Peterhouse Freshers The Guide

2014/15 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

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Welcome to Peterhouse! !Congratulations, you have found the Peterhouse freshers’ guide! If all went according to plan, you have been directed here by the letter you received from me in late August/September. This letter introduced you to: (1) me - your freshers’ rep, (2) the College families system in operation at Peterhouse, and (3) where to turn for further information. !In this guide you will find “everything you need to know” about arrival at Peterhouse and your subsequent life here - it is divided into four sections. The first section includes information about packing, arrival and support. The second explains about Freshers’ Week, and the boring (but nonetheless important) things that need to be sorted out on arrival. The third section contains more general information about life in Cambridge both at a college and university level. This is information of less importance at this stage, but we still recommend you read it all to familiarise yourself with some of the quirkier parts of university life in Cambridge. The final segment contains both specific information (e.g. information targeted at LGBTQ and international students), and miscellaneous bits and pieces such as a map and dictionary. !Whatever your preconceptions of Cambridge I can assure you that Freshers’ Week will be one of the best weeks of your life, and that you will love Peterhouse from the minute that you arrive. !Further updates (e.g. the Freshers’ Week timetable), will be posted in two locations; (1) my page of the the JCR website, and (2) the official Facebook page at “Peterhouse Freshers 2014”. Further questions can be directed towards either your College parents, Facebook or me (details below). !I’m looking forward to meeting you all in October, !!!

Rachel Lewis Peterhouse Freshers’ Rep 2014/15 rcl42@cam.ac.uk !!

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Contents !Welcome from the JCR President !Part 1 – Settling In What do I need to bring? What do I do when I arrive? Where can I turn for help? !Part 2 – Freshers’ Week Checklist !Part 3 – Life in Cambridge Money Academic Food and drink Accommodation Facilities Sports Chapel Going out Drama Miscellany !Part 4a – Specific Information Internationals LGBTQ !Part 4b – Other The parents’ guide Map of Cambridge Map of Peterhouse Who’s who Dictionary Contact details

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Welcome from the JCR President !Welcome to the Peterhouse Junior Common Room (JCR), the student union for all undergraduate Petreans! !Each year, the Peterhouse JCR elects a committee responsible for improving your experience as a student here. From helping you settle in and negotiating better rents, to improving college catering and organising the triennial Peterhouse May Ball, the JCR Committee exists to support you in all aspects of college life. You can learn more about specific committee roles on the Peterhouse JCR website. !The JCR committee meets weekly and we are always looking for suggestions on how to make your life here better. Please feel free to approach any one of us, at any time, to let us know what we can do to help. You can get even more involved by attending Open Meetings, where the whole JCR gathers to discuss and vote on issues. You'll also have the opportunity to run as a JCR candidate in the elections later this year! !We’re very much looking forward to your arrival in October! See you then! !!!

George Thomas Peterhouse JCR President 2014/15 gt319@cam.ac.uk !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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What do I need to bring? !Don’t worry, I am not going to patronise you by reminding you to bring your toothbrush. The following list focuses on things that you might not be sure whether to bring, and niggly little things that you will forget unless I remind you. But none of the items are compulsory, just recommended. !Food stuff: (All food is provided in hall, but you may want to make yourself a few meals/snacks) · Cutlery, bowls and plates · Microwaveable bowl/plate · Snacks · Drinks · Glasses/mugs · Tea/coffee · Tin opener !

Documents: · Passport · Driving licence · NI number · Student loan assessment form · NHS card · Passport photos !

Easy to forget: · Phone charger · Washing powder · Spare coat hangers · Pins (for notice boards) · Batteries · Cheque book !

Clothes: Everyone knows that Hitler was defeated in Russia by its winter. Less well known is that Hitler could never therefore have conquered East Anglia, as our winter is even colder. Remember this when you pack your clothes. !Formal items of dress:

1. Gown – You will need to wear this at formal hall and at other special academic events such as matriculation. This can be purchased from the porters when you arrive, new or secondhand. Write your name in it – they all look the same.

2. Lounge suit/smart dress – This means a normal (business) suit and tie for guys, and equivalent for girls. You will need these for formal hall, as well as various occasions where smart dress is required.

3. Black tie – A special smarter suit with bow tie for the lads, and a dress that covers the

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The big things: · Clothes – see below · Bed linen – including duvet, pillows

and covers – see below · Computer/laptop – highly

recommended (a printer can also be useful)

· Stereo/speakers – not necessary, but nice to have some music

· Bike – see below !For your room: · Extension/adaptor lead · Bedside Lamp (Desk lamp

provided) · Pictures/posters · Alarm clock · Laundry bag, spare cushions · Stationery !

Do not bring: · Kettle – provided in the gyps · TV – unless you want to pay for a TV

licence · Pots & pans – there are no hobs on

which to use them

knee for the girls. Black tie is interchangeable with the lounge suit at many events, but is required for some dinners and May Balls. Many people choose to hire these as required. You will ultimately need to decide whether it is worth owning one (if you don’t already).

4. Matriculation – Matriculation is an event on the Monday of Freshers’ Week, where you officially become a member of the university. Gowns must be worn, plus a lounge suit for the guys, and a black dress with white blouse for the girls. !

It is possible that some May Balls at the end of the year will require evening tails (white tie) – but don’t worry about buying or bringing these in first term. !Bed linen: The college only provides a mattress (no pillows or other such luxuries) – the rest is up to you. Remember a duvet – I suggest a thick one. !Bikes: Cycling students are one of the most famous Cambridge archetypes, but it is up to you to decide whether you need a bike. Peterhouse is very central, with the town less than ten minutes’ walk away, and nearly all lectures and practicals similarly near, whatever your subject. However, you may be required to visit more distant colleges for supervisions and sports fixtures, and medical students may need to visit Addenbrooke’s for some lectures. So day to day a bike is not really necessary for a Petrean, but you will still find one very useful on many occasions, and you should definitely bring one along if you can get hold of one easily. Also, remember lights, a helmet and invest in a solid D-lock.

