“All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. All these aspirations are directed toward ennobling man’s life, lifting it from the sphere of mere physical existence and leading the individual towards freedom.”

Albert Einstein

Chinese Master Sculptor Ju Ming’s remarkable bronze “The Taichi Arch – Gate of Health” gleams in the early March sunshine.  I pause to study its reflection on the blue glass of the Cambridge Cancer Research UK Institute and ponder Einstein’s quote before heading into Dr. Hannon’s lab.   The more than 20,000 scientists, researchers, physicians, nurses and professionals that collaborate here on Cambridge’s Biomedical Campus are discovering lifesaving treatments and improving individuals’ lives everyday.  If I were to relocate to Cambridge one day, this is exactly where I would want to work as a physician or researcher, surrounded by the energy that comes from so many who want to make a positive change in medicine and healthcare.

Every Monday and Friday, I have the privilege of supporting breast cancer cell research.  Getting here from my university house takes about 20 minutes on the city bus, and I enjoy the journey because I get to see a different part of Cambridgeshire outside the University’s busy center.  The bus route passes Cambridge University’s Fitzwilliam Museum, one of the best places to spend a rainy English day exploring the wonders of humanity’s creations.  And when hunger strikes, there is no better place to grab a bite of fish curry with potatoes and chutney than at The Tiffin Truck Restaurant – or if I had a meeting in town with friends from overseas – we’d get fish and chips at The Anchor overlooking the River Cam.  

Cambridge city center has many tourists all year round, so if I were to live here, I’d prefer to live south of the city in Grantchester or Great Shelford in Cambridgeshire –  surrounded by the green fields and less congested roads but on the express train line to London, 35 minutes south.   For those of you who enjoy the descriptions of “The Shire” in The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien, the term “shire’ is roughly equivalent to the term “county” in many US states.  There are 24 English counties that end with “shire” including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Oxfordshire.  Last week, our Cambridge University Women’s Football (Soccer) team traveled two hours west for a game against the University of Worcester in Worcestershire near the Welsh border.  Now I’ll never look at a bottle of Worcestershire sauce the same way again!

Next week is the annual Cambridge University – Oxford University soccer match, and we get to play at Abbey Stadium in Cambridge.  I look forward to updating you after our team beats the Oxford Women!