1. walk around parker's piece with Florian and Alpha.
2. Drink with Anna at "Live and Let Live"

Today I woke up at 11:00am for an interview in London at 14:00...
I am applying for the Tokyo office of an international consulting firm and for one reason or another the interviewer was Japanese. I remember one thing, that is I froze midway through the case study. A drop of sweat running down my left cheekbone. the analogy of the deer in headlights came to mind. It was not a good sign, but in the end I thiink I ws able to leave a good impression. At least some parts did go well.

Afterwards I took the tube down to "Embankment"and walked across the Thames with a view of the British Parliament. I first came across the building in a Japanese cartoon of the 'three muskateers'. To say that it held a special place in my heart is an exageration. But it is a impressionable sight to behold.

From then on I wandered along the Thames.
At one point I looked up at the clear blue sky through the spokes of the London Big Eye. Below street performers, the kind that hold still like statues, were performing. In the end I wound up at the Royal Festival Hall where there was an exhibition of the past year's excellent photojounalism, World Press Photo 2005
Some photos were touching a lot disturbing but it made me think and wonder. Photographs that captures moments that speak of the wonders (I am hating my paucity of vocaburary in description) life such as those of the athletes hit you with awe. The aesthetics of existance is inspiring. Then there are also images of the ugliness and the hopelessness of life. It makes you reflect on your own life. For me what hits me especially is the distance between the images and my life. It is so distant yet so close. People in these images say the Asian Tsunami victims live in worlds that seem far apart both in distance in memory. I must admit, even with the magnitude of the tragedy, these people had been pushed aside in my memory until the photographs today.

And there is the closeness. For example there are photographs of men locked up in a mental asylum or a image of a man with a tag to his head during a raid in Iraq. Though this may sound weird I would not be surprised to have similar things happen to me. They are no unimaginable. And I would be just as helpless as those in the photographs. I live a life that is so detached from the images I saw, yet by no means do I believe that I could not picture myself amongst them.

5/10/5

Taityou ga warui...maybe the weather, or maybe its the pressure of exams and job searching, but Im not in the best of conditions.

On Friday I am going to take a "case study" interview for a management consulting firm. Upon talking to people I learn that this is something that is pretty difficult, something I need to actually prepare. So I asked my friend at the Judge Institute (Cambridge's MBA program) for a preparation packet. I had not known, but there is a job search company called wetfeet that does this. The documents were really heavy a few hundred pages. This explains part of my headache.

A hot movie amongst my small circle of friends. "A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" a British film based on a British book (which apparently was a must read according to my British friend) written by a Brit (I think so as he is a Cambridge graduate). Id like to check it out, I am in England afterall. I really havent seen too many British films.

Symptoms of choco-holism is starting to manifest. I now have a bar of 'Sainsbury' chocolate, a 'KitKat' and 'Bendricks Bittermints' in my cupperboard,

BGM: Cassandra Wilson "amazing grace"

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** sharing Photos from Sardegna & Corsica**

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Sometimes I lose sight of what I would like to do. what I like to do may not accord with what I can realistically do. but it is important to keep in mind. with the pressures of seeking to manage my way in my studies and in seeking my future profession it is easy to lose sight of this fact. what I like is to see people smile, ideally because of me taking part in some way

BGM: Billy Cobham "Recollections"

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5/8/5

Whats worth sharing?
The weather has been a littel maddening these couple of days.
Sun --> Rain --> Rain amidst sunshine --> Rain

Went to the University Library. Visited the "Aoi Room" the Oriental Section for the first time, found a Manchu/Japanese dictionary. Manchu dont use Chinese characters, to find translation in romacized letters were strange. The translated Manchu still felt foreign from its original. Felt as if the translation wasnt complete.

Discussion with Zhang Wei, about my culture paper on regional economy. We ended up discussing a bit about recent Japanese/Chinese relations too. Zhang Wei teaches us economics at Cambridge, but before stil lin his thirties he was the vice-mayor of Tianjin. He was purged for speakingout against the Tiananmen Protests (his name appears in the Tiananmen Papers edited by the Columbia Professor Andrew Nathan). He is still denied entry to his home country. Nevertheless, he is infinitely cheerful. Quite a character.

BGM: Oscar Peterson "exclusively for my friends" album

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** sharing Photos from Sardegna & Corsica**

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5/5/5

So it is 5 5 05 today... a black cat just crossed my window.

Well...it has been a chilly few days in Cambridge. what gives? Me, I am taking this as a sign to stay in and work on my papers: One 10,000 pg essay on Chinese western region development and the other my MPhil dissertation on national identity. Notice the editorial on Yomiuri Newspaperabout a proposal of a "Japanese independence day (from the GHQ)". Why do we need to assert our national independence now?

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** sharing Photos from Sardegna & Corsica**

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4/24/05

Spent a week in the Mediterranean islands of Sardegna, Italy and Corsica, France.

I brought a book with me, the Trial by Franz Kafka, a story of a man who oneday is put under arrest for reasons unknown by powers unknown. It is a story that speaks of the absurdity and horrors of totalitarian authority.
Unfortunatley I had a similar experience...

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4/12/05

Just when I have things to say I seem to go blank
the anti-Japanese demonstrations in the cities of China have been on my thoughts for a while. Imagining tens of thousands of citizens in Beijing, where i have just been studying 5 months ago, marching against Japan hurt to hear. They were protesting the period revew of Japanese text books and its wish to enter the Security Council of the UN. A significant number were aroused by these. Even for someone who studies politics, these issues seem of little concern to the average citizen. But still tensions flared. It shows either how deep the resentment of the past is and two they present how tensions are high for other social problems where anti-Japanese demonstration served as an acceptable issue to let out fumes. Is this all I want to say? I wrote this as a blabbering: unorganized and unstructured. In the end national identity is a complex issue which i cant hope to cover in bits and spurts of thought. All I say now is that I detest negative nationalism

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I uploaded photos from Oxford and Cambridge. Pictures are at the cat icon link above

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BGM: Kato Tokiko /Le temps de cherise

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4/08/05

Went to Oxford University for a day trip yesterday
3 hours on the bus to this rival institution. The city of Oxford was more a proper city than Cambridge. It's a facile description. I had heard as such. My impression was more city being more a modern colorless city. But Oxford was a European Midieval city worth a visit in its own right. Obviously, the city would lose much of its color withoust the colleges. But the colleges seemed particularly well integrated, their existence were less salient than those in Cambridge yet each had its color and grandeur.

