I was thinking of a highly opinionated, racist (in the funny sense (yes such a usage exists (now it does))) standup comedian of Indian origin called Russel Peters who was talking about his visit to Africa. And he said something to effect of, I went to the motherland .. and quickly correct himself saying, “No not my mother land, black people’s motherland. I am Indian, we have our own motherland, England.”

So I am in the pseudo metaphorical  motherland. It’s a beautiful country. I didn’t see much of London – I had friends pick me up at the airport and we drove down to Cambridge. I am staying with friends of Michel Salim from back at IU. Michel was studying at Cambridge sometime back. So I was amazed and grateful for generosity of these guys who drove all the way to Gatwick to pick me up. Its been half a day but already the conversation are interesting.

I am also beginning to have the dormant British accent in me wake up. If you know me, you can stop laughing now (that’s for people who don’t know me to reflect on). Its odd – you have to be Indian – grow up reading Archie and Enid Blyton. And go to US, get confused by everything being reversed and learn bits of American. And then finally come to  England and hear the all to familiar British English accent and cars on the left side of the street, to know what I mean.

Cambridge is so beautiful. It has narrow roads, quaint brick buildings. I haven’t seen much yet, I just one short walk. Saw an old church, an amazingly beautiful cathedral. I am told that the colleges are very beautiful.

Also for the record, I was actually told, in as many words (yes!) that I was cool. Hear ye! Hear ye!

Which reminds, when the plane was landing I had the Grandmom in Kumars at No 42 singing “Hare Parky, Hare Parky..” in my mind.
Anyway …

For one, what I am doing for summer is cool in the fullest definition of cool in my dictionary. What are you doing for summer? Oh just flaying to UK and am going to be writing an experimental garbage collector and some other things for Haskell at MSR. And maybe write a paper or two in the meanwhile, And maybe see a lot ok UK and some of Europe (the mainland) while I am at it.  That is cool. This is a little outside what I imagined possible a few years back.

I am sitting on the window sill of their first floor flat (not apartment). Opposite is a Indian restaurant that says “Chutney Balti House” – ha ha – what does that mean? I wonder if anyone in India would name their restaurant like that.

Tomorrow I visit MSR.

I have been at Cambridge for about three weeks now. MSR is wonderful. I got to shake hands with a Knight and Turing Award winner – Tony Hoare. Random people you get to meet over lunch are pretty much the reigning best in their fields in computer science. Its like you were an insect of some sort (when I say that I don’t mean anything hoopy like a butterfly or firefly – more like one of those little cricket like things) and you managed to crawl into the midst of a league of intellectual superheroes. It’s a lot like the old Justice League of America comics http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/jla.html (with the minor difference that there aren’t many Americans here).

Cambridge is a wonderful place too. Its just that I haven’t had time to write. Seen a bit of Cambridge, been to London, been to Peterborough, am going to Luton today. And the the computer science is intoxicating – along with other minor details like operas, wine, beer festivals etc. Joi di Vivre!

An over exposed shot of the statue of Eros at Piccadilly Circus, London.