Dear AMES fresher,
Let me first congratulate you on being accepted to read Asian and Middle Eastern
Studies at Pembroke College! You have chosen a friendly and happy college which is the envy
of many a Cambridge student, freshers and non-freshers alike. Welcome to the Pembroke
family! We hope that you, in your own way, will add to the diverse, exciting and challenging
atmosphere that we all love at Pembroke.
My name is Tom, and I’m the college’s AMES representative. I’m a second year
studying Chinese and, looking back on my first year of study at Pembroke, I’m thankful that I
chose such a supportive, stimulating and warm college environment in which to study the
subject I love. My job is to provide you with a little information on what your life in this
environment will be like as an AMES student, what to expect upon arrival, and how the college
will help you throughout your time within its walls.
First of all, let me talk about your arrival at Pembroke. Soon after arriving you will
receive an email reminding you to check the boards outside the dining hall (AKA trough) to find
details of your Director of Studies (DoS) meeting. These are held twice a term, once at the start
and once at the end. These are in place to discuss your academic progress and to give you a
chance to hear feedback from faculty staff channelled through the DoS. Pembroke’s AMES
DoS, Professor Melville, is a friendly, mild-mannered and helpful man who will make you feel
very welcome. These arrangements also apply to your tutor meeting, for which you will also be
notified by email.
Seeing as term does not actually begin until the 6th of October, you will have plenty of
time to get settled in and get yourself organised. In this time, your respective departments at
AMESE will be in touch, most likely via email or mail (check your pigeon hole regularly), with
your timetables and supervision schedules. My department held an introductory day at the
faculty a few days after my arrival, and it was there that we received our supervision
information, and timetables. Either way, AMES will contact you well before proper term time
begins to get this information to you.
The college library is particularly well stocked with books on the Orient. From general
histories to personal journals and dictionaries, I have been thoroughly impressed by
Pembroke’s East Asian and Middle Eastern collection. Should you wish the library to order a
particular book in for you, just speak to the librarian, and this can be done easily to avoid
having to buy the book yourself. I must say also that the library is my favourite place to work,
with plenty of space and a relaxed feel about it. Also, do head to the Fitzwilliam Museum (about
two minutes from Pembroke!) which holds fabulous collections from the parts of the world you
will be studying at the AMES faculty.
Should you at any time want to organise an AMES-related study trip during the
holidays, Pembroke will also provide financial aid. In order to do this, you apply through
Professor Melville and the college’s finance department. The same goes for financial help
towards additional language courses at the University of Cambridge Language Centre. All
information on this can be found on the college’s website, and the Language Centre
respectively. Please do not hesitate to contact me personally if you need any advice on these
matters.
Finally, I want to wish you all the fun that any fresher deserves at our great college as
an AMES student. You really have chosen well, and I will be doing my very best to support you
throughout your time at Pembroke. Below are my contact details, and I really urge you to get in
touch about absolutely anything you are unsure of. I am always glad to help.
I look forward to meeting you, and welcome to Cambridge’s best college!
Sincerely,
Tom Baxter 毕天浩
Mobile: 07835 494529
Email: tb524@cam.ac.uk