Viited Corpus Christi, New College and the grandest, Christ Church where the movie series Harry Potter was filmed. Other than Harry, Christ Church's alumni include Lewis Carrol of Alice and Wonderland. It was a lovely day. Typically English, Rain, followed by the temporary sun, then rain, again... But under the scarce moment of sunshine, I spotted a lone cherry blossom tree Merton College. The pink flowers were in full bloom under the blue sky. Through the mosaic pink flowers, I looked up at the church tower at Merton.

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Was infected with a nasty computer virus.
Last week my laptop caught a nasty virus. One day all of a sudden, the home page for my Internet Explorer browser had been locked to an unknown Search Site. It seemed harmless at first. I thought Id ignore it until it strated procuding pop-up ads on my pc even when not connected to the Internet. It had slowed down my PC considerably. I tried anti-virus softwares. But all to no avail. It had penetrated deep into my Harddrive.

This virus was had inserted a Dynamic Link Language file (dll) named se.dll and an unknown application named Search Assistant into my Windows OS. I couldnt uninstall this "Search Assistant" and as for the dll file, it would reappear every time I manually deleted it. Buggers, I was in for quite a battel! ...... It was an agonizing few days. Even whilst working on the paper trying to ignore the problem, the pop-ups, the random malfunctions would laughingly remind me of its existance.

Because I am a dead novice when it comes to computers, I spent quite the time and effort to get rid of it. Went to websites, went to friends and went to the Computer Service at Hughes. In the end it was a self-help tip at a computer BBS that led me to delete the virus. I think it is gone. I think. I hope so. I'm not sure . But I learnt quite a lot about Windows OS (biggest lesson was how feeble 98 is) trying to get rid o fthis sucker. Phew, now I can concentrate on my work.

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BGM: Chick Corea "Recolections /Finding Forrester Soundtrack"

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4/4/05

Itching to travel

Initially the plan was to go to Morocco.
No reason in particular. Gazing at the map, I honed in on the Gibraltar Strait and noticed how close Africa was. That is all really.

Choosing places to visit on a map is fun. All it takes is just a small move of the finger and you can cross borders, rivers and mountains. Actual sizes have been reduced to nil. All one has to do is imagine.

With low price airlines like Ryan Air such trips can be easily realized. Other options include taking trains up north to Scotland or across the English Channel to Paris.

My plan now is to visit Paris and/or southern France to the region of Cote d'Azur. I found some cheap flights to the city of Nimes. Round trip for just a bit over 20 GBP inclusive of tax. Now that's cheap!

As this imaginary travel plan may painfully attest, I am starting to bore myself in Cambridge. Restless,I spent the day calling a Japanese media outlets to inquire about work experience. Contacted newspapers, wire presses and TV stations. Good for them, they all answer there phone within one ring. This may be a media thing. Anyway, one lady at TV-Asahi answered with the high-pitched and perfectly animated tone,
" TV-Asahi /~~~ ".
I thought, maybe TV wasn't for me.

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BGM: Tori Amos "Hoochie Woman"

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4/2/05

The death of Pope of the Roman Catholic Church John Paul II
was widely reported in all major news outlets. The NY Times carried a twenty-one (internet) pages for obituary, The London Times had seven related articles. It made headlines everywhere from the Asahi Shinbum (Tokyo) Al Jazeera (Qatar) to The People's Daily (Beijing) which carried a more subdued article (Vatican has no diplomatic links with Beijing). Comparing the articles the NY Times stands out in terms of degree of attention and depths. As befitting a New York daily with close links with Isreal, the editoral paid considerable attention on the papacy's relation with Israel. This was interesting. Other than this the NY Times stood above the rest on the quality of its layout, multimedia presentation including choice of photographc images. This (presentation) is something other papers could do well to emulate.

A noteworthy fact point out by one of the articles. Though Catholic Christianity has greatly increased its followers under John Paul II's guidance, it has been passed by Islam, which is currently the largest in terms the number of followers.

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I personally am not of the faith. But reading about the loss of a fgure that has gathered such respect: for his spiritual and intellectual integrity in serving the papacy, for reaching out to people of all faiths, for compassion for the weak, I cannot help but feel the residue of love and admiration that many around the world felt for this man.

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Halfway point: Keith Jarret's Coln Concert

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4/1/05

Well into our Easter Break

Today is April fool's. Yes it is I'm not kidding. I am finding it difficult to be productive. No not because it is April Fool's.

Some news of note, the health of John Paul II. Declaration, I think informal, of Korea's stance against Japanese inclusion to the UN Security Council. And as reported by the NY Times, the collection of 20 million, mostly Chinese, signatures against the same.

I'm off to run. My mind only functions in a negative way today. Times like these call for a bit of sunshine and excercise.

Saw the French film "Choir", highly highly recommended.

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The movie "Closer" by Nichols

is about 4 characters. two contrasting male characters played by Jude Law and Clive Owen (probably). If only I can explain the plot clearly. In a nutshell, maybe too broad a nutshell, it is about a pair of couples that meet split and get together again. Clive Owen plays the crude persona of the bunch, Jude Law the impressionable but naive character. In the end Clive Owen secures his match and Jude Law doesnt. From my impression Jude Law was the more atttractive character, No I should say the character I can better associate with. He in the end "loses", while the crude character played by Owen who if anything is honest to himself and others, and less idealistic more mature in seeing relationship wins the partner over. I really did not understand. My friend who watched the film with me understood. He is married. From his perspective, the naive and idealistic character, never true to himself, did not wholeheartedly trust others. It was about aesthetics, feel good not about the brute truth. No, this is a little deviant from the truth. How should I say this. I understood. The character was a bit like me. Naive, idealistic thinking aethestics in terms of realationship, in terms of character is what wins people over. Indeed it does, so does brute honesty and realism. I am still a child I have yet to understand adult relationships.

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3/25/05

Had a feast

We invited friends to have dinner at our place. We had a mix of chinese, japanese and french represented by dishes from Huoguo (chinese hot pot), yaki udon topped off with tiramisu. Its good to bring people together.

Talking about food I write like someone who is so carefree. But my 10,000 word essay looms large. Spent the day reading articles and books ranging from development to peking opera to the origins of nationalism.

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3/17/05 St. Patrick's Day

+_+ degrees of seperation.

There is a destiny like character in the way people are connected with each other. I meet people with connections from far flung places. And some of my most endearing friendship has been based on chance encounters. Ive met a friend on a winter train in Montreal as I met my theatrical collaborator on a bus coming from the Great Wall in Beijing.