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What do I do when I arrive? !You should all (with a few exceptions – you will know who you are) be arriving on either Saturday 4th or Sunday 5th October, ready to establish yourself in your new home with cart-loads of stuff.  !Parking (for this weekend only) is provided between Saint Peter’s Terrace and the William Stone Building (see map below). The turning you want to take is onto Grove Lane, off Trumpington Street. Grove Lane is opposite the restaurant, “Browns”, and at the entrance there is a very noticeable red telephone box. !

!!The first thing you should do when you arrive is walk over to the Porter’s Lodge and collect your room key. There will a group of us waiting to greet you in the Porter’s Lodge and show you to your room. !Then, try to get hold of your College parents, who should hopefully be around to help you. If you can’t find them at first, anyone will be happy to lend a hand or advise you as to what’s going on, but the Freshers’ Committee especially will be around and ready to assist. !An inevitable fact of teenage life is that everyone finds their family embarrassing, and you may want to be rid of yours as soon as possible. Make sure they have seen the “Parents’ guide” section here, which provides some suggestions for what they might like to do with their remaining time in the city, and where to stay if they don’t live within day-trip distance. !!

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Browns Brasserie

Phone Box

St. Peter’s Terrace

Porter’s Lodge

The William Stone Building

Parking Area

Note: Access via this end of Trumpington St. only - one-way system

Where can I turn for help? !College parents: All new students at Peterhouse are looked after first and foremost by their “College parents” – a union of second years who have elected to care for a family of “College children”. They will write to you between now and your arrival, and from then on they are the first people you can rely on to answer your questions, give advice and buy you drinks.  !Either your “College mother” or “College father” will study your subject, so you can also depend on them if you get stuck with your work. Moreover they will counsel you on the mundane lectures and appointments that must be attended to in your first week, such as filling in forms, sorting out your web connection and registering with a GP’s surgery. For medical students there are a number of inoculations that you will need also.  !Subject reps: Subject reps are responsible for attending to all those who study their particular subject. This means answering your questions, advising you on module choices, buying you even more drinks, and ensuring that their subject-brood don’t get lost on the way to lectures. They will introduce themselves at some point over the week at your ‘subject tea’ (probably Tuesday morning), when they will tell you all about your subject and then show you around the department and lecture theatres. !! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Freshers’ Week !Your first week in Cambridge is Freshers’ Week. During this week we will introduce you to the city, the College, and university life in general. There will be formal dinners, a pub crawl, various club nights, sports tasters, nights in the Peterhouse bar and many more social events. The timetable will be finalised over the summer and through September, and constantly updated. The most recent version of this document should be available on my page of the JCR website (http://www.peterhousejcr.co.uk/committee/2014-15/first-year-officer/), and a final version will be posted on the Facebook page – “Peterhouse Freshers 2014” – in late September.

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Freshers’ Week Checklist 1. Meet:

1.1. College parents – these should write to you before you arrive, and represent one of your first points of personal contact with the college. They should give you means to contact them when you arrive. Please contact me (Rachel Lewis – rcl42@cam.ac.uk) if you have not heard from your parents.

1.2. Your tutor – times for these meetings will be posted just outside the servery. 1.3. Your DoS (Director of Studies) – they should contact you about this. 1.4. The Dean – times for these meetings will be posted just outside the servery. 1.5. Subject reps – these should contact you via email/pigeon holes about a subject tea/

drinks party, probably held on the Tuesday morning. !2. Establish your internet connection – details of how when you arrive. !3. Register with a GP – many nearby (Newnham Walk, Trinity Street and Lensfield Road

practices). !4. Ensure your student loan has hit your account. !5. Sort any more College bureaucracy (e.g. exam certificates). DO NOT PANIC ABOUT

THIS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE – EVERYBODY ALWAYS DOES. You will receive emails/letters from the college with forms to fill out and lists of things to send in. Do what you reasonably can, but the majority can be sorted once you are here and settled (I know a lot of you don’t receive exam certificates until later in the year – school-issued declarations of results are sufficient in the meantime). !!!!!!!!!

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Life in Cambridge !We are now past the essential information. This section of the guide provides background information about College life and living in Cambridge. Familiarising yourself with this will help make many things a lot easier and less confusing for you in your first few weeks.

!Money !

This is a practical guide to how much Peterhouse will cost you (aside from the obvious tuition fees). Of course it depends vastly on how extravagant you are, so take anything I say with a pinch of salt. Note, there are many things that you may have to/want to purchase at the start of you time here (e.g. a gown/bike) that are not recurrent costs. !Accommodation – Range from £720 – £1,645 per term, but can be anything between £700 and £1,500 per term in the most extreme cases. You will have chosen already between categories A (showy), B (standard) and C (frugal), but otherwise get no more choice in your first year.  !‘KFC’ – Everyone has to pay a flat rate of £165.77 a term just to keep the kitchens going, on top of whatever you pay College for your accommodation. !Food – A meal in hall tends to cost £3–5, but this can vary a lot according to taste and appetite. Those who eat twice/three times a day in hall can rack up bills of £400–600 per term. !Books – Depends on your subject. Scientists can get away with never buying a book in their lives, while lawyers have to spend as much as £50 on each, with about ten books needed in the first term. Always ask second years if you can buy their old copies on the cheap. Your subject reps will have more information on this. The college does have book grants available. !Phone – Personally, I couldn’t function without a smartphone. Getting all my emails/calendars/internet in one place is incredibly useful, and in subjects such as law where a number of events

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are on a first-come-first-served basis they can be a great advantage. Be aware, “three” mobile coverage in College is awful. !Other costs – If you like to go to the theatre, eat out, go clubbing, go to formal dinners, or just buy lots of snacks from Sainsbury’s these all cost money. This is entirely dependent on how you want to live. General toiletries and clothes also cost a bit too if you are watching the pennies. Don’t, for the sake of your housemates, choose another pint over a new can of deodorant. !

