Cambridge

Me on a punting tour. A nice break

Punting on River Camb

Suami Chanita, Tomas (he's Swede), who took time off to show me Cambridge Uni.

By River Camb (masa ni Chanita and I went for a walk)

I took this pic cos' I liked the fountain in the middle

Entah lah apa nama College ni but part of Cambridge Uni.

Rasa-rasa part of St. John's College

My Thai friend, Chanita (dulu a librarian at Cornell but now works at a hospital in Cambridge)

I better write down my thoughts while they are still fresh.

Chanita had to go to work after we sent Lina to sch. Then Tomas showed me where he worked (St. John's College).Very English but the new building (built in 1970s) was ugly.Then I took a punting tour on River Camb.Nice.Our punter was funny but some tall tales about a lot of things on the uni and the town itself (temberang kuat! I heard more authentic stuffs from Tomas esp. about the cows on campus)

Anyway, Tomas brought me to his College lunch.Wough....they do this everyday (served!) and I sat next to the College Master (some Prof in Biochem). The fruit dessert included a bowl of dates. Pelik juga orang putih makan kurma. I suppose their scientists have figured out khasiat kurma. Bukan kurma cikai.Besar dan tak manis.

After lunch, it's tea or coffee, served in a different room.Many old and famous Profs here.I think it's a great idea to eat with your colleagues and discuss great ideas on a regular basis.Back at IIUM, we only get to discuss great ideas when we meet in the Ladies masa ambik air semayang.Sometimes research projects are born there, ideas to organise conferences, etc. Imagine if we have proper lunch together on daily basis! UM has its own Rumah Universiti where academics socialise and discuss impt issues over lunch/dinner etc. At Flinders (my other alma mater), we have a proper restaurant (meant only for academics and their guests.I remember being asked if I wanted kangaroo meat for lunch one day)

It may be a while to travel this way again now that UK gomen gatal nak impose visas on us pulak.Only if Z gets to study here that I'll take the trouble to come this way again.Tomas kata budak2 Cambridge ni tak macam budak2 Cornell where they read in advance and the class would have good discussions.Sini..budak2 malas (accordimg to my punter, kerjanya nak mengabehkan duit mak bapak, drink and chase gals.The gals chase the boys back).And they don't have to submit their essays (they only discuss with their Fellows 2-3 times but essay writing is like every week! Budak2 IIUM will not be able to handle that!). Exams are 100% (3 questions, 3 hours).Yikes! Senangnya hidup macam ni. But this should explain KJ too, dak? Heh heh.