For a change, Carter is teaching...and I'm not!

Carter and I were lucky enough to spend the summer here at Christ's College two years ago - and doubly lucky to be able to do it again! Actually, it ain't luck - it's Carter's skill and inventiveness in designing winning courses for the William and Mary Summer in Cambridge program. Here's how it works: Interested professors submit course proposals to the study abroad powers-that-be, who in turn select the best (read: potentially most popular among students) of the lot. Once selected, three professors from the College teach two classes each to a group of around forty students. The students each take two classes for a total of six credits. Classes run Monday through Thursday for five weeks. On most weekends, there are planned trips to places pertinent to the courses being offered; one weekend is free so that students can travel on their own. William and Mary has been working this program with the fine folks here at Christ's College for many years, with great success.
Carter's classes this year are Shakespeare in Love, which explores both the texts and the performance aspects relevant to that film (as Carter explains it, he teaches what you need to know to get all the jokes and references in the movie), and a course on Marlowe, who was a student at Corpus Christi College here in Cambridge back in the day, as the parlance goes (that would be the around five centuries back!).

No matter how you slice it, it's a great opportunity to spend as much time as possible in England, which we are always scheming to do...

Future entries will have more pics and info about Cambridge, but for now, here's a shot out our window:


Milton went to Christ's College; his namesake is the most brilliant creature around here: Milton the cat!

This gorgeous creature is king of all he surveys, and, unlike the rest of us, allowed to walk on the (perfect) grass. Of course, being innately regal, he chooses not to.






Occasionally, he will grant a mere transient mortal a brief audience:

Carter us quite besotted with him, as you can see...

This picture almost catches the Elizabeth Taylor-esque violet-blue of his eyes:


He never lingers for long. He has things to do. He has territory to oversee. He has other minions who demand of his time. It's lonely at the top....but still, doubtless, good to be king.



Next up: Our first weekend trip.....