I've been in Princeton 12 days now. It doesn't feel as if I've really done very much at all. I've completed an orientation program, I've visited Witherspoon Presbyterian Church twice, I've played basketball, I've had lots and lots to eat and drink, I've wandered around downtown Princeton, I've read three and a half books, I've met more people than I can remember, and I'm about to start my first week proper. To be honest, I'm looking forward to the normality of a routine. Sometimes being new in a place can get tiresome.
But there is lots to look forward to, and lots to think about. Today, I attended a lecture about Princeton and the civil rights movement. Apparently the town is something of an enigma in this history. On the one hand, up until the mid-20th century it was regarded as a northern town with southern attitudes, or a southern town in the north. But it was one of the first towns to desegregate schools. Of course, revision of all this history is now questioning just how effective this desegregation has been - according to one woman in Witherspoon Church, a black woman who experienced this change, black children only became aware of segregation and racial inequality when they started attending mixed schools.
This week all Princeton students have the opportunity of unlimited free rail travel to New York. I'm planning 3 trips - one on Thursday, one on Saturday, and one on Sunday. The Sunday trip will be a visit to Redeemer Presbyterian Church - I'm choosing the early evening service - jazz style - nicee!
Tomorrow, I meet my advisor of studies - Dr James Moorhead - he's a specialist in 19thC American Church History - my kind of guy - grreat!
3 comments:
Jazz........smashing!!! yo bro! hav fun goin to NY. how lucky to get free travel. Princeton rocks! You wouldnt get that chance at Glasgow Uni!!
A Princeton man and now a New York intellectual. You're really making the most of your time in America.
Loved the pictures! It sure sounds like you're having fun!! Enjoy NY!
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