot, Ines, Quentin (the only boy), and Julie. We had the most amazing food every night for dinner that, were I to describe in detail here, I would begin to drool on my keyboard and cease to blog. For all of our sakes, I will just tell you that it was AWESOME!!! We sang at the Catholic university, the Cathedral at Angers (in front of some 1,000 people including royalty, clergy, and politicians), and the Cathedral at Saumur (they train the horses for the military in Saumur). Every day was packed with rehearsals, sight-seeing, and performances. I have posted tons of pictures on facebook, so if you fancy a peek at them, I suggest looking there. I leave at 6:50AM from Cambridge tomorrow morning, and I will arrive at Little Rock Airport at 10:35PM local (that would be 2:35AM Cambridge time). If all goes well, I will travel for almost 22hrs, so keep me in your prayers and thoughts, and I will hopefully see many of you back in the States very very soon! Au revoir!

Just a Quick Note...

2009-03-19T03:49:00.001-07:00

I am literally leaving in five minutes to go to France, and I just wanted to let everyone know how excited I am, and that I will be in Angers, France to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the father of Margeret of Anjou (one of the foundresses of Queens' college). It is apparently the most beautiful city in France, and I will bring back copious amounts of pictures for you all, and will sample the delicious wines, cheeses, and breads for all of you....Auviore!

Ely Cathedral and Birthday Formal

2009-03-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

Hello again everyone! You should all be very proud of me for updating my blog before I actually get back to America. However, awesomeness has ensued, and my pictures show it. This was the last week of term, and I had three essays to turn in at no small effort. I slept little, and am now done! I now look forward to a week of rehearsals to prepare us for the tour of Angers, France to honor the anniversary of Margaret of Angers' death or birth...I don't remember. Anyways, she was one of the two foundresses of Queens' College (thus the appropriately placed apostrophe). Last Tuesday, I celebrated my birthday early with some friends from Homerton at formal hall. It was AWESOME!!! Much frivolity ensued...The day before, they baked me a delicious birthday cake! Everyone left to go home for the break yesterday, so I went to Ely (about 15 min. train ride away from Cambridge) to see the Cathedral with Sarah Percival. The Cathedral was beautiful, and we had lunch at this really cool little cafe where one lady ran a little shop with about four tables for the actual food part. The food was great, and it was a great morning in all. Enjoy the pictures, and hopefully I will have plenty of pictures for you check out when I get back from France!

With all my love,

Cody

Contemplations

2009-03-05T02:22:00.000-08:00

I know that it has almost a month since I last posted, and to be honest, there is not a lot to tell. My travel plans are pretty much the same, and nothing spectacular has happened recently. However, there has been a great improvement in my personal life. I struggled to fit in with the other Americans I came here with I think for the fact that there are 9 women and me...and until recently I didn't realize that the remedy to this was to find close friends here. I have, and they are wonderful. Now the crux of the matter here, is that I have to leave them in a matter of about 11 weeks, but the time that we have all shared with each other is just as priceless as the time that I have spent with all of you. They, like you, have seen me grow, hurt, and laugh, and are valuable to me. I still miss home and the people there (home being Arkansas AND Jewell), and there is nothing and no one that can replace that, it is just going to make the transition a little harder. I miss my boys in the fraternity...I still get their emails, and they make me so proud to be a part of something bigger than I am. I miss my family who have sacrificed so much so that I can be happy and have the experiences that I do. I miss my friends from home and church for their open ears and open hearts that supported and do support me for the short stints that I am at home. I am so very thankful for everyone in my life, and I am excited more than anxious to see what God has in store in the next couple of years. I'm terrified because I am going to have to make some very big decisions, but with a little help from all of you, I'll deal. Much love...

Cody

Time Flies

2009-02-16T11:23:00.000-08:00

The pic to the left is of Laurel and Jessie in the courtyard at King's College after we went to Eucharist. These two in addition to Ashton Botts came and visited me last week, and it was soooo good to see them. They made my week....On an unrelated note, I swear that someone has pressed fast-forward on life in general because we started the fifth week of term this week....ahhh! School work has been okay, but it has intermittently been interrupted with choir rehearsals. We perform in London tomorrow, and I will be in London from 9ish in the morning until lateish at night. I really look forward to it though. The philharmonia chorus and the royal philharmonic orch. both sound great, and the opera is to die for. The bass soloist is a Welshman that I think could single-handedly conquer the rest of the U.K...Tonight I am continuing the weekly ritual of going to Taj Tandoori which is our favorite local Indian restaurant. It is half-price on Monday's for students, so myself and my English compatriots take advantage of it. A pint of Cobra and a lamb Ceylon...my mouth is already watering. I think that it is finally done snowing here, but you never know. I am told that Summer is much prettier, but I'm waiting for that one to come to fruition before I believe it. Life is soooo wonderful despite the occasional busy spell, and I am still having the time of my life. This place is really starting to grow on me, and I am going to miss it tremendously when I leave it despite how much I miss the U.S. and everything and everyone I left there. I miss you all, and cannot wait to see you in March!

