The first pictures

Gathering for the official matriculation photograph in front of the St Catharine's College gates. I am in the third row, directly center -- sixth in from the left, sixth in from the right. Oh, the symmetry!

Of course, it wouldn't be an official Cambridge event without some afternoon champagne!


Sitting with Kevin during one of the matriculation day speeches. Note the oh-so elegant, flowing black academic gown!


Just to show you how ingrained the pub/bar is in English life, here's a picture of me, Jacob and Kevin with the St Catharine's College Chaplain Anthony, a very nice fellow, discussing some finer theological points in the college bar. (There are 31 colleges in the University of Cambridge and I'm fairly certain they all have at least one bar on site.)


On Friday night of Fresher's Week, the MCR (Middle Combination Room AKA St Catharine's grad student society) organized a 'punting' trip on the River Cam. The concept is deceptively simple: up to six people board a narrow wooden boat, sit crunched together and collectively offer advice to the person piloting (the punter) the boat (the punt) with a giant wooden pole. Here I'm relaxing with Edward, a nice Aussie, after my own harrowing experience punting -- though I didn't fall in (whew), my unlucky cell phone slipped from a friend's seemingly safe pocket... into the Cam.


Posing in front of Madingley Hall, a striking university-owned estate a few miles north of the city. My department, the Centre of International Studies, held an all-day event there last Sunday. We toured the American Battle Cemetery nearby (sorry, didn't feel comfortable taking pictures) and it was quite a moving sight, with more than 3,800 graves, a long wall of missing and a beautiful chapel. The rest of the day consisted of speeches by the faculty, socializing and a dinner -- all punctuated with frequent breaks for alcohol, of course.