It's raining......MEN!

I have had 36 roomates/apartment mates so far....all of which were girls. Upon my arrival at Cambridge, I realized instantly that my corridor has 6 people including me. We are from 6 different countries and 4 continents...and there's 4 men. Shannon lives right across the hall from me (and she's fantastic so disregard the girl generalizations!)
I realize there are a few issues this the sample size and selection. But this is a very very interesting case study.
I have concluded that men are much much much better to be living next door to...  There are many reasons...
1. They are actually cleaner! (now the reason for this is unknown. But I think they do their dishes RIGHT away)
2. No hair all over the sink and clogging it
3. No freak outs- bad things totally happen but instead of the whole world crashing in...."I just have to write a new thesis review." Not saying "I can't do this. I don't have what it takes."
4. communal ownership- use the rice cooker next time! use my chop sticks...."umm Carly, a stir-fry needs soya sauce. Use mine"
5. Better sharers - In the kitchen making a salad with TUNA on it...Shaun says,  "You love raspberries, want some?" This could be attributed to feeling pity for my dietary choices....
6. Computer geniuses- My reference program was being a punk. I was exsaperated. So I went to make dinner. Once in the hall, I hear, "Are you okay?" Which was followed by, "No, I'm frustrated and mad." "At who?" "My computer!!!!" insert laughing "Ohh that's a relief. I thought I was going to hear about some relationship." "That would be better than this. I have 6000 word essay due tomorrow. Zotero corrupted my files of citations. Now I'm going to do it by hand for the next 4 hours." (watery eyes).  5 minutes later, fixed. "Bytheway, a computer isn't a person so you can' be mad at it."
7. Fixers- 3 AM I'm freezing....I realize that my window is a bit cracked open. I try everything to shut it...and then a light knock on my door. "Carly, I'll show you how to close the window." Problem solved
8. They don't take 30 min showers!!!!!!!!!!
9. Quieter- I have like superhero hearing! Ask Rachel.....this is the best perk. They don't play "Call me maybe" on repeat while blow drying their hair!!! I think I am the loudest person! Mainly because when I have writers block I go running....but after that I dance! Now I put my iPod headphones in....
10.  Emergency planners- Fist weeks of being here. "So saw your insulin. Your diabetic--what's the plan for if you have a problem?" next boy "Carly, I'll keep some juice in my room, just in case you need it." next boy "So if you ever have a problem. COME get me. Write down your GP's (doctor's) number" next boy "So what type of symptoms should I be aware of? And put the list of all your medications next to the GP numbers." Thanks guys...I'll be set.

Home sweet home.....

11. Considerate- So the fridge is usually pretty full. I live on tuna and almonds....and eggs. Yeah, I don't eat them together. Gross! I had a jar of mixed tuna in the shared fridge. One of the guys was moving things around and it feel on the ground. The tuna went everywhere. What did he do? Clean it up! And washed my jar and since I wasn't home...wrote me a nice apology note offering to share any of his food if that was my plan for dinner AGAIN! Plus, money to pay for the tuna!!!
In girl world it could have went this way. But it might go like this...."Carly you put your tuna in a bad spot and the container wasn't closed right. So like, I don't have time to deal this this. You should be more considerate."
12. And better running partners....for real! Running with a girl usually ends with a damaged friendship! Seriously!
13. Inclusive- one dreary evening after hours of researching. I realized I had to eat! So to the tuna... a few of the guys were mulling around in the hall. "You emerged! STOP! Come eat with us! No tuna tonight!"
14.Exact....which is wonderful! No multi-tasking while cooking! They get it done with the LEAST amount of dishes and the LEAST amount of time. Focused and not hazardous!!!
15. Don't come interrupt studying to chat or share their life problems. To which, I feel obligated to counsel....thereby using brain power!
16. No passive aggressive sticky notes above the sink or in the fridge saying things like "PLEASE wash your OWN dishes!!!!" "SOMEONE needs to clean out THEIR old food" They just have a conversation about it....like normal people! 
17. Practical! The fridge is not divided into harsh borders. So the milk can actually all stand vertically instead of spilling all over!


I'm sure there's more but that's all I've got right now!!!! Sorry for the dead blog!!! I've been a bit tied up....mounds of work and re-does....but only 10 more school days and 1/3 DONE!!!!!

Into the BLACK HOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Journey to the Edge of the EARTH....Discovering a BLACK HOLE.....