Academic !Your most pressing question will be how much you are expected to work, but sadly this is one that I cannot answer as the volume and type of work depends vastly on your subject. It might shock you to hear that whatever subject you have chosen, you will be expected to work very hard. But don’t worry, you will have plenty of time to enjoy yourself – “work hard, play hard” is often bandied about incessantly to new students. !Your subject reps will try and answer all your questions about your particular subject in due course; if they cannot, then go and see your Director of Studies, who will be happy to help. !The sciences: Natural Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Computer Science, Maths, Economics. The dominating characteristic of the sciences is a very structured life, not unlike that which you were used to at school, just much harder. This comes with the often mentioned disadvantage of regular 9am starts, but the other side of this highly regulated lifestyle is that so long as you keep rigorously to your timetable, your requirement to self-motivate beyond it is quite easily fulfilled. Your work will consist of three components: 1. Lectures – 10–12 hours per week, and these will probably be much as you expect. And yes,

you really must attend them: they are sequential, and if you miss more than a couple without very carefully working through the notes, you will rapidly fall behind.

2. Practicals – These can be a terrifying prospect until you arrive in Cambridge, but they are nothing to get worked up about. The instructions take you through them step-by-step, and there is ample help available from demonstrators if you get stuck. You will find some of them very interesting and some of them mind-numbingly tedious, depending on how much you were lying when you told your interviewer that you “love your subject”.

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3. Supervisions – These are what make the Cambridge education unique. They are generally hour-long sessions of dedicated contact time where you will go through lecture and practical material to ensure that you fully understand it. You will also be set work to complete for the next week. They are compulsory. Make sure you ask plenty of questions so that you can leave with no gaps in your knowledge. If you prepare and make sure you have a grasp of the lecture material beforehand, you might even enjoy them! !

The arts:  History, English, Classics, History of Art, Politics, Law, MML, Arch & Anth, Theology, Architecture, ASNAC, etc. Despite the fact that you will be told, repeatedly, by officious science students, quite possibly as you are on your way to an actual lecture, if not even in one, that 'you have no lectures', this is an evident fallacy. Arts students do have lectures. They run daily, omitting the weekend, from 9am through to 1pm. They are less essential for academic success than for a scientist, although the truth of this varies from subject to subject; you may find that some lectures are compulsory, depending on your subject and paper choice.

For some subjects, like history, lectures are supplementary to your working week. Far, far more important is the time you put into self-motivated private study. Indeed, this is what will, or should, comprise the bulk of an arts student's day, as you read and note-take for your one/two essay/s a week.

This sort of independence can be very scary, and one can often, initially, feel adrift. To a certain extent this is a rite of passage: as one supervisor was heard to say: 'The first term is always a car crash… and there are no survivors'. The important thing is to speak to someone if you are feeling frustrated or anxious. Talk to second and third years in your subject , as they have usually just been through what you are currently experiencing. You can also speak to your supervisor or Director of Studies to clarify any comments on essays, what you should do in order to improve, how to go about things if you are not sure and do not feel you are being told, etc.

!The focus point of every arts student's week is their essay deadline(s) and supervision(s). A supervision is normally an hour long and will usually be either one-on-one with your supervisor or with one other person from your subject year group. Part of it will be spent discussing ideas and themes pursued in your essay and part of it will be taken up with introducing you to new ideas and themes to deepen the way you understand and approach a text/issue. The first

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supervision is, of course, terrifying, but you needn't worry – supervisors are there to engage you and get you to think, not to spend an hour mortifying you with how much more than you they know. Soon this should become a highly enjoyable part of your week, a place to wrestle with points of interest, and with challenging themes and the intricacies of a text or problem with those who are the best in the world at what they teach.

!Food and drink !

Hall: Peterhouse is fully catered, with every meal available in the hall with the exception of Sunday breakfast and lunch. Meals are served canteen-style, and are paid for with your College card. The menu can become repetitive but the general quality is high and there is a good choice. Our food is considerably better than at most colleges, and it is a very convenient system compared to other universities. !Our small size does come with its drawbacks: each individual meal is not too expensive (generally a little under £5), but the lack of economies of scale manifest as the “kitchen fixed charge” of £165.77, which must be paid at the end of every term on the College bill to help maintain the kitchens throughout the year. 35 sign-outs for dinner are permitted per term. A meal taken in the Servery must cost at least £2.35 for it to count as a meal for the purpose of reckoning sign-outs. Excess sign-outs will be charged at £4.00. Up to ten excess sign-outs may be carried over from one term to the next, within a given academical year, to accommodate uneven dining patterns.

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Meals are served at Breakfast: 8.15 – 9.00am

Lunch: 12.30-1.30pm Dinner: 6.00-7.00pm

Payment: Purchases in hall, including for formal hall, and in the bar, are made on your College card. The balance is then paid off at the end of term, alongside other charges such as your rent, on your College bill. !Formal hall (7.30-9:00pm): This remains the unassailable Cambridge institution. For the princely sum of £6 you are treated to a three-course meal with waitered service, in the candle-lit beauty of what is repeatedly and mechanically quoted as “the oldest building in Europe still used for its original purpose, excluding religious buildings”. There is a list available in the servery that can be used to sign up. You can either pay when you make your booking, or just before you enter. If you change your mind and do not wish to attend you can cross yourself off the list, but you will be charged if you forget to do this. You can bring up to six guests too but they must pay a slightly higher price (£7.85) because they do not contribute to the KFC. There are super halls a few times per term which cost around £15 when the kitchens pull out all the stops for a delicious four-course meal. Super-halls tend to sell out quickly, so make sure you get your name down early.