Cody

P.S. The pic to the right is Sarah Percival, myself, Briony Jones, and Josh Jowitt in the college bar after a formal.

Old Friends, Old Town, Old Country, New Experiences

2009-02-04T03:05:00.000-08:00

I hope that all of you are still having a jolly good time without me to enrich and fulfill your lives, but fear not...I shall return eventually. My time here has made me realize how much I mean to all of you, and has fill me with a sense of great humility...alright, maybe not, but you miss me and I miss you and we will leave it at that. Nothing extraordinary has been going on here, but I have had a ton of rehearsals recently to prepare for the upcoming opera performance with the choir as well as a recital I have to do soon. The essays keep coming as they always do, but I really like the classes I am taking. One of them is on the Mighty Handful and its Legacy (Rimsky-Korsokov, Balakirev, Mussorgsky, etc..) and the other is on Early Sacred Music. They take their choral music here very seriously since all of the early choral music in English IS English (Tallis, Byrd, etc.). I really like it, and I wish we had an equivelant to it back home. Their chapels here are pristine. They hold evensongs weekly, and the one that I sing in is going to start a Compline service once a fortnight (compline is the oldest still practiced service in the Catholick church, not to be confused with Catholic). Going to a friend's birthday tonight in black-tie, so I'm sure I will have cool and suave pictures to post for next time. Oh, it snowed A LOT Monday and I took part in an enormous midnight snowball fight! Watching the snow-deprived English was a hoot! Good pictures from that will come later too. Love all. Miss all. Talk to you soon.

Cody

Oh Cambridge...

2009-01-25T07:06:00.000-08:00

To all and singular (stole that from a plaque somewhere in the college),

I have been ridiculously busy recently, so I'm sorry I haven't been posting like mad. However, for those of you that know me well, busy is what I do rather than a specific time for me. But I digress...Life at Cambridge starts IMMEDIATELY when you get back. I had essays (and still do) from the first day back on. Despite this, it has been good to see all of my friends here again. The adjustment to come back was inexplicably easier than the beginning of last term, and it will be hard to leave it (despite how much I really miss America). I have had tons of choir rehearsals for special services, and we (the choir) are providing the chorus for a performance of Fidelio (Beethoven opera) in London...really cool, but it means a lot of extra rehearsals. The Cambridge Winter Beer Festival was last weekend, and it was really cool because all of the little microbreweries from around the area bring their real ales (flat beer), and you drink out of a little tankard...I love English culture. There is another festival in May, in addition to all of the May balls (which are actually in June, but I'll get to that in a couple of months). I hope that everyone at Jewell is having a good start to the semester, all of my other friends are enjoying life as usual, and that my family knows that I miss them dearly. Best to you all, and feel free to facebook, email, or skype me (codyjohnson1208), because I would love to hear from any of you (hard to keep up over here).

Cheers,

Cody

P.S. The picture is in front of the Astrological Clock in Prague...Pretty cool, and cold (like zero degrees F cold).

Back "Home"

2009-01-12T02:00:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,

I cannot begin to tell you how good it is to be back. Almost 40 days of traveling that took me back to the States to New York and Massachusetts, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Six major European cities (Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague) that are full of so much history and architecture that if I started now I would end up with a book at the end of it. I took 550 pictures, and wound up with the ONLY pictures from some places because Jacque and Nicole (through two unforeseeable tragedies) lost all of their pictures up until Vienna. I am, quite understandably, very tired from all of my travels. The experience was priceless and a once in a lifetime experience, but it was very hard. I missed my family and friends and the comforts of home, as I still miss all of you tremendously (especially the ones of you who care enough to check this blog). I will unfortunately not be recounting my experiences to you right now, because I need time for it all to soak in. You will hear about my many adventures and misadventures as time goes on and I am able to reestablish my close relationships with all of you who the nature of this year has distanced me from. I have never had so much time to my thoughts in my life as I have had on this trip, even on Outward Bound. I have grown so much by being tossed by the ebb and flow of life's waves. There were moments of giddy delight (the Hofbrauhaus in Munich), and times of great sorrow and contemplation, but I will definately never forget the 5 weeks that I spent on the move away from all familiarity and most comfort. I will keep updating this blog as time goes on, but know that I miss and love you all, and hope that you think of me fondly as well.

