This past week has been loaded with activities. Somehow in between nighttime punting on the Cam, Matriculation (and activities to go along) and heading down to London, I also attended my first full week of classes and two law seminars. My international law professor figured we should start off the year strong. While my other Professors are holding off until next week to begin seminars, he decided to start off with a bang by squeezing two substantive seminars in one week.
I found them both to be fascinating, however, as we focused on the Great Belt Case (concerning Finland, Denmark, a very large bridge and a very large shipbuilding economy) as well as issues of self-determination pertaining to Somaliland, Kosovo and Chechnya. Coming from an international relations background and having studied these issues within an international relations theory framework, it was interesting to approach a contested issue like Somaliland from a purely legal perspective. Although also nuanced, the law in many ways simplifies and boxes things in a completely different way. From an IR perspective, there are issues of power-sharing, cultural dynamics and historical experience that could explain why Somaliland is not a recognized independent state. Legally, it could simply be argued that they used their right of self-determination once and staying strictly within the law, that is all that is allowed to them (by using self-determination they declared independence and subsequently chose to join Somalia). I think I am still working to figure out how to keep both tracks of thinking working without getting them confused!
Then, of course, I must touch on the "beyond the classroom" activities. The women and men of Maid's decided to kick off the week with a nighttime punting excursion on the River Cam. We began about 8 p.m. and punted until the dark and late hours of the night. It was cold, and dark, but also a new and different way to see Cambridge. We past several of the colleges from Queens', to King's, St. John's, and Magdalene, and saw them all lit up at night which was quite beautiful. Additionally, there is hardly any light pollution here so we had a very good view of the stars. Emily, Alex and Adit were on my boat and Ben was our trusty punter who pushed us through the water (though we each took turns at some point).
Although it is very advisable to first try punting in daylight, this certainly is a recommended activity once one is a bit more familiar with the river (hence Ben, as our trust punter). Also would make for great Halloween haunting. We finished off the night with a little gathering at Emmanuel College, courtesy of Lauren and her amazing Harvard-Cambridge Scholarship Room(s).
On Thursday I officially matriculated, becoming a permanent addition to the Cambridge University record books. Although the process itself is simply one of providing my John Hancock on a yellow slip of paper, we took formal gown photographs, attended a formal dinner with the President of Queens' College, and to round things off there was a cocktail party Friday night (though I chose London over cocktails...)
Maids Represents at the Matric photo (at least some of us).
The dinner was really the highlight of the entire event. Watch Harry Potter (in particular the dining hall scenes), and you basically have experienced Formal Hall at Queens' (sans the owls and brooms, naturally). We all had to wear our gowns (not robes - only the Queen wears robes), and they rang the gong prior to the President's entrance and exit. We also were not allowed to get up from the table at any point while the President and Fellows were seated at their table. They served us a three course meal, which included three courses of wine (which equaled a whole lot of orange juice on my part). They finished off the night with after eight chocolates with tea or coffee, a speech by the President, and last, but not least, a toast to the Queen herself. It was an experience in terms of ambiance, conversation, culture and food.
They had name cards for us with the Queens' Crest, Ben drove four of us Maids ladies to the dinner so we didn't have to bike in the cold ( a true gentleman), and a number of us gathered (again, Maids representation) at the "Q Bar" following the Harry Potter-esque meal.
Finally, mom returned from Poland this week and so on Friday I traveled with her to London where we met Tante Ninni and spent the day Saturday seeing a few of London's top sights. We walked from Leicester Square to Covent Garden, down to Trafalgar Square, Westminster and Parliament, then past St. James' Park up to Regent's Street and Piccadilly.
One of the absolute highlights (apart from spending a day with the Stromme sisters), was our dinner. We ate Indian food at this wonderful restaurant on a quiet street off of Piccadilly where Katie and I have been a number of times. Apart from the divinely delicious Indian food, it was fun to share with mom and Ninni the Indian restaurant that I have raved on about for about three years now.
I left mom and Ninni to dash around London for a few more days and caught the train (after passing Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross), back to Cambridge, the place I for now will call home.
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