Your gown is the only item of clothing that must be worn, but a reasonably formal level of dress is expected – girls always do this anyway, and guys, please do wear a suit. !While the Fellows are in the room, formal hall etiquette must be carefully observed. You must endeavour to remain in your seat at all times (if you desperately require the services of the beautiful upper-hall loo painted with the College crest then this is excusable, but certainly no getting up to banter with your mate at the other table). !There is a special freshers’ formal in the first week (probably on the Thursday – see the timetable for details). This is your first chance to try it out, and you need to sign up in the usual way (i.e. the list in the servery). !

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Gyps: All College accommodation includes a few small kitchens known as gyps. Most contain a fridge, microwave, toaster, and often a sandwich toaster. Do be aware of this before you enthusiastically pack your saucepan (there are no hobs). !The bar: The old college bar may well be your drinking port of call for the first few weeks of term, but it will swiftly be replaced by the bigger, better, and very exciting NEW BAR in the Whittle Building in Fen Court. We can presume the basic facts will stay the same – open every evening in full term, until 11pm Sunday through Thursday and 12pm Fridays and Saturdays, serving a good range of beers, wines and spirits for good value (a pint is about £2.50). !Eating out: Cambridge is serviced by all and every restaurant chain imaginable. Italian is particularly abundant, and a walk along Bridge/Sidney/Regent Street will demonstrate the full hand of identical pizza restaurants from ASK to Zizzi. !

Accommodation !When it comes to accommodation, Peterhouse has an edge over all other academic institutions. You will never have to go through the fuss of locating a flat for your second and third years, nor will you ever have to deal with an external landlord, as you are provided with excellent accommodation by the college for the duration of your degree – almost all within five minutes’ walk of the college. !While on a per-week basis it is pricey, the yearly cost works out cheap, as you do not rent your room through vacations. The drawback is, of course, that you must clear out all your belongings at the end of term. This can create particular problems for international students – discussed by your International Rep (Charlotte James) in her section of the guide. !All first years will live either in St. Peter’s Terrace (SPT) or in the William Stone Building (WSB), which are right next to each other. In all cases, showers and gyps (small kitchens) are shared between approximately five people. All rooms come with internet access, included in your rent.  !St. Peter’s Terrace: This is where the majority of you will live for the duration of your first year. It is a beautiful terrace of seven houses set back from the road, with around ten luxurious rooms in each.

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The William Stone Building: Known imaginatively as “WSB”, it stands in the midst of the beautiful Scholars’ Garden and closely resembles a multi-story car park. Having been renovated in 2008 it is very comfortable inside and the rooms are spacious. They are all en-suite including shower, but this does make them more expensive. !

Facilities !Libraries: The Ward Library contains books – lots of them. It is quite possibly the best College library in the university, especially for historians, but like all College libraries, it usually houses only one copy of each book, so sharing is necessary. !Alternatively, it will be necessary to visit your respective faculty libraries, which your subject reps will identify to you. These not only contain a greater range of books, but often more that one copy of key texts. There is also always the magnificently bleak University Library (UL). Being a copyright library it has a copy of every book ever published in the United Kingdom. It now lends to all students at the university. !Your College card is essential for withdrawing books and often for gaining entry also – this is especially true of the UL. 

Laundry: Like me, many of you will never have used a washing machine in your life until you arrive at university. It turns out, that there is no such thing as a laundry leprechaun who does your washing – it was your mother all along.  !Washing is about as easy to understand as a cannibal tribal-island god, and washing machines are indeed similar to them in many ways. They too require a sacrifice, although in this case not of human flesh but of a £1 coin and 2 x 20p pieces. They also require a source of food, known as washing tablets. The drying machines likewise require an offering of a 50p piece, and they are vengeful masters, liable to shrink your clothes if you offend them, or turn them up too high. !Make sure you shut the door properly on your way out, as thefts have been reported in the past. If there is no available machine and you must empty one that has finished, put the clothes in the bag that the owner should have left in front of it. If there is no bag, put them on a chair,

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but please do not ever dump them on the floor, as it is about as clean and hygienic as a Latvian slaughterhouse. !Computer room: The computer room is located under the theatre and contains a few PCs and Macs. You need your card and PWF password to use this room. It also has a colour and b&w printer (the library only does b&w), useful for those without. !

Sports !In addition to the countless clubs and societies that are open to all university students, there are many that are based exclusively within Peterhouse. We have some limited facilities within the college, including a squash court (right next to the first year accommodation) and free pool table. We also have access to a sports’ ground (Grantchester Road) and our own boat house, fifteen and ten minutes’ cycle ride away respectively. Those wanting to use a gym to work on fitness or weight loss should try the university gym, Fenner’s (15 minutes’  walk from Peterhouse), or Peterhouse’s very own, brand-new gym, to be found in the Whittle Building.

As might be expected from a small college, competition for team places is negligible, where it exists at all, and anyone with the necessary enthusiasm is welcome within almost any sport. At College level the emphasis tends to be more on having fun than on competition, but most first teams still reach a decent standard. Limited access to players has not prevented us from achieving notable victories in the recent past, particularly in pool and rowing. Those wanting to compete at a university level at any given sport should go to the Freshers’ Fair and talk to the club rep, as procedures vary between sports. !The Boat Club: The Peterhouse Boat Club (PBC) is the college’s largest sports club. Despite the fact that we are a small college, PBC remains competitive with the big hitters in both the mens and womens divisions. Almost everyone tries out rowing for at least term during there time at the college – look out for their taster adverts in your pigeon holes, or chat to the PBC reps at the AMALs squash in freshers’ week.