Outside my little sphere, I was browsing through the net listening to Ozone Makoto (jazz pianist) on Milonga... when I stumbled, not inadvertantly, upon his website .
the piano still plays in the background..in Milonga, Ozone collborates with Gary Burton, a vibraphone player. Both are percussion/rythm instruments. But rather than overlap both instruments leave distinct footprints in the music: the piano carves melodies as the vibraphone skate past, if you can understand such descriptions.

From the link i move on to Gary Burton 's website Here I find out about their newset collaborationm "Virtuoso", which will put two jazz players playing classical. Reading further, I find that the spark of the challenge comes from a conversation Burton had with Samuel Barber (1910-1981), a contemporary American composer. Here lies my slight slight sense of connection. Samuel Barber has been the composer of my favorite piece of the last few years, the "excursions" for piano.

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3/17/05 St. Patrick's Day

Spring slowly approaches. It is a warm and windy day in the city by the river Cam. The breeze has the warm scent of spring. The breeze is a bit mushier, gradually moving away from the crisp winds of winter.

I took my friend for punting in the river cam. A very Cambridge experience that I have only recently gotten into. With a long stick we pushed our way past the old colleges on our wooden boat: Past the Mathematical Bridge of Queens' College, past the magnificent King's College Chapel and past the Bridge of Sighs at St. John's, as ducks of many shapes and sizes swim past.

Cambridge Overseas Trust Party at Robinson College.
A smart-casual affair at Robinson's. Scholarship recipients of all nationalities gathered at Robinson in an informal gathering with fellow students and trustees. I mingled my way past, meeting people here and chatting with people there. I am getting a bit more comfortable with these affairs. Though these gathering are still funny to me. I notice and find amusing how some people I each other out. they would talk with people they find interesting and there are the others. Beneath the formalities of greetings and courtesies is an undercurrent, they are people watching. But who cares.

BGM: Jaco Pastorius, Mercy, Mercy Mercy

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3/14/05

Reading "Studying the Enemy"
a book that deals with Chinese perceptions of Japanese in the Republican Period fo China 1911-1949. Two interesting and contrasting characters. One Wang Pengshengm who wrote the "great lie of so called Japanese Culture" and another Zhou Zuoren (a brother of Lu xun) who writes a little more deary of Japan. To speak singularly of a race all too easily falls into facile stereotype. The stereotyping of national character goes back to the days of Aristotle and is still prevalent today. Although logically, I view with suspicion the attachment of an overarching national character to a race, there is a part of me that recognizes that there is, however illogical that is.

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3/13/05

Football match against Queens' College.
Won by 5-3 thanks to a hat trick from PGCE student Charlie.

At the game, three of us had our wallets, stolen. Unfortunately I was one of the victims. In one moment I lost my ATM cards my credit card, my student card and my driver's liscense ! Won the game, but lost my wallet...

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3/11/05

BBC China Week
The British Broadcasting Corporation has a week long focus on China. A progam titled Question Time was aired in Britain tonight. It was an open discussion with panelists that included a Chinese government spokesman, a government official. an Amnesty International representative, and Lord Chris Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong along with public audiences. The title "question time" is very subdued but the content and the significance of airing an open debate on China was not. I missed the first part but the topics of discussion included Taiwan and Human Rights, two very sensitive issues.

I knew the sensitivity of expressing direct disent in China. To air a program has ranking officials discussing human rights with foreigners and the general public is, to say the least ,a daring feat. Uninhibited questions were posed by both panelists and the audience. I almost worried that when these Chinese audiences posed questions and made these officials lose face, they would somehow be reprimanded later. The criticisms were not harsh, one was about the government's refusal to allow teachers to unionize, but they were sincere attesting to the pent up dissatisfaction with the restrictions on some liberties.

What effets would airing such programs to BBC have. It was aired from China but were they shown there? Does this attest to the growing confidence that the government as an open society? Did it have positive or negative effects? As far as this goes, the airing of open debate on sensitive issues can be in itself taken as a positive sign. But the show also showed the hardened thinking of the officials in the matter, which I do not think gave off a positive message. Many interesting issues, I admire BBC for realizing this program.

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3/10/05

There are some attractive people at Cambridge.
Many were in hand at Ballare, a night club in the city. Dressed to impress.the young and the restless congregated at the club, attracted by the thumping bass of danse music and free flow of alcohol.

People sometimes refer to clubs as a meat market. There is an element of truth in this. I think people do eye each other. But these people do attract. Though a bit superfluous, there is no denying that youth is sometimes overwhelmingly attractive.

What is appeal? this is something I wonder about. How does attraction have such power over people? I fall easily am easily overwhelmed... even though in my head I know that something someone attractive is no 'untouchable' existence.

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3/4/05

Another application sent via the twilight tube that is the Internet.

Applications require the same sort of generic questions. Like, Why are you interested? Your personal attributes? Evidence of teamwork?

In respose sometimes I find myself responding in the same way. Pre-pared answers.
Attributes? international
Experience of teamwork?theatre
Obstacles conquered? adapting to different cultures

After awhile it becomes overkill. Seems as if I am presenting some self-made artificial template of myself. A die cut figure ready for presentation. It almost feels as if I am presenting a stereotypical image, in this case an image of myself that will 'sell' to these people. Who is this person?

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BGM: Dave Mathews Band: So much to say..

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3/2/05

It is already March.

I sent in my application to a consulting firm. Because I applied for the Tokyo office, I completed the application form in Japanese. Simple questions not more than 100 words each. They wanted succint answers. Obviously people weren't going to spend too much time going over them. But boy, did I take a long time filling this out!

One of the reasons is the PCs I used. At first I I used a Mac. Everything was fine. until all of a sudden I was forced back to the opening change. It must've been a button I pressed. But which one I had no idea. So everytime I'd get a certain section, for example, like "what makes consulting appealing for you?". I'd stare at the screen crossing my arms, making faces, biting my lips. Then, after considerable struggle I'd muster a few sentences as an answer when, ....BZZZzzz!

Welcome to the Applcation, Please Log In :-)

If you were there, you'd see a confused man laughing emptily at the screen.

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No lectures tomorrow. It is hard to figure out what to do on days like this. Sitting home reading books does not sound so good. confining myself will make me mad. I'd like to meet more people. maybe Ill join a society.