How exciting!!! 

Well that's my life right now. That's what I keep telling myself....after ya know... clocking 31.5 hours of "research" this weekend. Since moving to the UK I have wore my sweat pants more then any other article of clothing and I have spent the ENTIRE day in my pj's!!! On Friday, I woke up and hit the books at 8 am.....and then realized that I was starving. But I just had to finish this one 2000 word section....after an indeterminate amount of time, I realized I was starving. Guess what time it was? 7:45 PM. I am NOT kidding...I didn't even realize it was dark. Don't be too alarmed, I was eating almonds intermittently. I made some real good for dinner. And decided I'd earned a break on Saturday. So I went right back to it....

But here's the real clincher...that night well I was sleeping (which is essential for your brain to replay and process the info) I woke up with a Brilliant idea!!!!!!! I've been struggling with the structure of my literature review.

 Lit Review according to Cambridge: a review of every significant article within your focus along with all the topics on the peripheral of your topic....presented in a narrative style with deep analysis of the validity, methodology and flaws of each included article.. Plus all the contradictory views of the views you wanted to present. Plus a summary of all the potential areas of further research. Plus a statement of all the definitions the author used that may be specific to the field. Ohh and don't forget it's a lit review so the definitions will have to compare all the currently used definitions along with all the previously mentioned requirements. Word limit 8000 words! Due Nov. 14th.

Are you confused? If you are that's good. The entire campus of M Phil's are                     confused! 

Back to the story...So at 3 AM I woke up with a stroke of brilliance. I started writing and cutting up my old drafts. I started making sticky notes of main topics and concept mapping them. I covered the bed the wall and my desk. And then I stared at it.....and it all started to link into BEAUTIFUL categories that told a real TRUE story.... 

103 libraries in Cambridge..getting those books was a workout!

Once a week the cleaners come with new sheets. My creative flow was interrupted with a knock at the door. It was 9:50 AM. I opened the door and the maid said, "Ohh rough night out at the pub or bop, eh?...ohh dear. Would you like me to just leave the sheets in the hall? Once you've got time to uncover the bed...and maybe sleep?" 

I did eat....proof the almond bag! Thanks Grandma Rella for the package full of FOOD!

I decided I'd earned a reward...free time! I went to buy groceries....and I was just having the best time thinking not about research. And then, I heard a girl in line say, "I just don't know what I'm going to do. I can't sleep without having nightmares about my computer dying or getting ran over and losing all of my dreadful work. I can't finish the lit review." And then I remembered...."I have to go! I have to read, write....find info!" 

So here's the analogy for this week. Research is like an exploration. It's all consuming. It's a bubble that the research creates. It's like Columbus. He had to lobby his idea get..prove that it was worth the investment. Then he headed out for the West Indies. He got lost and the crew started to doubt him. Some even said that it wasn't worth it...looking for something that wasn't there. And then Columbus discovered the West Indies. Wait? Didn't Columbus discover America (like the USA)!

*Shout out to my Blackfoot 8th grade history graduates.....both of those answers are wrong! 

Columbus died thinking that he discovered the passage to the the Orient. The world believed for a while...so it was "true"...And then when the world finally caught up we reclassified his discovery as finding America. Which sad to say, he never set foot in North America. So who discovered America....the Vikings!....or the Chinese!....or the Aboriginals!......or Aliens! 

So what's the point?! I thought I discovered the "West Indies" and then I realized...it was "America" or something...like that? Some might say, it doesn't matter as long as the world believes you....but well that just won't settle with me. Cheers to a new week...sailing into new rough waters!!!!

PS. My research topic is "Issues surround Aboriginal Students (in Canada) with special education needs transitioning out of Secondary School." Yup....

Ummm...Like drinking from a fire hose.

My new friend, Fahd, offered me a very kind piece of advice..."You could have a few entries that reflected on life as a student at Cambridge." At first in my head, I thought, "Isn't that what I'm doing?" However, then we talked more and I realized he was referring to the academic life.

The only way I can describe it is....academic life at Cambridge is like drinking from a fire hose.

I realize, I just used a metaphor, which are considered to be full of generalisations and that lead to erroneous assumptions. But I promise this generalisation is the most true one EVER! 

I am reading for a Masters of Philosophy in Education (thematic route: Perspectives on Inclusive and Special Education).  I attend between 14-18 hours of lecture a week. I have three strands of classes:

1) Research Methods 

2) Perspectives in Education aka: Deep theory that has yet to mention the words child, school, education...but the homework is interesting!!! 

