Some Work Orientation & the Fitzwilliam Museum

I rode to the DRC by myself this morning and made it without getting lost! (Last night Ian and I rode to work so that I would have a less traffic-laden route to take. I rode in front, which was a great idea because it forced me to pay attention to where I was going.) I think by the end of this week I'll have the route memorized very well. It's a really great route--it takes me down by the river and past all of the colleges. I was really pushing myself this morning and it took me 15 minutes to get there, so if I go a little slower tomorrow I can arrive without being sweaty like I was this morning. I can also leave a little later. I was worried I was going to be late because I couldn't figure out how to lock their door! (You have to lift the handle up as you lock it. It only took me 7 minutes to figure that out. I'm a college graduate, you know. Ha!)

Today I met with Jennie and Sonya and they taught me how to use the student record database, which is very straightforward and user-friendly. I also had a little time to read and send emails. Later on I met with Margot, who is a disability adviser and with Sigrid Fisher, who is the head of the Equality and Diversity department (my supervisor's boss). A lot of my meetings this week and next are just introductory and informational--I think to help me put things into context.

After work I went to the Fitzwilliam Museum (conveniently right across the street from the DRC) with the intention of seeing a sculpture exhibit. I was taken aback at how huge the museum is--I only saw four areas within an hour and a half and there are over 25 to see! The collection is amazing too. I think I'll have to go back several times to see it all. I took just a few photos of the sculptures, which are outside in the courtyard area of the museum.

I walked through part of the city centre with my bike after going to the Fitz because I wanted to see more closely what kinds of shops and restaurants line that area. There are tons of places I would like to stop; I think one day I might try to take the entire afternoon to do that. The area is huge and almost every shop is one that I would want to go into. I rode the rest of the way home and didn't get lost that way either! Yahoo!

Carrie says that once I leave Cambridge I will be a proficient cook. I feel silly in the kitchen with her because I have no idea what I'm doing. I cooked tortellini and she let me use some of the leftover sauce from the pizza party. She taught me to add basil (don't cut it up because it will bruise!) and I added some fresh parmesan. Delish!

Joanna from the DRC texted Carrie later on tonight to ask if I was available to come to the Cambridge Blue with her and some friends for a drink. In the past I've been such a homebody and just generally shy and unsociable, but I've really tried to tell myself that I need to get out of comfort zone while I'm here--so I obviously said yes. I had a perry cider (made from perry pears... no clue what that means!) which actually tasted like white wine. I met Ann, who works at the university Careers Service, and some of Ann's friends and some of Ann's friends' friends. Some from England, some from Ireland, some from Germany. Fantastic. I was mostly quiet, because that's who I am. Not really a group person, but it was fun nonetheless. A good end to the day.