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2/28/05

Everyday habit. From a website I read, we are the culmination of everyday habit. That is the repetition of our daily habits is what makes us who we are. How we make our selves the way we want depends on the small acts we take or do not take everyday.

Visited Valencia,Spain.
it was as I had imagined a city of naranjas. People were noticeably friendlier. things noticeably cheaper. And the food,well you guessed it.

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2/Wed/05

what date is it today? I get lost sometimes. time seems to run at a different speed during term time. A succession of weeks. and the term is over before you know it. Of course every single day is different. Of course. But after another week, you are left with the thought, what happened this week?

What happened this week?

I submitted my first article for the Varsity newspaper. The Kyoto Protocol is coming into force next week on the 16th. so that was what I wrote about. That s it. No news scoop, no exciting interview. But it is one small step nonetheless.

My classmates are starting to receive offers. We have a potential consultant and a diplomat in the class. As for myself. Phew, I need to get to work.

So what date was today?

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2/5/05

There is the small resolution I made, in my last entry. The peculiar thing is, after declaring to take writing a bit more seriously I find myself fearing writing a bit more.

But I am following through on one part. I went to the student newspaper Cambridge Varsity . The News section had a meeting tonight. It was at the Baron of Beef near Magdalene College and the River Cam. I walked into the Baron of Beef, which contrary to the boisterous name, wasnt much of a pub. The Orange Oak interior stretched deep and narrow. A few electronic games and that was about it. The guests and as it happened the Varsity staff too, were playing Quiz night at the pub. I had come late and most, I assume, had already left. A couple were smoking cigarettes whilst the others seemed to be waiting for the next question to be presented. I spotted them because of a lone journalist notepad lying on the table. I signed up on the News Desk mailing list. Soon I hope to contribute an article or two.

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2/1/05

One of my resolutions for the new year is to "write".

I have always written; in diaries e-mails. But this year as I try to gage whether I can make writing a profession, I will take it a bit more seriously. Even with small compositions like emails I know there are differences in quality: those that reach and move people and those that do not. Fortunately, from student publications to the so-called quality newspapers I am surrounded by inspiring writing here in Cambridge.

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1/25/05

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1/21/05

Clare Cellars

Many of the colleges in Cambridge have their own churches. Clare College, one of the oldest colleges, also has a church adorned with magnifiscent stained glasses. Below the stone church is an old cellar. Today it is used by the students from theatre performances to parties. The entrance to the Clare Cellars is at the inner courtyard of the college. Climb down a short winding staircases. The ceilings are of stone and low. The floor is supported by numerous pillars that give a dungeon like feel. There was a party there tonight. Four GBP for an open-mike night. I stayed for a bit, before my jet lag took the best of me.

I left Clare and walked past its old stoned church. I could still hear the rythmic thumping coming from the cellars of this midieval church.

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1/19/05

After 9 months away I am back in the ivory tower that is Cambridge. It is all deja vu for me. The coach from Heathrow. The town. The College. I remember coming to Cambridge for the first time. I was full of expectations and a little anxious about living in this famous college town. I had forgotten the feeling during Beijing. Some of it came back. But I am less nervous and anxious this time around. I felt that I had to comform some what to the English way of life, at least comform to what I imagined was English and Oxbridge life. I have just come back from a vastly different Asian country . The European way of life is not all that is out there. I will just be myself.

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April 04 - December 04 Out in Beijing, China

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4/4/04

All my stuff are packed and I'm taking the morning flight to Beijing tomorrow morning..China awaits

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4/2/04

Took the train north

Visited my grandparents in Gunma Prefecture. We took the orange-colored Takasaki-line north to the mountaineous areas of the main island. We arrived unannounced at their door steps but they seemed very happy to see me.

I had brought souvenirs, tea and shortbread from Fortnum & Mason.
I usually don't buy gifts, but on this trip to England I did.
I don' know why.
Though I am not always a fan of the custom, bringing home souvenirs can be fun for both the giver and the receiver. I rather enjoyed shopping for them. Besides, it serves its purpose as another topic of conversation.

Along these lines, I did not fail to mention something about the tea and cakes I brought. The gifts I brought are royally endorsed marked with the emblem "by appointment of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II".
If anything it looks nice. And they seemed impressed,... I think.

Such royal endorsements exist (abound?) in Japan as well. Here they are marked "Kunaicho-Goyotatsu" meaning ..the same as the British counterpart.
However these endorsements are not always guarantees of exquisite quality. I notice that your local Twining tea bags, which are stocked at any local supermarket also bare the marking, "tea merchants by appointment by Her Royal Majesty...". Granted, I do like Twinings, but...

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3/28/04

Springtime in Tokyo

I am spending a brief week in Japan before I head over to Beijing on the 5th.

Today, I went for a walk in serch of cherry blossoms -or Sakura in Japanese- through the streets of Tokyo.
It is gorgeous today. Pink and white cherry blossoms were in full bloom spurred on by the warm temperature. Walking the streets of Tokyo in springtime, one need not look far to find a small alleyway or a park blanketed in these white/pink flowers.

I stumbled upon an old temple in Mita-district near my alma mater-Keio Gijuku. It dated back to the feudal period. The Japanese would also know that it is where the 47 samurais of the Ako-clan in the famous story "Chu-shin kura" lay.

The temple with the white cherry blossoms in the foreground was a typical, yet picture-perfect, Japanese scenenary.


Small note: did you know you can buy the traditional British souvenir "Walker Shortbread" in a 2-piece pack in station kiosks all over Tokyo? I should've known before I carried a whole bagload home..

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3/20/04

Lapses in memory...

I've been to a few good pubs here in Cambridge.
I've mentioned the 'Free Press' already.
But there are quite a few more.

We went to a pub called the 'Lawyers'.
A calm atmoshpere. The place is dark save for the few dispersed candlelights that quitely glows orange-colored flames. Walls are of black burnt stone. At night it has the feel of a cellar, almost. Paintings of lawyers adorn the walls and bookshelves are stacked with old legal books. Classic classic jazz plays in the background. The atmosphere is quite nice

We chatted and had a few pints . Afterwards I, a bit rose-cheeked, went back to the college and played the piano. We have an amazing Steinway grand piano -model M. It is a magnificient piece of instrument and has perhaps the most exquisite tone I have ever come across. The string on the piano vibrates like a delicate crystal.

Whether I was awake or not I do not know. it was already past 1:00am, I kept on playing. I only know after a short lapse in memory, I had lost my room keys ...most likely whilst I was playing the piano

Working on the bibliography

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3/18/04

Spent all day translanting a document plus essay revision
...just about ready to fall.