3) Perspectives on Inclusive and Special Education (PISE)

Faculty of Education (dark whenever I leave!)

The strangest part is being a student after being a teacher. I'll find myself doing something and then remember I told my students to never do this! For instance, doing reading without keeping notes/highlighting, or studying for hours without breaks....or just skipping words you don't know.

Also, it's been a struggle having diabetes and going to University. I was already a teacher when I was diagnosed. The thing is exericse brings down blood sugar levels....certain types of exericse bring it down faster. However, I have found that the thing that drops my blood sugar the fastest is solid 3  hour lectures....or personal study blocks. So I've been using up all my emergency glucose....I'm still trying to figure it out!!!!

There's the library! Kinda an odd view...sorry!

My classes are far away...about a 43 min bike ride in light traffic....55 min in busy traffic. The buildings are very new. And the class sizes are 60-70 in my Research and Perspective classes. My Special Education classes are only 20!!! And the education faculty library is full of the most incredible and bubbly librarians ever!

Dampened anyone's enthusiasm?

First Outing on the Cam!!! 

Alarm set for 6:15...

It was completely night. I had my lights clipped onto my bike. And I was wearing my helmet. One of my row team members happens to live across the hall! We biked over to the boathouse. It was chilly....and still dark! 

We went on the erg machines. A few people were lost...and late. Then we went over the basics. Where to step, strapping in your feet, LOCKING in the blades (aka oar/paddle- like long things!) 

Now the Cam is a busy place once it hits 7:00 AM and the boats can legally row.  We got in and went through all the basics. 

Then the UNBELIEVABLE....horribly embarrassing.....Eddies Boat club history....happened! 

We tipped. (the cause... rowing is a team sport...so everyone's fault...)

It was a graceful event...slow and could have been preventable, even once it began. Slow enough that I could make sure my insulin pump stayed dry! Or at least basically dry. It is waterproof, but I've never tested it! 

However, girls got panicked....blades went up and soon...well we were in the CAM! 

To make matters worse, the blades on the Port side were lodged in the muddy bottom. Considering that the blades on the Port side had been locked it was impossible to just flip the boat right side. So after some dunking and pulling...the boat was right side. However, the next task...lifting it out. It was heavy to start with. Now there was water that was flipped directly over our heads. 

However, we emerged...looking like swamp monsters. Don't be deceived the photos of the Cam are beautiful. But that water is far from pristine. I was wearing my favourite WHITE sweater...which turned light brown...but I'm proud of my stain removal skills!

Sorry no photo of the actual event

So there you have it....I swam in the Cam in October. And all of the teams, which we will be competing against were rowing by the entire time. With the boat away, we headed home....on our bikes. FREEZING, DRIPPING wet. 

First outing on the Cam and not a single stroke. But history making!

"I'll make a man (Rower) out of you!"

Rowing!!!

It's a cambridge tradition...plus I have experience in a wavy lake...not a slender river with sidewalks along the edges. Plus, there are people who are trained and coaches. And a boathouse right on the Cam. More about the water training to follow! 

  

Last week we started land training. It was a bit early for a saturday morning..ya know 9! I thought about blogging about the experience as soon as I was done. We met on the field that's part of our college. The grass was a bit damp. No big deal...and it was chilly. I was prepared. One of our coaches and fellow Eddie went through the routine. Just some circuit training. Isolated exersices 45 seconds then rotate. 

1. Unmodified close hand pushups continuous 

2. Side lunches 

4. Squats 

5. Planks

6. Burpies (with full pushups)

7. 8 moves of death...it had another name 

7. Bench sitting with a partner

8. Unmodified pushups with partner jumping over your legs...

9. Something else....involving laying on the muddy grass

10. Sit ups

12. Something else...

13. Something else....

ohh and all of that x3. Now I am a girl so obviously my first thought was, "What! The grass is wet and soon it's going to be muddy!" I hate mud...and puddles. But I didn't say a thing. And I didn't have gloves either. I am proud to say I completed the curcit... with some modifications to the pushups! 

Through the eyes of a social scientist it was incredible! The boys were motivated by the competition and worked harder when the coach would point out their "laziness." The girls....well there reaction wasn't to work harder....they just stopped. Or the most common response they started to giggle. 

