that Kitchen :)

There is nothing like a kitchen to bring people together. There is nothing like the smell of good food, the sound of people chatting and the laughter that fills a room.

As of today, I have officially been in Cambridge for a week and a half. It's had its moments of loneliness, of self-doubt, and times of utter desperation, but I think that most of those moments have been outweighed by some completely uncanny moments (which have turned out to be quite hilarious) and more importantly, by the people here. The people here are great.

Moving into an dusty old house had me worried for the first little bit. But after brushing away the dust, vacuuming the floors (did I mention I have my own vacuum? All for 17 pounds at ASDA!) and wiping down the walls, my room has come to reveal a rather charming character. There is, of course, the mahogany wardrobe and matching desk and bookshelf, the "A4"-sized bed (I call it that because, like the Brit paper itself, it is "a little longer; a little thinner"), and the comfy student arm-chairs. My room is at the very top (in the attic), but has a very beautiful view of the river and Jesus green. Already it has started to grow on me and I hope that I will feel this way for a very long time.

My favorite moments by far, though, have been with my housemates. It's amazing how - with the amount of work these people have to do - they all find time to wander into the kitchen at 12:00 and 6:00 to cook lunch and dinner. I walk in and there's Adam (the physicist and someone whom I've come to see as one of my house "parents") making pizza, sausage, or some other typically (un)healthy English dish; Deb (prounouced "Dape") eating some really good ethnic food at the table; Chris (the other Canadian), washing his "nut-free" dishes at the sink; and Barbara (Chris' Austrian girlfriend and the only other girl in the house) at the counter chopping vegetables to cook. Miles (the cheeky but oh-so-funny chemist) will often wander in half-way while we are all cooking. I love walking in at dinner time. These past few days have been really great too as we've all just hung out as a house for the grad events and gone out to do things like "curry night". It'll be nice when we all have to go to our mandantory "Hall" dinners this year. I love the sight of students in their gowns walking down the street to eat at their college. Adam looked so funny and happy as I - heading home with a bag full of groceries heavy enough to break a back - passed him. Last night, after the fresher's quiz at the college, it just felt really safe and comfortable walking home with the whole bunch of them. It's nice to have people to say goodnight to. Good food and great company.

That said, I know there will be some hard times to get through. But maybe having these people here to eat with and share with will make those times a little less lonely, a lot more full. God has been really gracious in giving me people to talk to and eat with when those gloomy moments come. It has been a real blessing.

Posted on October 5, 2005 at 04:31PM