Have yet to pack, but bought gifts to take home
-English tea and Scottish shortbread.

Looking up at a painting by Isidre Nonell I bought at MontSerrat, Barcelona.

Was listening to: Chopin's 1st Piano concerto performed by Maurizio Pollini


**Futaba keep your chin up :-)

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3/15/04

Sitting in the New Museum Site @ Cambridge, just finished my first draft of the term paper.

Linkages between Trade and Secutiy Cooperation in ASEAN-China

I sit in front of the PC writing this essay whilst listening to the radio on RealAudio.
today its the classical radio station from the University of Tennessee. I came across a very very nice piece by an American composer Colin McPhee, someone I haven't heard before I . After a quick google search I find that he is an ethnomusician who mixed Gamellan (from Indonesia) with Western Music. Ah, but my story does not end there, what is more, the was performed by the Eastman Wind Ensemble of the Eastman School of Music under Howard Hanson.

Less than 10 days till I leave Cambridge.

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3/11/04

I played a few piano pieces
at the Hughes Hall end-of-term Music Recital.
Frederik Chopin's 'Berceuse (lullaby)'
and Samuel Barber's 'Excursions iii'.

Both are charming pieces to play and listen to. Along with the E major Waltz (Chopin), these 3 short pieces pretty much cover the whole of my current repetoir. but, they are beautiful pieces nonethesless.

I was working on my essay all day today. Actually, I was going around in circles, ...basically I am lost in my argument. I am trying to write an essay on the relationship between economic trade and security cooperation, but I find that I contradict myself in my argument. It is so easy to find to faults in my arguments, yet after several minutes of thought, I end up turning a blind eye.
Mmm...

This morning I ran into F outside college. He broke the news of the Madrid attacks. I took in the information for what it was ...information. Having gone through the events (second hand) in Rochester NY during Septemer 2001, it's a bit of a deja vu for me . I don't think I really digested the information 'til later. Yes it's a cliche, but the world environment is different from just 5 years before. Events like this open your eyes.

I was looking at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website under the section, 'recruitment'. I notice they are now also seeking specialists, in various fields. Previously MOFA had relied on rectruits straight out of undergraduate degrees. It's a little strange but this is one place I noticed that the current international environment is not so simple or benign anymore. Sometimes, I do get the feeling that times are changing..

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3/07/04

Sunday : 7th week of term

Three more days of lectures at Cambridge,
then I'm off to Beijing, China.
The end of my time at Cambridge and the beginning of Beijing is fast approaching: its as of I'm being pushed foward in time a little faster than normal. Funny felling to be leaving so soon..6 months.

This week I went to a Maurizio Pollini (pf) recital at the Royal Festival Hall in London. It was second time I saw Pollini perform. The last time was at Carnegie Hall in New York. He played two Beethoven sonatas including the 'Pathetic' and the 24 Chopin Preludes.

I can't help but wonder. Why do people cough so much -in an excessively loud manner- between movements of a musical piece. Must they cough so loud and why do they cough in ensemble? I noticed Mr. Pollini seemed a little disturbed by this. So was I. They should realize that the pause between movements is not a break in the music, but is still part of the music being performed.

On Friday, went to see Bill Frisell (gt) & Djelimady Tounkara (gt) at the Cambridge Corn Exchange.
Djelimady Tounkara is a guitar player from Mali. I had gone to see Bill Frisell but came away more impressed with Tounkara.

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3/03/04

St. John's visit.
I took my sister from Japan over to visit some of the colleges. I was her tour guide but I too felt chipper as a first time tourist to St. John's college. The courtyards, the chapel and the backs with the river Cam was simply breathtaking.
Photos from Johns

We have a preliminary Chinese language exam tomorrow. However, I am sitting in front of the computer at Hughes typing an essay on territorial disputes. I am not going anywhere with this ... Calvin is here, and those who know him no how animated he is. It's starting to get lively here.
Hmm, I need to get my self together if I want to get this finished.

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3/01/04

It has been a week since my last memo.
Again I find out the hard way that it is after a loss that you realize how important something was.

It was a perfect day in Cambridge.
I would gaze out the window during my Chinese language lecture and stare at the bright blue sky and the green sunbathed lawns.
Everyone seemed to be in a cheerful mood.
A perfect day in Cambridge.

J and I went to see a play at the Amateur Dramatic Theatre for the first time last week. We saw a play titled EAST written by Berkoff. The standard of acting was quite impressive for a student theatre production.

My sister is coming over to visit from Japan tomorrow. I should take her to see the colleges. Trinity, King's, Pembroke and St. John's should be good to visit.

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2/23/04

I went to a very interesting seminar today.
MR SEBASTIAN DOBSON (Freelance photographer)
The Daimyo and the daguerreotype:
the beginnings of photography in Japan.
Mr. Dobson introduced numerous photos from pre-Meiji Japan; both photos of Japan and early photos taken by Japanese. Almost all I had not seen before. But, one photo in particular caught my attention. It was a photo of four Satsuma samurai in Edo. They were in Edo to negotiate repatriation with the British Govt. after a British citizen had been killed failing to get out of the way of a Daimyo Gyoretsu (parade of provincial regents to and from Edo).
The confident and straightfaced expression of the Satsuma samurai left an impression on me. The photographer of the daguerreotype was a Brit named Felice BEATO living in Yokohama at the time. Though I could not find the particular photograph the link has some other pictures to see. INFO
I also came across some information about a museum in Matsudo -a Tokyo suburb- that houses photographs taken by the last shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu.

On another topic, I am currently looking at two things for my paper. 1) The link between trade & security in ASEAN-China relations.
2) And more specifically, the implications of the Spratly Islands dispute and a possible resolution in the Timor Gap Treaty Joint Development model. The first part -link between trade and security- is a very ambiguous topic because it becomes too theoretic, and I find you rarely get anywhere with theory in political science. The latter part -territorial dispute resolution- is a little more interesting because it is a little bit more tangible.

On another totally different issue, we played around on the piano in the Pavillion room tonight with 3 others from Hughes. Lots of F. Chopin, some Beethoven, a little Bach, and a sprinkle of trials in jazz improvisation

Sky: Clear -Saw many stars out tonight. I find they seem bigger and closer than the ones I saw in Tokyo or Rochester..

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2/21/04

Two things to do with Rochester, New York.