The boys next to me said, "Ohh do you thing the heheheing will cease? I can't bear it? You're not a heheing girl, right?  To which I responded by....I couldn't help it

"heheing"
After the curcit was done....we ran for a while as the coaches told us about how much better we'll be in a few weeks...so prepared for the first races...All I could hear was this song

Buono Appetito!

 One of my fears about coming to Cambridge was that I wouldn't have any friends. I guess it's been awhile since I've been dropped into a new place....ALONE! Everyone has been really nice (except the cellphone salesman)....but nice and friends are a bit different. 

However, my first night in Cambridge, I was tired and starving! I went down to the eating hall and sat at the table next to two girls that seems very nice. Turns out they were more than nice! They are outstanding. I met Melissa from Singapore and Maria from Italy. We have many of the same beliefs and values. It was so refreshing and reassuring to find them straight away. Since that first night we have done many things together.....like walks, dinners, late night chats, dance party, library tours.....

Me, Maria, Melissa

I loved all the varities! 

The boiled egg was great! 

Maria lives out of college in an apartment! She invited our group...that has expanded to include some more incredible people! Ellen from China and Charlene from France... Maria invited all of us for pizza...homemade by a real Italian! Take that pizza hut! 

The evening was delightful. She had slippers ready for each of us to wear! The apartment was sooo classy. The background music was perfect. And so there we sat together sharing our cultures and loving the time. 

I have come to the realization that what makes Cambridge so outstanding is truly the people. They come from everywhere. We all were drawn to this place for some reason. Their goals, plans, and research projects show their deep committment to making a difference. We will be here all mixed together...working through the readings, lectures, classes--expanding our perspectives. Who know's what these people will do next!? That's the awe of Cambridge...the sense of becoming!

Melissa, Maria, Charlene, Calry, Ellen

Going to the most (in)FAMOUS pub in Cambridge

During my first journey to Europe, I fell in love !!! (with the religious history) It resonated with this specific part of history because of my guiding belief in religious freedom for all people.  I kept reading....and reading and fell more in love! I specifically love the Reformers. Their courage and sacrifice changed history forever--changed my life forever!  

What does this have to do with a pub? Well....everything! 

The White Horse Tavern was a bustling place in Cambridge. So many famous men came to discuss the writings of Martin Luther and Phillip Melanchthon. The actual pub was taken down when renovations were made to King's College. However, this is the plaque that marks the place!

 Many influential men met at the White Horse Tavern, but just to name a few..... 

  

Thomas Bilney- Trinity College, Cambridge Graduate...burnt the stake

 Robert Barnes- Cambridge Graduate...at first recanted and then escaped from prison.  He actually met Martin Luther in Wittenberg! He returned to England and was convicted of heresy...burnt at the stake

John Lambert- Queen's College, Cambridge Graduate...convicted of heresy for denying the doctrine of Transubstantiation. Apparently, as he burned he said, "None but Christ."  

Hugh Latimer- Cambridge Graduate and fellow at Clare College, Cambridge...Thomas Bilney taught him. He was convicted of heresy by Queen Mary I...becoming one of 3 Anglican martyrs...
William Tyndale- Graduate of...that other school in England (Oxford). However, came to the White Horse Tavern. He has an incredible story. He sought to bring the Bible to the common man by translating it into their mother tongue! He wanted the Bible to be translated so even "the boy with the plough" could understand it!! Many of the words found in the English Bible derive from the translation work of Tyndale. the King James Version of the Bible relied on Tyndale's translation heavily. However, he was strangled and then burned for heresy.

*There were also martyrs of Cambridge. These executions occurred on Jesus Green and Parker's Piece! Both parks that I've jogged through recently!

Which leads me to...the King James Version of the Bible. This was a huge work that involved 54 members with meetings being held in Oxford, Westminster and...Cambridge. The translators worked on certain sections and then circulated their work to the other groups for approval (revisions!).

Also, for my US History students last year....in 1620 the Mayflower! What do these Puritans sailing to America have to do with Cambridge? William Brewster, a passenger on the ship, was a Cambridge Graduate!!!

I am officially in LOVE with Cambridge! It is inspiring to think of the great people that walked these same corridors and pathways.  They stood up for their beliefs against insurmountable odds. They asked questions and searched for answers.

*Thanks to Bro. and Sister Curley for their presentation about Cambridge as the birthplace of the Reformation in England! That was a wonderful (family) Home Evening!