The summer after my junior year in college, I did a summer abroad in England. My undergrad degree (biology) was too structured to allow a full semester or year away (at least without delaying graduation), so I 'settled' for a summer away. Still had a blast! 2 months in England, took classes, traveled, utterly enjoyed myself. Truly, truly loved it there!
Christ's was the college that hosted our study abroad program, and still holds a very special place in my heart. Right downtown in the middle of Cambridge, it was easy walking distance to the train station for quick day trips into London, Sainsbury's (grocery store) was only a block or two up the road, and the Market Square was less than a block from our gates. There was a very sweet yarn/needlepoint shop right behind our back gates (yes, I did hit it up several times) and parks and the River Cam nearby to go running or just wandering along. Lovely used book stores there too (and in several of the other towns I went to, as well - ended up shipping a full box of books home, since they wouldn't fit in my suitcase anymore!)
These pictures are actually from 2005, not 2003 when I did my summer there. Yes, I did get a chance to go back :) My sister had done a high school summer abroad in 2002, the summer before I went (she was at Newnham College, farther out from town). So, when we got the chance to chaperone/play tourguide for Mom's scout troop's trip to London, we jumped at the opportunity to get back across the pond! (Actually, we told her she was nuts if she thought we'd stay quietly at home for 2 weeks while they went over, but it all comes out the same!) One of the days that the girls were playing tourist in London, they were hitting up a lot of sites that Anne and I had already seen and didn't really need to see again. So we took the opportunity to hop a train into Cambridge and see the 'old haunts' again. Saw both our colleges there, picnicked along the Cam, browsed the stores, had a great day.
We laughed a good bit because our 'souvenirs' from that trip to London weren't really what one thinks of as souvenirs. Instead we were stocking up on foods we'd become addicted to in England but are hard to find in the States - Penguin bars, a type of tea I love, Penguin bars, jam that she could eat her weight in, Penguin bars... the important things. :)
Also, for accuracy's sake, I did take the picture on top, of the Christ's College gates. The others were a mix of me or Anne taking the picture (obviously, I didn't take the one's I'm in). But, since there were very good pictures, I'm posting them anyway! Because I can :)
2 comments:
What a great "C"! I went to Cambridge during my junior year ... my supervisions were evenly divided between Clare and Emmanuel (I studied both English literature and anthropology).
Your pictures take me back. Is Auntie's Tea Shop still off King's Parade?
It could very well be. I remember where a lot of shops and things are, but I don't remmeber that one! I could always go back and see though. ;)
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