1) Capoeira: went to a Brazilian bop at Trinity Hall. In between cheesy dance music and live salsa, we saw a live preformance of capoeira. Capoeira is a martial art that has African/Brazilian influences but is also a bit like dancing. We used to practice it in-between classes at the University of Rochester. But no, I did not expect to see it again, here in Cambridge..
(although it was rare to see it in Rochester too)

2) Chet Baker: afterwards I visited W from hughes. We were listening to jazz with a little bit of wine in his room. We listened to the Chet Baker Quartet, Ella & Armstrong and a bunch of Miles Davis. I really liked the piano player in Chet Baker's quartet. I went to search for him on the net and found the piano player was Harold Danko,
-now jazz professor at the Eastman School of Music- whom I heard play on several occasions at Rochester. He plays some real smooth riffs on the piano

Sunday brunch: O. and I went to the 'Salisbury Arms' pub. I had a large serving of traditional English meat pie and chocolate pudding. Oh la la, the chocolate pudding was something
:-)

BGM: Miles Davis Relaxin' with Miles

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2/19/04

Formal hall (formal dinner) at St. Catherines College.
It was a themed dinner and tonights' was the 'Arabian Nights'. I do like these formal dinners. Although unfortunately, I had to miss my friend's presentation (architecture) at Hughes Hall tonight.

After formals at Hughes Hall, King's College, and Fitzwilliam College, it was my fourth college for formal hall. Though formals are frequently held, places must be reserve through someone at the college and hence, going to all 30+ colleges might be a challenge. St Catz Photo of hall is one of the older colleges, its not as grand as the others, but certainly more traditional than Hughes or Fitz.

Formal halls are very unique to life at the Oxbridge universities. Each college usually has one formal dinner a week where guests don gowns (though I've yet to see the movie, a bit like the gowns that Harry Potter wears) and enjoy better, ...relatively better, quality dinners over wine. Sherries are served before these meals and college-designated port are served after. Additionally, some colleges also recite Latin graces before sitting down.

It sounds a bit daunting. I remember reading about 'dining at Hall' in the college brochure and imagining tremendous events. But actually, these dinners are not at all uptight. I don't own any gowns and have yet to wear them at any of the formals. I wear my only set of suit and tie that I brought with me from Japan. At least at the colleges that I've been to, formal halls are only 'formal' to a degree that I am still comfortable with. I like these formals because you get a glimpse inside of other colleges, each with their own unique atmospheres. And in anycase, I also do enjoy wearing my *crisp ironed white shirt and blue striped tie*, once in a while.

BGM: Keith Jarret Koln Concert
Chocolate of the Day: MozartKugeln, a gift from Austria

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2/18/04

People going places..
Me, I went to a lecture at Trinity Hall today.

The topic was Weapons of Mass Destruction, North Korea and International Law. It was about the So San case and the legality concerning the interception of suspicious weapons transfers in the high seas.
Actually, I had skipped my EAST meeting and my swimming routine so that I could concentrate on my 2nd term essay in my room. However, after an invitation from P. I found myself at the Trinity Hall Master's Lodge.
(whenever I visit the older colleges, I cannot help but feel the difference in our environments; from their supeior location, grander facilities, to their inexplicable air of hallowed Cambridge tradition).

P. is one of those who seem destined to "go places". It is easy to see it in the way he carries himself with people in public. For him, I think it is part quick wits, confidence, and part sociability. He will find his way up the ladder, or more importantly, create one if they can't be found.
As for me, if I aspire to be so, I still have much work left.

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2/17/04

A cloudy day in Cambridge.
I started to carry a memobook in my coat pocket.
I jot down random things I notice.
Maybe this is obvious, but I notice how Englishmen (and other nationals that have lived here long enough) very often add 'yea?' when posing a question. So suppose we are looking for our lecture room. My classmates will ask, "we're upstairs, yea?" Very insignificant; but things I probably would have let pass had I not jotted it down in my memo. :-)

I fear I am at a standstill with my Mandarin. I have a book by the former Chinese foreign minister Qian Qichen, that I still cannot comprehend, simply gazing at the pictures is a bit sad..

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2/14/04 Valentines

My girlfriend cooked teiyaki chicken for me this winter. I was impressed it I was really good. I don't know if she noticed, but I had taken note of the recipe. Since then, just as I was hooked on pasta last term, I am equally hooked on preparing teriyaki chicken this term.

I invited my classmates from our MPhil course over for dinner. We chatted over wine and Japanese sake with pistachio nuts well into the weehours of the evening. We see each other everyday in lectures, but not very much outside class. It was certainly nice to chat with them outside a classroom setting.

How to prepare 'Teriyaki Chicken'

Ingredients: chicken; 1 cup soy sauce; 1 cup rice vinegar (mirin); 1/2 cup sake (Japanese rice wine); 1 tea spoon sugar

1) Mix soy sauce, rice vinegar (mirin), sake, and sugar over a bowl
2) Soak chicken into 1) for a couple of hours
3) Take chicken out and saute over high heat until skin is crisp and golden
4)Add the rest of sauce and heat over med/low heat for twenty minutes (you may want to add vegetables here) and serve

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2/13/04

Photo from last weeks Football 'Varsity' match.
Woke up at 9:00 too late to go swimming before class.

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2/12/04

Since I had my bicycle stolen last week, I now walk to my lecturers at the Sedgewick Site every morning. It is about an 30 minute walk. It's a good thing that, atleast, this motivates me to wake up a little earlier.

This morning I had to go over to the bank in the old city center.
Here, I must mention about another British phenomenon -queing-. It is an act so engraved and ubiquitous to British life that the bland phrase "waiting in line" will simply not suffice, please call it queing. ..OK I am exagerating a little. But why is it that it seems everywhere you go people are queing for something. And here as I went to cash a check I was faced with a line that stretched to the bank entrance. So I turned back and headed for class.

Three random things:
1) For my second essay topic I decided to write about international territorial disputes -specifically Spratly Islands- this term.
2)Borrowed Keith Jarett's Koln Concert score that I have been eager to play.
3) Missed going to swimming again. I have only gone twice this month. I wake up at 7:00am tomorrow to swim?

BGM of the past few days: 陳綺貞 (Chen qi zhen) from Taiwan.

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2/11/04

After coffee with a friend at the King's College coffee house, I went over to our weekly EAST meeting.

Every Wednesday, members of EAST composed of MPhil, PhDs, as well as others such as academics and officials, interested in East Asia meet at the Anchor pub located near Queen's College right by the river Cam. Our meetings are usually laid back and we have fun chatting over cold glasses of our favorite taps of Guiness, Stella Artois, StrongBow and etc..

