By Dean Marriott
Staying in university accommodation may not have you immediately chomping at the bit, however, when that accommodation forms part of one of the most prestigious and historical universities in the UK, you may want to have a rethink.
The University of Cambridge is the second oldest university in England and was founded in 1209. Its 31 colleges are steeped in history with a seemingly endless list of world-renowned alumni including Sir Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, Alan Turing, John Maynard Keynes, Christopher Marlowe, A. A. Milne, Rupert Brooke, Sir Ian McKellen and John Cleese. Being located in the East of England, it is easily accessed from most major airports, with Stansted and Luton being by far the most convenient.
Last week, the GEMS World Language Learning Centre was a finalist in the global Cambridge English Preparation Centre awards which took place in Cambridge, England. I was fortunate enough to be flown to England and to spend four nights at King’s College, Cambridge to participate.
Having spent most of my life living in London, I’m ashamed to admit that this was only my third visit to this vibrant city.
Once the academic term finishes and graduations are over, the university colleges open their doors to visitors who can stay in the onsite university accommodation, usually on a bed and breakfast basis. At King’s College, guests have breakfast in the main dining hall, which in itself is an experience not to be missed, not only for the incredible architecture and artwork on display, but also to witness the reactions of the many overseas visitors who are less familiar with the historical UK educational establishments.
It’s strange how sometimes you need to leave England for a while in order to rediscover a sense of pride associated with being English.
At King’s College, Wi-Fi is included in the cost of the accommodation, as is access to the splendid grounds leading down to the river Cam and to the evensong at the Chapel. If you have the opportunity to attend the hour-long ceremony, it will certainly be a memorable experience. The evensong which I attended was being recorded by the BBC for broadcast on 8th July, so this added to the sense of occasion. The Chapel was completed in 1544 and took some 100 years. King Henry VI started the process in 1446 when he laid the foundation stone. The stained-glass windows are best seen from the inside to appreciate the skill of the craftsmen. Barnard Flower and Galyon Hone were the Flemish master glaziers who oversaw the project. Being Flemish provoked often vicious objections from their British rivals in the City of London.
For more information about university accommodation for the summer, consult http://www.universityrooms.com/en/city/cambridge/home .
The river Cam is the lifeline of the city. The best way to discover this is by taking one of the many punts and listening to the interesting tales and often exaggerated stories of your chauffeurs. This may not be Venice, but it is truly English and with some sun, champagne and strawberries, an experience which you will relish.
For those who enjoy the magic of theatre, you will not be disappointed. There is a huge offering during the summer in Cambridge, including the well-established Cambridge Shakespeare festival. This year there are eight open-air productions taking place within the grounds of different university colleges between 13th July and 29th August. http://www.cambridgeshakespeare.com/
I had a wonderful start to my summer, courtesy of Cambridge University. If you haven’t been to Cambridge recently, don’t think twice about spending a few days there as part of your summer vacation plans. To quote the University motto ‘Hinc lucem et pocula sacra’ (From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge).
For general information about Cambridge, visit the tourist information website http://www.visitcambridge.org/
Author's bio
Dean Marriott was born in London and educated in the UK and Germany. He retired from a career in finance, aged 33, and subsequently retrained as an actor and teacher. From an early age, his passion for languages has underpinned both his professional and social lives. In his quest for leisure activities, Dean keeps one key thought in mind: if Shakespeare’s words are true and ‘All the world's a stage’, we shouldn’t have to look far in order to be entertained. We just have to make the time to appreciate it.
If you are searching for an element of entertainment in your leisure pursuits and have a desire to look beyond the obvious, then Dean will use his artistic eye to point you in the right direction.
Dean is currently the Director of the World Language Learning Centre at GEMS World Academy-Etoy, where he promotes the idea that language learning is about embodying a new language, not simply studying it.