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Chapel !Services: Peterhouse Chapel is above all a friendly and inclusive community – and a vibrant one at that. People come from all denominations and none: some are committed Christians, some are curious enquirers, others simply come to enjoy the aesthetics of the sung services. Most importantly, everybody is welcome. Even if you are not interested in Christianity per se, seriously consider attending at least a couple of Sunday Evensong services in order to experience the unique blend of a candlelit 17th-century Chapel and our excellent choir. Our visiting preachers are normally of extremely high quality, ranging from leaders of various Christian denominations through to prominent political figures. Apart from services, there are many other opportunities to meet over food and/or drink such as the Dean’s port parties or the splendid termly Chapel Feasts. For further information contact either one of the Chapel Officers or the Dean, Dr Stephen Hampton, who will all be happy to entertain you.

!Music !

As we are constantly being reminded, Peterhouse is the smallest college in Cambridge which means that everything within it is on a smaller scale, including music. However, there are plenty of opportunities for people of all abilities. As with other colleges the focus in on choral music, but we also have our own orchestra, and solo instrumentalists are always wanted for informal concerts. !Chapel Choir: Singing in the Peterhouse Chapel Choir is special for two main reasons. First of all it’s tiny; made up of only 16 voices. Second, it is organised and run by the two organ scholars (with a little help from our choir librarian). The combined effect is that it is more friendly and relaxed than the average Cambridge choir. That doesn’t mean to say that the standard is any lower, or the perks any fewer. The choir sing evensong twice a week, with one extra rehearsal, and for that commitment singers get three free meals in formal hall per week, several free feasts throughout the year, free singing lessons, and one heavily subsidised tour. There are a few choral scholars each year, but those without choral scholarships can audition for the choir at

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the beginning of the year and I would encourage anyone interested to give it a go. For more information go to www.srcf.ucam.org/petcc/w/Main_Page !Peterhouse Singers: If, however, you think the chapel choir is a bit too serious for you but you still love singing, then Peterhouse Singers may be a perfect fit for you. It is the College’s informal singing group and sings a truly diverse selection of music, from Vivaldi to Disney and everything in between. Everyone is welcome, whether they've sung before or not, no audition necessary, and while you might find sight singing helpful it is by no means necessary. The group rehearses every Monday evening, but attendance isn’t strict, which makes it a great break when you feel like a brief respite from work. !Peterhouse Players: Peterhouse Players is our orchestra. This is unauditioned too, although players should be comfortable with sight reading up to a reasonable standard. The orchestra tends to play largely baroque and early classical pieces in keeping with its small size and string-heavy composition. Unfortunately at the moment there's not a lot on offer within Peterhouse for wind players, although as anyone can set up a new music group, that could change. College musical groups perform in the College concerts that take place at the end of each term. Soloists are often included in the programmes for these concerts, although many soloists prefer to perform at the informal coffee concerts that are put on every two weeks, so there is no shortage of solo opportunities. !University Music: Those wishing to expand their musical horizons may wish to join one of the university-wide music groups, some of which are auditioned and some of which are open to all. There is a wide array of these, from orchestras CUMS and CUMS 2 to CU Show Choir and CU Jazz Band. It’s a good idea to join the Music Society mailing list early on to stay on top of auditions and concerts, or get in touch with a particular group at the Freshers’ Fair. !

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Going out !There are five clubs in Cambridge: Cindies (Ballare), Fez, Life (The Place), Lola Lo, and Vodka Revs. Each night tends to have a particular club associated with it, that you will become alarmingly used to, and that is where all the students will go – we will acquaint you with this cycle. There are also a huge number of pubs in the city, some of which you will sample on the pub crawl. The indisputable highlight is The Regal, the largest Wetherspoons in the country, where you can sample their selection of £3 pints of real ale – that is unless a lairy pikey on the dance floor knocks you out with a broken table-leg first. Also notable is The Eagle, where Watson and Crick went to celebrate the discovery of the structure of DNA. The pubs closest to College are The Mill and The Snug, both popular watering-holes should you feel energetic enough to stride forth beyond the bar for an evening pint. 

Cindies: Cindies is the name of a club that has now been officially called “Ballare” for over 12 years. It is a tribute to the stubbornness of Cambridge undergraduates that we still refuse to accept its rebranding, just as old-fashioned individuals continue to hold on to the dream that Starburst will once again be known as Opal Fruits. !If you thought formal hall sounded lame, wait until you consider the idea of a packed club reverberating every Wednesday night to the sound of S Club, B’Witched, Journey and other such atrocious balladeers from our youth (and indeed, the youth of our parents), but it still holds a dear place in all our hearts. There will be a night here during Freshers’ Week.  !

Drama !The Cambridge drama scene is probably the best of any university in England. There are literally hundreds of shows each year at venues all across Cambridge, catering for all, from the first-time enthusiast to the experienced campaigner with professional aspirations. Actors, directors, musical directors, producers, writers, stage managers, costume designers, lighting

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designers and set designers are all constantly in demand, so no matter what you are interested in doing there will be something for you here. !University drama: The ADC (Amateur Dramatic Club) is the main theatre company in Cambridge. It puts on shows in both the large ADC theatre near Jesus College and the Corpus Playrooms, a small studio theatre which is directly opposite King’s College. There are two shows a week at these venues, a main show and a late show. Smaller companies across Cambridge will also fund shows in these venues and put on shows in their own theatres. !The best way to get involved is to go along to as many auditions (for actors) or interviews (for people on the production side) as possible. The way to do this is to sign up to the actors’ list and the production list at the ADC stall at the Freshers’ Fair. These are email lists that go out twice weekly with details of auditions and interviews for upcoming productions. Don’t worry if this all seems a bit confusing, it was all a bit much for me when I first came, and it now seems much the norm. If you have any queries don’t hesitate to get in touch with me and I’d be more than happy to show you around the theatres and help you get to auditions in the first week. Perhaps the best opportunity for newcomers are the two freshers’ shows in week 6, where assistant direction and production are done by freshers and all the actors will be freshers as well.