This week our discussion topic was territorial disputes, specifically the dispute between South Korea and Japan over Tokdo/Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan/East Sea.
Before the meeting I had looked at the Japanese MOFA website and the governments stance on the issue. At the discussion I was presented with Korea's position. Obviously, both claim total legitimacy over the two islands, The significance of claims over the islands have increased since the UN Law of the Seas, which articulated a 200 nautical mile zone of exclusive economic zone from national territory into the seas; meaning the small inhabited islands the size of a large city park has large economic and strategic implications.

But as time went on,and as the pints of beer accumulated, the course of the argument, came to touch upon a deeper rooted issue, mistrust between nations, or more specifically mistrust against Japan. That the territorial dispute are rooted in the chaos from the previous world wars complicate the issue.
I could talk about this a lot longer. It was a rather heated discussion, and I thought that were I ever to work in foreign relations, how difficult this may be.

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2/9/04

grocery shopping in England

Grocery shoppping in a foreign country can be a funny experience. It can tell you a lot about the country and to a person who will live there for any extended period it can be one of the defining experience of them living abroad.

I went on my weekly shopping to the local 'Sainsburys' supermarket today. Just like the United States or Japan, Britain also has a hierarchy of supermarkets relative to how expensive 'posh' they are. So you would have your inner-city Wegmans and Safeways and then your posh Pittsford Wegmans.
In Japan, the range runs from say a Kinokuniya in Aoyama to your everyday Maruetsu.

Sainsbury sits in the upper middle class of establishment, when I tell that I do my groceries at Sainsburys, people sometime tell me how much I can save by going to a TESCO or ASDA, but they would also know that I have still not gone beyond the acceptable student realm by venturing to a Marks & Spencer, or worse, (gasp) Harrods in London.

Really, I've shopped at TESCO but I don't notice much difference in pricing. Having been used to the US, both TESCO and Sainsbury are expensive for me, meaning even mid and cheaper level supermarkets in Britain are expensive.

What are most expensive are the meats and seafoods. Take for example, a pack of 6 chicken thighs would cost me close to &5 (about $9) and a typical pack of bacon would run you ($5). I've looked at the prices for beef once before, but I most have tuned myself out after seeing the prices, because I can't recall how expensive they were anymore. So now I bypass the beef section altogether. In contrast, what are not expensive are the usual staples like bread and milk.

One thing I do like about grocery shopping though, are the item selection here . We have a wealth of cheeses. Today I bought a "Lancashire" cheese; according to the packet these are "crumbly and savory". Plus, there is a wide selection of Middle Eastern and South Asian sauces, like curry of different kinds and tikka masalas in ready made bottles. But what I fancy the most (some English expressions are contagious) are the smoked mackerels they have here It is quite good with baguets and very reasonable in price.

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2/7/04

It was a lovely day today,
a little chilly, but a perfect day for football.
I am concurrently playing for both the Hughes Hall football club and the Cambridge University Chinese Students Association (CUSCA)football club. Today -for CUSCA- was the big match against the Oxford Chinese Student Society.

The game was not too competitive, not like the ones we play against other colleges in English-style football. Though we do take the game seriously it is not as physical and the technique level is not as demanding. Playing for the CUSCA team I feel I have the relative quickness that I can use. But at this age level, I no longer feel that I am better than anybody else. This may be one reason that I am not into the game as I used to be. Unlike my other pursuts like piano, academics, or pure physical fitnss; with footbal I feel I have already seen the level I can possibly achieve.This can be frustrating.

Having said all this, I still like playing the game. Tomorrow, I will be playing with the Hughes Hall FC against St. Catherines College. The final score against Oxford University Chinese Student Society: (2)-(2).

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2/5/04

For the last few days,
I have been serving up Teriyaki Chicken to my floormates. It is a recipe I picked up watching my girlfriend cook it at Rochester this past winter. If they find me cooking I make sure they get a taste.
Speaking of which, I will give you a short introduction of my floormates at the Centennary Building, Hughes Hall.
There are seven of us on the first floor.
On the far end is Andrew, a 'Blues' (representing the university) rugby player from the U.K. and an member of a mysterious "owl" drinking society, hmm :-0
Next door lives Said, a PhD student in Economics from Pakistan. He is the oldest on our floor, and is someone to talk to when we need someone to listen.
Next to Said, is Mikhail from Belgium. He is my closest friend on the floor. A linguist, Mikhail is currently away on a conference in Utreht, Holland. Then follows two historians, Cooper and Fiona and my neighbor Mr. Jess from N. Ireland studying Development Studies,.. then me taking up room G7.

While running at Parkers Piece tonight,
I saw impressive fireworks going up from the 'college backs' area.
This is the second time I've seen fireworks here. The first was in late October or early Novemeber. I think it was called "Guy day" (though I'm not sure whether this is the correct name), it was a very strange festival about an abortive bomb threat against the British parliament planted by a frenchman named Guy way back when. So in celebration of preventing the bomb, they mock it with fireworks and a bonfire with a model of 'Guy' at the stake. A creepy and strange bit of British culture. The fireworks I saw today brought this memory back. There are more like this, other unique and interesting bits of Britain that I should keep note of and share with you on this page.

Today I happen to be listening to,
Diana Krall: How deep is the ocean (how high is the sky)

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2/3/04

FanRong sent me a picture of King's College when it snowed last week.
Since I often mention the college in my diary I thought I share the picture with you.

The large building on the right is the King's College Chapel.

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1/30/04

Christopher Patten, the last governer of Hong Kong gave a lecture at the Cambridge University Senate Building. I'm sorry to say I was a little too tired to keep my concentration the whole time. He discussed U.K.'s role in the European Union, a hot current topic. He was a portly man, and also somewhat stern. And I couldn't help but notice when he addressed our university as the "other university". I should have taken a notebook. Jason, a friend from our discussion group "EAST (see pevious diary) " was there.

Afterwards, I went over to Fitzwilliam college to a "Burns Night" formal hall. Robert Burns, whom the night is dedicated to, was a widely revered poet from Scotland. In honor of him, the typical Scottish dish "Haggis" is served pompously by Gingam-clad servers. Haggis is something like a sausage of herbs, nuts, and pig liver.
Afterwards we went over to the bar for a pint of Guiness.
Fitz had a very cozy atmosphere, something tha Hughes -eventhough it too is a graduate college- does not yet have.