Cody

P.S. The picture is in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

Salzburg

2008-12-28T08:18:00.000-08:00

Hello from a smokey internet cafe in Salzburg (which they like to say "Salzboorg), where it is a warm -6C in the muggy alpine air. Christmas in Munich was good, we spent most of the day in the hotel that was graciously provided us by Jacque's parents because everything was closed on Christmas day. I went to Mozart's house today, and tomorrow we will ride a cable car to a cliff top to see a fortress that overlooks Salzburg as well as take the tour of the Stiegl Bräuhaus...can't wait. Anyways, I know that this is a short email, but free internet is a very very American thing...along with free ketchup and free refills. I miss everyone so much, and look forward very much to seeing and talking to everyone again. I will be visiting home in the Spring break (dates later), and am anxious already to see you.

Much love as always,

Cody

Güten tag!!!

2008-12-22T07:35:00.000-08:00

Got into Munich yesterday and went to the Christmas markets here which are more expensive, but infinitely more awesome than those in Berlin. Munich is a beautiful place, and we got to see a lot of it on the free tour that we took today. Jacque and I are about to go out to one of the most famous beer houses in the world... the Haufbrauhaus! I am incredibly excited, and love Germany very much. I miss you all, especially this close to Christmas, but I do get to spend Christmas in the Marriott here in Munich thanks to Jacque's parents! More later and much love.

Cody

Hello from Berlin!

2008-12-18T00:58:00.000-08:00

Sorry that I can't post any pictures because I don't have my computer with me, but Guten Tag from Berlin! We got in last night from Amsterdam (really cool, but really expensive), and looked around the town a little. In Amsterdam, we saw the Rembrandthuis (his house), the Van Gogh museum, the Rijks museum, and bunch of other cool stuff like the smallest house in Amsterdam (about 4 feet wide and three or four stories tall). We are about to go on a free walking tour of Berlin, and visit the Christmas markets later today. This is just a short update, so I will keep you posted as much as possible later in the trip. Love to all!

Cody

I'm a liar

2008-12-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

I know that I said the last one would be the last for awhile and I was wrong. I am staying at a friends house in Cambridge for the next day or two before I fly to Amsterdam to meet up with Jacque and Nicole at the Stayokay hostel there. I think that a lot of people are going to meet up in Amsterdam from our Oxbridge group, so that should be a lot of fun. I just back from the choir tour to New York, Vassar, and Boston, and I am wiped. I have a meager day to gather myself before I get on a coach at 4:50 AM to go to Stansted airport and I'm off again....The tour was great, but I don't know what I think about New York. It was cool, but overwhelmingly huge and ominous. I like London better. Harvard was really cool, and of course I got a t-shirt. Got to see my parents in New York, and all of the British people love the alliteration of my dad's name (Jodie Johnson) and the rhyme of his and mine, they are so petty, so I must pity them a little for it. The trip back to the states has led me to decide that I will spend my next break there, and perhaps bring James (Shangus) Angus with me, he is the one who seems the most keen to following me to the South. Anyways, I will try to update at internet cafes and stuff as much as I can... Much love to all.

Cody

Last one for a bit...

2008-12-02T09:09:00.000-08:00

Well everybody...this is the last post I will be able to make for awhile. I am leaving Saturday for New York with my choir. After that, I will return to London, stay with a friend in the choir, then take a plane to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. After Amsterdam, we will be taking the train to Germany where we will spend Christmas in Munich as well as Berlin and Neuemberg. We will spend the New Year in Vienna, Austria, and then spend a couple of days in Prague before we go back to England for the start of the second term. Choir rehearsals have made things pretty busy recently, but I really enjoy it. I am going to the Christmas dinner there tomorrow night where it is black tie and Christmas Carols sung by the choir to all of the other attendees to the event. Anyways, I don't know how much contact I will be able to have while I am abroad, but I wish all of the best to everyone, and will update you as much as I possibly can. Oh, this is a picture of Me, Luke, and Derbphla (you say it Dervla, she is Irish and they spell everything funny) at Homerton's Irish formal. Best to you all. Keep me in your prayers as you are in mine.

