Cambridge was the first place I visited on the day after my arrival in London last year. I went again last week mainly to visit J. There was a big plus though because I thus could walk into several colleges for a look.
劍橋大學有三十一個學院，學院是學生住宿的地方，有庭院、小教堂、圖書館、學生餐廳、酒吧等等。學院之下也有學生社團。而學生上課的地方就是一般現代的建築。
There are 31 colleges in Cambridge University. They are students' residential halls. A college is like a small community in which you will find a courtyard (lawn), a chapel, a library, a canteen, a bar etc. There are also students' societies in each college. As for studies, students have classes in modern buildings like in any other university.
J說學院在開學時門戶大開，遊客可以輕易地走進去瞧一瞧。我去的時候學生還在放假及準備考試，所以學院裡感覺特別幽靜。
J said that at the start of a new school year, the colleges are usually open so that tourists can easily go in to look around. When I was there after Easter, it looked like students were still on the holiday break. It was also the Quiet Period when students prepared for the final.
教授和學生混住，但劍橋有古老的傳統，老師在食堂拿菜之後可以去自己的吃飯空間，也有老師專屬的交誼室。
Professors and students might live in the same hall. However, there is a hierarchy based on the traditions of Cambridge. After getting food in the canteen, professors have their own space for dining. They also have their own common room.
這是另一座學院。劍橋學生除了繳學費、學院費、每年還有一筆學院管理費要交，因為有專人在維護花園和草皮。學生不能踐踏草皮，但老師可以。
This is another college. Apart from tuition fee, students in Cambridge have to pay the housing fee, and also the maintenance fee to the college because there are people who are in charge of taking care of the gardens and lawn.
劍橋也有穿長袍用餐的傳統，可是學生吃早一點的時段是較不正式的。
There is also the tradition of having very formal dinner in robes in Cambridge. But you can also go for the early informal dinner.
來到著名的國王學院，這位先生在做什麼呢？因為英國日漸貧窮，現在連拜訪劍橋有知名度的學院都得付入場費。
Here we were in front of the renowned King's College. What is the gentleman doing? As Britain suffers great recession, some famous college require visitors to pay admission fee.
國王學院的宏偉教堂。
The magnificent church of King's College.
國王學院腹地廣大，我們沒有傻傻地付入場費，猜猜我們繞這麼一大圈要做什麼呢？
The territory of the King's College is vast. We were not so resigned as to spare some pounds for a visit. Guess what we took such a detour for?
對了，從後門進去就不用錢，因為英國人的風格不太嚴謹，所以儘管他們前門派了人收錢，卻忘了後門也得有人駐守。請安靜地記住這個小秘訣，不要大家告訴大家，要不然下次再去後門就多了個守衛員。
Right, if you go in from the back door, you can do it for free. The Britons are not very strict. Despite their desperate attempt to earn money, they forget to send someone to guard the back door as well. However, please bear this secret in mind without telling the whole world, or next time when you go, you'll see someone at the back door as well.
如法炮製進入國王學院隔壁的聖約翰學院。
We entered St. John's College next to King's College in the same way.
劍橋的生活環境很優雅，再加上這些美麗的學院，我在倫敦的宿舍真是令人自慚形穢，雖然我付的錢可能是差不多的。妹妹們要加油喔，有機會來劍橋讀書吧！
The living environment of Cambridge is peaceful. I could imagine how wonderful it would be to live in these elegant-looking colleges. In comparison, my hall in Cambridge is so bare, though I might pay as much money or even more. Girls, one day you might get an opportunity to come here for studies, which will be a very extraordinary life experience!
我們家J的學院，走現代風。
J's college is modern.
寬敞的交誼廳，還有古味十足的木頭鋼琴。
The common room is very spacious. I was impressed by the ancient wooden piano.
劍橋總圖書館，這裡應該蘊育了很多了不起的人類！
The main Cambridge library. I bet this must be cradle of numerous amazing human beings in the world.
神奇的數學橋，本來是不用釘子就可以把木頭組合在一起，但是仔細看現在是有釘子的。
Incredible Math Bridge. By arranging the wood at specific angles, the bridge was firm without nails. However, if you look closely, they are nailed together now.
J還帶我去劍橋大學裡面的高雅餐廳用餐，只能說我們的英倫經驗很不同。儘管如此，現在我要出門去充滿黑人風味的坎貝爾商圈買菜，今天有閃亮的陽光，我要煮悠閒的午餐給我家妹妹吃了！想想這樣的藝術學生生活也不賴啦！
J took me to a very high-class restaurant in the university for lunch as well. Well, I can only say that our British experiences are different. Despite that, now I am going out to Camberwell Green, which is a very typical multicultural southern London place, to do some grocery shopping. There is bright sunshine today, and I am going to prepare lunch for Jazel. What can I complain about such a life of art students?