!College drama: The College drama society is the Heywood Society, which puts on a show once a term. This provides a great opportunity for people who are new to drama to get involved in some capacity as there are always people needed to help out. !

Miscellany !University card: This is used to pay for meals in hall and drinks in the bar. It is also the only university-approved form of ID (required for exams etc.).

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!The porters: The porters function as the day-to-day contact point between the college authorities and the students. They are responsible for security and generally keeping the life of the college running smoothly. Should you require any advice on where to find something, how to get there etc. the porters should be your first stop, as they know everything there is to know about the city. !They are based at the Porter’s Lodge, or ‘Plodge’ at the main entrance to first court which late at night is the main access to Peterhouse. It is where post is delivered, and it also functions as a general focal point of the college. It is therefore often used as a convenient meeting point. !Term: "Full Term" runs from a Tuesday to Friday - exactly eight weeks of lectures and study. Lectures start on the Thursday after Full Term begins and end on the Wednesday before the final Friday. “University Term” refers to a longer period that extends a week or so either side of “full term”, and represents the period for which you are provided accommodation without special permission. The first term is known as Michaelmas Term, the second as Lent Term, and the third as Easter Term (or Exam Term). There is no half-term or “reading week” at Cambridge. You can find the term dates on the university website (google: Cambridge Term Dates). !May Week: This is the name given to the period at the end of Easter term once exams are over; it is neither in May, nor exactly a week long, yet the name persists. This is the time at which all our pent-up over-worked frustration is released, with the Daily Mail never failing to publish a photo of an unconscious student or two. The May Balls, for between £60 – £170 will show you for one night only that hedonism never died.

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International students !First, I’d like to wish you a very warm welcome to Peterhouse, you made it! !The fun, non-practical stuff: I am sure you will find international life in Cambridge and at Peterhouse bustling. At the Freshers Fair you can sign up for loads of different international or cultural societies, your country is bound to be represented. Before that, there is International Freshers Week which is Cambridge-wide and takes place before ‘normal’ Fresher Week. Most importantly, I would strongly recommend you arrange with College staff to let you arrive early enough to partake in International Freshers Week (the main events begin October 1st) as it is a great opportunity to meet people and also sort practical things out (see below). !International Freshers Week: http://www.international.cusu.cam.ac.uk/freshersweek/ Cambridge Orientation Events: http://www.internationalstudents.cam.ac.uk/arriving/orientation/orientation-events-2014 !International Freshers Week at Peterhouse I will be organising some events in College but as iCUSU Intl Freshers Week is already packed with things to do and a great opportunity to meet people outside of Peterhouse I will focus on showing you to these events. For more info you can check out the ‘Peterhouse International’ Facebook Page and the ‘Cambridge International Freshers 2014’ Facebook Page. !Peterhouse Freshers’ Week This is for all freshers in College and happens directly after Intl Freshers. Already having routine from Intl Freshers, I suggest you participate in as many events as you can and also mingle with the home students (you’ll probably have to show them around as you will already be a Cambridge expert in their eyes). I’ll be organising a tea for international freshers sometime during the week, which means free food and more socialising (there will be cake!). !The practical stuff: Before you get here 1. Visas: Not all nationalities need to get a visa, but if you do I’d suggest you get it

done as early as possible. To issue a Visa, the UK border agency typically requires passport photos, your passport and a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies. If you are unsure, contact the British embassy in your country.

2. Inform College of your arrival: This is especially important for international students, because as I mentioned earlier you may want to ask to arrive earlier. College staff are usually very accommodating so just inform them that you would like to attend International Freshers and arrive earlier (I probably arrived 3-4 days earlier in my first year and that was no problem).

3. What you need to bring: Most importantly, not too much! Less is more. I’ll say it again, don’t repeat the mistakes of older students by bringing too much stuff. As international storage over the holidays is very limited and you have to pack up your room at the end of each term, having less things will make your life so much easier.

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I know it’s tempting to pack up your entire room and bring it over here, but trust me, it’s better to start small. I arrived with 2 suitcases and by the end of my first year that amount had nearly tripled. Do not bring pots/pans or lots of kitchen items, as you will only have access to a microwave and a toaster, no hobs or hotplates. It is also forbidden to use appliances such as rice cookers/slow cookers in your room or in the kitchens. So it’s best not to weigh yourself down but buy things you may need when you get here, Cambridge has all kinds of shops that can cater to your needs. As far as clothes are concerned, the main thing to remember is that Cambridge can get rather cold in winter time (as low as 0-5°C). For the matriculation ceremony you will need to dress smart, dark suit/white blouse and dark skirt or trousers/dark dress. You will also need something smart for the matriculation dinner afterwards (although you can wear more colour for the dinner). I also wish I had brought a good walked-in pair of shoes, as you will do lots of walking in Cambridge (nobody really ever uses public transport). !

