Football, Formal, Food and fLondon (?)

After a long walk and a lot of persuading that we were actually students, we went to the Cambridge United vs. Huddersfield Town football game. The game was naught to naught and after watching Cambridge United fumble around with the ball for two hours, it was a relief that the game (match?) didn't go into overtime. It was only after the game started that we figured out why both teams were separated- in the midst of cheers about Barry Fry, boys no older than eight were shouting, "sit down, shut up, sit down, shut up." Almost reminded me of Katherine at Richmond Basketball games.....After the game we went to a frisbee social themed tight and bright - we played musical chairs, mingle and mix and a late night frisbee game!

Then, we did something that actually seemed like it was straight out of Harry Potter (you're welcome, Hannah) - on Sunday, we went to formal dinner at Downing College and then Tuesday to one at Homerton. Most of the colleges have formal dinner once a week. The dress is formal (just to be clear) and, for students, dress robes are required. The tables are arranged so that the students are together on one level and the professors sit on a raised platform. The story we've been told (which I'm obviously choosing to believe) is that the dining hall at Homerton was looked at to be the one in Harry Potter, but the college refused to take down a huge painting and the movie was forced to move....it's possible. At Downing a choir sang the blessing and at Homerton the Head entered last, blessed the food and we ate. Again, we had to convince someone to let us in - we don't have access to a printer (not to mention the fact that I had forgotten to sign up on time) so we came with no tickets and a pictureless/nameless ID card, but somehow worked our way in. Both dinners were really fun, and we are hoping to go back to Homerton's before we leave! The next night, three of us went to our weekly dinner with Ellie and Richard and actually ended up sitting at the same booth where Watson and Crick (** Rosalind Franklin **) worked their magic with DNA.

Then,I got my first visitor from home! Mark came to Cambridge and after exploring Homerton and the City Centre we went to London for the first time this whole trip! We took the coach to London on Saturday, went straight to a Jack the Ripper tour (surprisingly enough, it didn't give me nightmares), explored the city a bit and then went on the London Eye at night, which was gorgeous. We saw Big Ben, Parliament, the house that the Prime Minister lives in, and a poor museum guard being taunted by tourists. Wasn't lost the entire time - until Mark left - and then, of course, I discovered that there are two Victoria "Coach" Stations and that I was at the wrong one. Missed my bus, but managed to get to the right station, buy tickets for the next bus and made a friend or two along the way.

Side note: not only does England not have Splenda, but the Starbucks here don't have the pumpkin spice latte...I did get my first red cup of the season though! And am now listening to Christmas Music while I write a Thanksgiving lesson plan....