Friday, September 26, 2003
And How is Sir?
Sometimes it seems like I've stepped back in time to a bygone Dickensian era. Colleges in Cambridge tend to have what are known as Porter's Lodge's. These are very important places, especially when you first start. Basically they are like the reception of a hotel, coupled with an academic secretary, registrar, local encyclopedia etc etc.
My porters at Magdalene are a rum old bunch. The can be heard actually hooting at lunchtime as they stagger into the food Hall. Whenever I visit the Lodge I am always greeted with a "'allo sir. 'ow are we sir? And wot can I do for sir?'" It must be exciting for posh kids; I expect it's their first experience of the 'other half'. But for someone straight outta the mean streets of East London, only to be met with a bunch of cockney wiseguys, it's all a bit dissappointing really. I would have preferred more along the lines of the classic Jeeves.
Going to try punting tomorrow and then perhaps football on Sunday (yep, Judge is putting together a team to firstly try and beat last years class - returning for their graduation - and secondly any other MBAs who fancy their chances).More excercise than I've done all year!
____________
My porters at Magdalene are a rum old bunch. The can be heard actually hooting at lunchtime as they stagger into the food Hall. Whenever I visit the Lodge I am always greeted with a "'allo sir. 'ow are we sir? And wot can I do for sir?'" It must be exciting for posh kids; I expect it's their first experience of the 'other half'. But for someone straight outta the mean streets of East London, only to be met with a bunch of cockney wiseguys, it's all a bit dissappointing really. I would have preferred more along the lines of the classic Jeeves.
Going to try punting tomorrow and then perhaps football on Sunday (yep, Judge is putting together a team to firstly try and beat last years class - returning for their graduation - and secondly any other MBAs who fancy their chances).More excercise than I've done all year!
____________
Thursday, September 25, 2003
Baby, You're a *Star*!
We had our first Management Analysis class today. Being mostly maths (probability, stats...) it gave some of the class a real chance to shine. Made 'em feel like stars - made the rest feel like we'd hit a train!
It wasn't that bad. Not only was the math managable (with a 'little' pre-reading), but the class encouraged a lot of collaboration on problems (as the Judge does throughout the course).
We're all waiting for the weekend. So far this week has been *intense*. But things are coming together and the List of Stuff To Do is rapidly getting shorter.
Folks are still suprisingly open to different people and groups. I would have thought that they'd have settled down by now, but I think, with the knowledge that we will all have to work with many random others at some point makes social complacence an unwise option. This social flexibility is A Good Thing, but only as long as you take advantage of it.
Off for dinner at Magdalene now, this time with yet another guest. Perhaps we'll be discussing Descartes over wine, who knows?! (sorry, in-joke).
____________
It wasn't that bad. Not only was the math managable (with a 'little' pre-reading), but the class encouraged a lot of collaboration on problems (as the Judge does throughout the course).
We're all waiting for the weekend. So far this week has been *intense*. But things are coming together and the List of Stuff To Do is rapidly getting shorter.
Folks are still suprisingly open to different people and groups. I would have thought that they'd have settled down by now, but I think, with the knowledge that we will all have to work with many random others at some point makes social complacence an unwise option. This social flexibility is A Good Thing, but only as long as you take advantage of it.
Off for dinner at Magdalene now, this time with yet another guest. Perhaps we'll be discussing Descartes over wine, who knows?! (sorry, in-joke).
____________
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
The Floodgates Open
And the Lord did cleft the sky assunder,
And verily it did pour forth paper and folders (and timetables),
Such a quantity thereof the like of which none had seen!
Yes, it's started. The first week of the MBA. Not officially the first week - this is the pre-course, but it's amounted to the same thing.
Piles of paperwork,
105+ names and faces to remember (and believe me the school tests you!),
8 new folders to lug around,
and a laptop to boot, if you were unfortunate enough to bring it in. No, it wasn't needed.
To top it all off, it rained cats and dogs at the end of the day. Considering we were all in suits, we were not happy bunnies.