Once you get here 1. Arrival: Most importantly, do tell me when you will be arriving as I will do my

utmost to make sure someone is there to welcome you in person. We will be in the Porters Lodge, which is where you will sign into College and pick up your keys. Preferably, fill in this form so that I know when you are arriving and how to contact you (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1QMVy8xakjstDHlQ4MPjKQHQU_82b8je89_pwlPoh920/viewform?usp=send_form). Otherwise you can email me these details, but don’t be shy, we are all very excited to meet you and make you feel at home in Peterhouse. If you’re arriving by bus or by train, I’d recommend taking a taxi (which will only cost you about £5). Go to the Porter’s Lodge at Peterhouse (on Trumpington Street). The porters are all very friendly, they will sign you in and give you your keys. An older student (most likely me) will also be at the Lodge to guide you to your room and help you with your luggage. If we are not at the Porter’s Lodge, we will try and meet up with you later once you have settled in your room.

2. Practical things that may need sorting out: Remember, these are all things that are no emergency but may need to be taken care of around your first few weeks in Cambridge. 2.1. SIM – card: The most important thing by far in a new country. I suggest

doing some research before on prices and service providers. Some of the biggest mobile networks are 3, O2 (note that GiffGaff uses the O2 network) and Vodafone. Take special note of how well the operators work in Cambridge specifically, 3 has for example been infamous for not having good coverage in this area. Having said that, Cambridge is blessed with free University wifi almost everywhere, leading me onto the next point.

2.2. Internet: Another very important thing that can be a bit tricky, so if you have any questions just ask me or anybody else for help. It may take a while for you to get hooked up to the University Wireless Network, eduroam, but I managed to do so within my first three days. You need to have received your Raven credentials and passwords. If you have, you can follow the steps here: http://www.ucs.cam.ac.uk/wireless/eduroam/localusers

2.3. Bank account: At the beginning of each academic year there is a high demand for bank appointments to open up new accounts so if you get here early I recommend you book an appointment as early as possible. The

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appointment doesn’t have to be straight away, but do book it. I was stuck for two weeks without a bank account because of the waiting times for an appointment. If you have a special bank in mind I can show you to its offices, they’re all located very central. Also note that to open a bank account as a student you will have to ask the College Tutorial Office for a written confirmation that you are living at their address and in full-time education.

2.4. Bicycle: Cambridge is full of second hand bike shops and naturally if you come early you can probably get a better bike at a better price. However, I suggest you first ask yourself if you really need one, as this is one other item that requires storage. Also, Peterhouse is located very central, I rarely need to walk longer than 15 minutes to get anywhere. Personally I don’t own a bike and am glad to avoid the hassle.

2.5. GP registration: This is something all students, international and national, must do once they’ve moved to Cambridge. GP stands for General Practitioner and is your local healthcare service. College will inform you more about this but keep in mind that you will have to register with a GP within your first few weeks of university. !

International life throughout the year: Even after the excitement of coming to England has died down and you’ve begun to work, there’ll still be plenty to look forward to throughout the year. The international reps from all colleges are planning to organise lots of ‘swaps’ (going to formals with internationals from other colleges), and iCUSU will be organising various events. There are also societies for virtually every nationality (you can sign up at the Freshers’ Fair). You’ll find out more about all this when you get here. In the meantime, enjoy your summer, don’t freak out about all the practical stuff and I hope you look forward to coming to Peterhouse! !As I mentioned earlier, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have, however trivial they may seem. You can also post on the Peterhouse International Facebook Page, where I will put up more info. !Looking forward to meeting you all! !!!

Johanna Ohlman Peterhouse International Rep 2014/15 jlo42@cam.ac.uk +44 7922 119402 !!!! !

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LGBTQ students !Hello! I'm Hanna, the LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, & Queer/Questioning) representative for Peterhouse! I organise events for LGBT+ students in college, as well as groups to go to wider university events. I also provide welfare support to students, and have a 'surgery hour' every week for people to come and see me to discuss anything. Finally, I can speak to the college or university on your behalf, if necessary. !As well as in-college events and support, there is also the Cambridge University Student Union LGBT+ campaign which runs regular events, including various coffee socials and a club night, where you can go to meet people outside college. They also run a parenting scheme for LGBT+ freshers, to provide extra support when you arrive. It works in a similar way to the college parenting scheme, but is university-wide, so you would be assigned parents from another college, who will look out for you in and beyond Freshers Week. Details about the parenting scheme and other information can be found here: http://www.lgbt.cusu.cam.ac.uk/freshers/ !Peterhouse is an incredibly welcoming college, and the people here are all very kind and understanding, from students to fellows. There is an active LGBT+ community here, and you'll fit in right away! If you want to speak to me about anything before coming up, please contact me (hebt2@cam.ac.uk). There is also a Facebook group for Peterhouse LGBT+, which you can find here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1531757743715469/ !I look forward to meeting you in October! !!!