Cheers!

Cody

Just for fun this time

2008-11-20T08:38:00.000-08:00

Yesh...things have been very busy here and I am sorry that I haven't posted yet this week. I haven't done anything spectacular recently, but I figured for all my friends at Jewell, you can procrastinate and read, and also so that my family knows that I am still breathing. Oh, I did get to hear the billionaire oligarch Boris Berezovsky at the Union...that was cool. Ah, I know what I'll do...

Here is the story of my good friend James...

James William Angus was born in 1987 on the Isle of Jersey. The child of an English diplomat, he is the most conservative (politically) Englishman I know. A millionaire at the ripe age of 21, he studies Classics (that is, Latin and Greek, and the most prestigious degree at Cambridge) at Queens' College where I sing with him in the Chapel Choir. I hope all of you enjoyed this little cameo of my friend James...maybe I will have an English Person of the Week thing from now on. Anyways, pictures of James because I haven't taken any this week. Sorry.

Much love to all. I miss so many people, but it would take the rest of the night in order to tell you who, so just assume that if you are reading this that I miss you very much and can't wait to get back see all of you...even though that is a very long time from now.

Yours,

Cody

A Rainy Day in London town...

2008-11-11T14:51:00.000-08:00

We took a day trip to London last Saturday, and it was absolutely amazing. I cannot describe how awesome the experience was. We basically just walked around and took pictures all day, but we'll be back to do the museums and theatres and stuff. We saw Buckingham Palace, Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Eye of London, and a lot more... I took like 70 pictures. St. James park in front of Buckingham Palace has the coolest assortment of birds and it was really picturesque. We also toured the inner temple of the Knights Templar (celebrating their 800th anniversary). It was really surreal knowing that most of the buildings are older than our country. We had a really good pub lunch that was suggested by some of the locals after we met up with some of the people from Oxford. Also, we got to see one of the most amazing fireworks displays I have ever seen. It was for the celebration of Guy Fawke's Day (watch V for Vendetta), and we watched all of the fireworks from the Blackfriar Bridge on the Thames river!!! We waited for the fireworks in a wine bar called El Víno and some really good mulled wine (it was really cold and rainy all day long...very English). Anyways, this is getting kind of lengthy, but the whole experience was great. We walked along the Thames and saw street performers and the National Theatre. The train ride was really pleasant (and we got to take pictures at Platform 9 3/4 from Harry Potter at King's Cross Station). Okay. Really done with London now. Saw an ABBA tribute band tonight as well, that was cool. Later everyone, hope you are well. Don't do anything I wouldn't do.

Cheers,

Cody

P.S. I'll try to update all of my pictures to Facebook soon...there is just so many of them!

Colleges of Cambridge

2008-11-05T07:25:00.001-08:00

So, Kristen came to Cambridge for a couple of days and we strolled around Cambridge looking at all it has to offer (which is more than Oxford at least).To the right is Kristen and I at Trinity College, and to the left is me in front of the lawns at King's College. Not a whole lot to say this time, but things are going well. Still writing a lot of papers and reading a lot of books. Choir and rugby are keeping me very busy, but I really enjoy being involved as much as I am. Happy Guy Fawkes day to anybody who cares, if you don't know what it is, watch V for Vendetta. We are going to watch fireworks tonight for it. Also, a lot of us from Cambridge are going to London this weekend to blow our life savings because that is apparently what you do when you are in London, oh well, just money right? I hope that the country calms down a little now that the elections are over, and although my candidate did not win, I am glad the election is finally over. Love to all.

Cheers,

Cody

One month anniversary!!!

2008-11-02T07:51:00.000-08:00

So yesterday marked the one month anniversary of my arrival in England, and I have to say that it has not been without excitement. I have had so much fun, and I look forward to eight more months! Anyways, recent news. Last Thursday some of us went to a wine tasting at the Cambridge Union Society that was sponsored by the Cambridge Wine Merchants. It was really cool to have a sort of guided tour of wine (they even added a very interesting ten year old Islay whiskey at the end). Friday was Halloween of course, so we all got done up and went to the Homerton College Bop...it was a really good time. Hope you all enjoy the pictures. I have an entire album devoted to Halloween and some of King's and Queens' Colleges on my facebook if any of you are keen. Also, we're all gearing up for the election and Guy Fawke's Day. Much love to all of you.

Cheers,

Cody

And the beat goes on...

2008-10-28T05:27:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

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!!!!

2008-10-08T17:26:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-06T03:31:00.000-07:00

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