____________
And verily it did pour forth paper and folders (and timetables),
Such a quantity thereof the like of which none had seen!
Yes, it's started. The first week of the MBA. Not officially the first week - this is the pre-course, but it's amounted to the same thing.
Piles of paperwork,
105+ names and faces to remember (and believe me the school tests you!),
8 new folders to lug around,
and a laptop to boot, if you were unfortunate enough to bring it in. No, it wasn't needed.
To top it all off, it rained cats and dogs at the end of the day. Considering we were all in suits, we were not happy bunnies.
____________
Sunday, September 21, 2003
A Strange Limp...
If you see a fellow walking around Cambridge with a strange limp, then you know it's me. I have just been soundly beaten in a game (if you can call it that) of squash by an MBA classmate - Ethan from the USA and certain muscles are going to take a few days to recover :(
The score?
9-3
9-3
9-0
Oh dear. If we had a referee he would have stepped in to call a halt to the bloodshed. Instead I had to battle on, cursing the generall overindulgence of the past few months. Still, I held my head high (actually I was too tired even for that) as I promised Ethan - who was being really rather nice about the whole thing - that the time would certainly come when I would have my revenge! He humoured me as we parted company at the gates of Magdalene. Nice chap.
Wednesday and Thursday were dedicated to meeting plenty of my fellow classmates at pubs scattered around Cambridge. I have to say, Cambridge, apart from being a global centre of academic excellence, has got 'The English Pub' down to a tee. Wednesday was The Eagle on Bene't Street (opposite Kings College) and Thursday was The Anchor on Silver Street near Queens and by the river. While a fair few turned up on Wednesday, the place was overflowing by the next day.
My head was spinning by the close of play Thursday. Names, faces, spouces, prior jobs, colleges, nationalities. It all got a bit too much but I took a breather back in London as I was dropping my beloved Golf off. I reckon I've met about 30-40 classmates. That just leaves another 80+!!. I wonder how those at the really big schools manage?
Time to do my first weekly shop in Cambridge. No one else has turned up at my flatshare which is worrying as the place has 7 rooms. Where is everyone? The course starts tomorrow - I thought they would have settled by now?!!...
Done a fair bit of reading in prep. for the pre-course, although I don't know how much sunk in. We'll soon find out...
[deep breath]
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
-Henry V
--Listening to... Red Hot Chilli's - Can't Stop. Tune. I like this internet cafe :)
____________
The score?
9-3
9-3
9-0
Oh dear. If we had a referee he would have stepped in to call a halt to the bloodshed. Instead I had to battle on, cursing the generall overindulgence of the past few months. Still, I held my head high (actually I was too tired even for that) as I promised Ethan - who was being really rather nice about the whole thing - that the time would certainly come when I would have my revenge! He humoured me as we parted company at the gates of Magdalene. Nice chap.
Wednesday and Thursday were dedicated to meeting plenty of my fellow classmates at pubs scattered around Cambridge. I have to say, Cambridge, apart from being a global centre of academic excellence, has got 'The English Pub' down to a tee. Wednesday was The Eagle on Bene't Street (opposite Kings College) and Thursday was The Anchor on Silver Street near Queens and by the river. While a fair few turned up on Wednesday, the place was overflowing by the next day.
My head was spinning by the close of play Thursday. Names, faces, spouces, prior jobs, colleges, nationalities. It all got a bit too much but I took a breather back in London as I was dropping my beloved Golf off. I reckon I've met about 30-40 classmates. That just leaves another 80+!!. I wonder how those at the really big schools manage?
Time to do my first weekly shop in Cambridge. No one else has turned up at my flatshare which is worrying as the place has 7 rooms. Where is everyone? The course starts tomorrow - I thought they would have settled by now?!!...
Done a fair bit of reading in prep. for the pre-course, although I don't know how much sunk in. We'll soon find out...
[deep breath]
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
-Henry V
--Listening to... Red Hot Chilli's - Can't Stop. Tune. I like this internet cafe :)
____________