Hanna Tame Peterhouse LGBT+ Rep 2014/15 hebt2@cam.ac.uk !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The parents’ guide !This next piece is for parents. When they have dropped you off, they may be at a loss, and without College parents or a freshers’ guide to turn to for help! This, then, is a brief guide to Cambridge specifically for them: !Meet the parents! Hello Parents, my name is Rachel. I am a second year English student at Peterhouse and co-author of this guide. In case you are not already aware, in my role as first year representative I am here to help your son/daughter’s smooth transition from home to university life. !The amount that each student includes their parents in preparation for university varies greatly, but irrespective of this you are probably making some plans, and maybe feel quite apprehensive. This is an opportunity to allay any concerns you might have, and for me to explain a bit more about the weekend when freshers arrive. !Here at Peterhouse, we operate a “College family” system that is designed to give each student a personalised induction to the college. You son/daughter will be assigned two second year students to act as their “College parents”. One of these students will study their subject. They will also have at least one “College sibling”. The College parents will write to their College children during September, and provide their source of information prior to arrival. Your son/daughter is encouraged to contact his/her College parents when they arrive in Cambridge. Meeting College parents can be an interesting and slightly surreal experience; meeting someone who introduces themselves as your child’s new parents is a bit odd. But don’t fear, the College parents will be friendly and helpful, hopefully putting both you and your son/daughter at ease while assisting with carrying the assortment of bags, boxes and the like which will invariably accompany your child. !While you might feel the urge to unpack and organise their new room, you may also like to leave them free to meet new neighbours - something I leave up to you. !Where to stay: Many of you will live some distance from Cambridge, and so may need to arrange to stay the night and return home the following day. The full selection of Cambridge hotels can be found on the Cambridge Tourist Office Website (www.visitcambridge.org/VisitCambridge/Home). !Where to eat: Within a week of having to pay for their own food students will be desperate for you to take them out for any meal, but on the first night we recommend that students eat in College with all the other new undergraduates, as it is an easy way to start meeting people. In due course you will be able to eat at formal hall too; your son/daughter can invite you and your guests on any evening so long as it is pre-booked. !Otherwise, if going out and about during the day to watch Cambridge life go by, visit the Copper Kettle or Aunties Tea Room on/near King’s Parade. Alternatively, drive out to Grantchester and have a cream tea in the Orchard Tea Gardens (highly recommended).

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Browns, right opposite St. Peter’s Terrace is another popular place for supper, and there is a Loch Fyne right opposite College. !Shopping and walking: Cambridge has good shops, a combination of what appeals to parents and siblings; the specialist individual shops and the popular chain store variety. If you find you have forgotten anything, you are sure to be able to find it in Cambridge. However, beware of shops selling over-priced tourist merchandise! !Walk along ‘the backs’ (of the colleges, along the River Cam); some of the colleges also have beautiful gardens. You could try punting; punt hire including someone to punt for you is available from the Silver Street Bridge (follow Trumpington Street to its far end and curve left towards Queens’ College). Although Peterhouse is not on the river, many other colleges are and are well worth a look. !And finally: If you have any further questions, please feel free to email me and I will endeavour to assist. Hope all goes well – I’m sure it will. !!!

Rachel Lewis Peterhouse Freshers’ Rep 2014/15 rcl42@cam.ac.uk !!

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Map of Cambridge

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Map of Peterhouse !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Who’s Who !

Key people at Peterhouse: !!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Where you will live in your first year.

Dr Stephen Hampton Dean and Senior Tutor

Mr G Meade Head Porter

Prof. Adrian Dixon The Master of Peterhouse

Tutors – You’ll be assigned one of the college’s four tutors to assist you with pastoral concerns. For academic matters, see your DoS, for anything else, see your tutor. !The Fellows – Academics associated with the college. Some teach, either as lecturers, supervisors or DoSs, while others focus more on their research, or take on specialised roles, for example that of the Senior Bursar !Directors of Studies – Directors of Studies are in charge of running their subject and, in each case, overseeing the academic progress of all those studying it. !The Porters – The day-to-day contact point between students and College. !Bedders – Cambridge term for a cleaner. They keep the communal spaces tidy, and will clean in your room once per week. !Graduate students (Grads) – Those studying for their second degree (Masters, PhD etc.) They have their own common room just opposite the bar, but otherwise are as us. Undergraduate students – Anyone studying for their first degree, i.e. you and me. !

Dictionary !Essential guide to general Cambridge (GC), and more Peterhouse-specific (PS), Jargon. !

ASNaC

Bop Big party in College. Three times a term at Peterhouse. GC

Bunder Vomit. PS

Compsci Computer sciences, or a computer scientist. GC

Cuppers

Ent Short for “entertainment”. Huge parties at certain colleges. GC

Fitz Street Fitzwilliam Street, where most of the second years live and maybe a few of you. PS

Going up/down Arriving/leaving at the start/end of term. GC

Gowned The standard disciplinary procedure, which involves you getting told off while wearing a gown. PS

� Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic. The subject or someone who studies it. GC

� Tournament or competition – played for a cup. GC

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!!Contacts !

Finally, a list of contacts that may be of use to you throughout your first year. !Postal address (Post is sorted at the porter’s lodge, not sent to your room): Peterhouse, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RD !Emails: Tutorial Office: 01223 338201 / tutorial@pet.cam.ac.uk The Porter’s Lodge: 01223 338200 / plodge@pet.cam.ac.uk The College Nurse: nurse@pet.cam.ac.uk The Dean: dean@pet.cam.ac.uk !The Fresher’s Representative (me): rcl42@cam.ac.uk !

JCR Junior Common Room. GC

Mathmo

Natsci

Peterhouse College

This place does not exist. Forget it. It is just “Peterhouse”. People are more snobby about this than Hyacinth Bouquet is about the pronunciation of her surname. PS

Plodge

Spade To hit on, relentlessly. PS

SPT

Squash Teams/societies trying to persuade you to join. GC

The Sex Club

UL The University Library. GC

WSB William Stone Building, where some of you live, plus some second and third years. PS

� A mathematician. GC �

Saint Peter’s Terrace, where most of you will live. PS �

� The Porter’s Lodge. GC �

Natural sciences, or a natural scientist. GC �

� The JCR (it’s short for “The Sexcentenary Club”). PS �

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Acknowledgments !With thanks to the following for their contributions: Authors - Rachel Lewis, Sam Mackrill and Nick Dixon-Clegg. Additional Material from - George Thomas, James Ellis, Johanna Ohlman, Hannah Tame and Martha Hirst. Design and Layout - Jenni Reid Proof Reading - Dr P. Pattenden. Photography - Various Sources !Peterhouse Freshers’ Guide © Rachel Lewis 2014

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