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1/29/04

The violonist Midori was in town to play with
the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
I had secured a seat in the choir seats, just one row behind the tromone section, with a clear view of the guest conductor from the Czeck Republic, Jiri Belohlavek, work his magic:

Smetana: Overture, The Bartered Bride
Dvorak: Violin Concerto in A minor Op.53
Dvorak: Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op.70

The London Philharmonic play with a very delicate harmony with a volume that feels faintly subdued. Their combined sound is elegant yet precise, especially the string section. Tonight, the opening overture by Smetna was a piece I've never heard before, but was fresh and particularly blissful. The Dvorak concerto however, I did not think, was a good piece to showcase Midori's talents. It is a strange concerto of two movements (I think) with a very long first movement that, eventhough with sublime melodies, drags a bit.
But all in all I thoroughly enjoyed the concert. It was a nice excursion into the city. It is only in a few cities like London that I can listen to such great music on a regular basis.

Cambridge is a 1hr train ride to London's King Cross St. from where I get on the Picadilly and the Northern line to the Royal Festival Hall by the Thames River.

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1/28/04

When I woke up this morning, I noticed something different.
..We had snow!!
The inner courtyard was covered in a blanket of snow.
Why is it that snow still makes me jippy. The sun was bright and even my house flower seemed chirped up. As I walked to my lectures at the Sedgewick Site, I could hear and see kids playing in the snow at Parkers Piece. There were snowmans built at Hughes, at Parkers Piece and in front of the Kings College Chapel.

There was our first EAST (an ad hoc discussion group on East Asia Politics) meeting at the "Anchor" Pub tonight, but only Celeste showed up so we discussed random topics over a pint of beer. Later that night the snow started to fall with a vengence, but seeing snow over the old city was certainly a pretty sight.

1/21/04

It's the Chinese New Year today -the year of the Monkee-, Xin nian Kuai Le

Let's talk about pubs
There is a pub close to our college called "the Free Press" a pub that I go to. It is only 5 minutes from where I live -very close - and the atmosphere is very good -the typical image of an English pub with wooden counters, old newspapers, and even a fireplace. The food is surprisingly not bad. (rare for pubs it seems).
The small pub is always full but very cozy.
Though I'm not a heavy drinker, the beers are pretty good too. The brands they carry I've never heard before; which is a good thing since I'm not a big fan of 'Miller Lite' or 'Sapporo' beer.
..Yes I like this plub, I like the whole system of English pubs. I think it's because these places are so care-free.
You can come and go as you like. Chat or just relax.
I like how going to pubs need not be an event.They are places you just stroll to without thinking too much about it...

...listening to Joe Pass is bliss.
BGM: Joe Pass (guitar) "All the things you are"

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1/18/04

I was supposed to be in Neil Simon's omnibus play "London Suite" this term. I was to play the bell boy in "the Man on the Floor". Tonight was our first rehearsal.
However, I was not too keen on going.
Like I've written I'm afraid theatre and football will take too much time away from the main objective of my time here, which is at least to acquire the Mandarin language. Secondly, there was a part of me that said i did not want to play another "clown'ish" role. I tend to get cast for these roles somehow with only a few lines, especially at new places. In general, I do not mind acting with the show of movements. I can be wacky if I want, I don't think I'm too bad at that.
But going to the rehearsal today I felt a little embarrased to play another role like this. Embarrased may not be the right word, its just I could not get into it.
I think I will have the chance to get on stage sometime soon. But not this time I suppose.
I told the director I will concentrate on my Chinese. I really need to work hard on this

BGM: Me and Julio by the Schoolyard -Paul Simon

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1/17/04

'Tis morning, was loudly waken up by a phone call urging me to play in the football match against Trinity Hall...
Sometimes i think i should be spending time studying Chinese instead of chasing soccer balls on weekends.
but another game beckons tomorrow...this time against Corpus Christi

Afterwards I take the train on the Liverpool St. Line to "Sheldon" one stop over from Cambridge to visit the home of Patricia Mirrlees and her husband Sir James Mirrlees (noble laureate in Economics) with my Mphil classmates
our host Patricia was a lady who was outspoken, witty, and strong-willed.
and I enjoyed my company at the lunch
Sheldon was a very quaint and picturesque English neighborhood.
though I am not comfortable with the country yet, I thought it'd be nice to live in a small village like this.

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1/10-15/04

Spent five days in Rochester, NY.
I saw my girl friend as well as
many of my friends that still remain at the University of Rochester.
It was nice to meet up and at the same time be accepted by your old group of friends who have not seen you for more than a year.
It was (and also was not) a surprise that I felt so at ease at the U of R campus and the city.
The people I metup with have changed very little, and I too may have not changed very much when I am around them.
...except one mentioned how I may have gained some weight..
:-(
I'd like to wish the people I met good luck!

With futaba, I felt I was able to communicate with her more than ever before during the trip.
What is tough with long distance relationships is that no matter what, the degree of comunication becomes superfluous.
it is not the same as meeting face to face.
at the very least, for this, I think it was good that I was able to visit Rochester again.

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1/05/04

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11/20/03

Time really flies. I am coming to the end of my first term here and its been more than a month since my last update.

I am starting to get worried that without the updates my website will fade into oblivion..so here I am in front of the keyboard in the weehours of Britain.

Tonight after my daily dose of Chinese lectures plus a world politics course I particularly like, I went over to Clare Hall (one of the smaller colleges)to see the Japanese embassador to Britain speak on Japanese foreign policy.
Most of the things he said were things you could have picked up from the MOFA website, but it was good for me to have the chance to chat with him after the lecture.

This week I went to listen to the King's college choir again.
the voices were once again beautiful, the boys in their little top hats and black robes have breathtaking voices. but without doubt it is the chapel , which makes going to the recitals so special.
Next weekend i'd liket to catch a recital in london if i can, Mikhail Pletnev will be playing Rachmaninov concertos at the Royal Festival Hall.

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10/06/03

.

went to King's College to listen to their boy's choir sing at the chapel.

The chapel, a great gothic structure adorned with stained glass was one of the greatest chapels i've seen in Europe.
One more thing, I bumped into an old history seminar classmate, Ben Hildes '02, at Rochester here. And of all places he will be a new member along with myself at Hughes Hall.

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9/30/03

.

"Alive and well in Hughes Hall, Cambridge, England"

I should be here until April next year , but right now I'm still trying to get settled in ...

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