CMI Exchange: Tilke's Response to questions from <i>The Tech</i>
http://math.mit.edu/undergraduate/cmi/tilke-tech.html
CMI Exchange: Tilke's Response to questions from The Tech
1) How did your first term compare with your expectations when you first arrived?
I expected it to be excellent, and....it was excellent! I didn't expect the language to be as different as was
though. I thought that since both countries spoke English, there would be no misunderstandings. Well, I
had to watch out when I start talking about pants. (First of all, pants means underwear, but secondly, it
can be used in the following context: " the teacher was pants" or "I am pants at hockey" where pants
means bad). I loved learning the meanings of squash, bop, ent, snog, pull, uni. I was also amazed at the
repetition of names. Coming from MIT with a Roshan and Ankur and Beto, I was surprised to meet
Pete, Simon, Pete, Pete, Laura, Simon and Chris. Well, I met people with other names as well, but I do
know 5 Petes and 4 Simons. I enjoy fancy parties where one gets to dress up, and Cambridge had no
lack of these. In the last week before I came home we had Downing College Christmas Formal Hall, a
Christmas Dancing Ball, and Fairbairns Dinner (rowing tradition).
2) What did you get involved with in the university or your college?
I first got involved in the Cambridge Varsity Ballroom Dance Team - which actually qualifies me for a
Cambridge Blue. On this 20 couple team, I am a Latin dancer specifically responsible for B team Jive.
My partner is a first year Math Mo (person who studies mathematics) from Trinity. The team practices 3
to 4 times a week and has about 6 competitions during the year.
At my college level, I did novice rowing for Downing. This was incredibly fun because not only are so
many people involved in it, but there is so much spirit around the sport. Yes, I did get up early once or
twice a week, and did go to have erg sessions in the evening once a week. But this was so worth it
considering I got to know so many people at Downing, got to participate in novice rowing competitions
that included, get this - around 130! other novice crews, and got to see coxswains in silly hats, crews
dressed up as smerfs and coaches leading their rowers in Head Shoulders Knees and Toes warmups.
I also played women's Hockey (that is Field Hockey) for Downing. This was low key enough that we
only played games and had no practices. We did have socials though.
3) How did you find the classes? harder, easier? workload?
I'm studying maths (yes, plural), and the classes are hard. The beginning of term was pretty tough
because I didn't really understand how classes worked. Now as I approach the second semester though,
I feel much more confident about how to handle them. In the Maths curriculum, I only have two hours
of class per day every day (except Saturday when I have 1 hour). Just two hours - it doesn't seem like
much. But...the two hours are so densely packed with information and new material that will not be
gone over again, that it takes a couple hours to review and understand it all. This is what the rest of the
day is supposed to be used for. I've heard that we are expected to work from 9am to 5pm everyday.
With two hours of class included in that, that leaves 6 hours of reviewing notes and working on
Example papers. (That also leaves the evenings free for activities, dinners, and parties though:) In the
beginning of this term I guess I didn't really believe that the review was such a big process, and thought
that I could learn material in class. Well, nope. I am now spending a lot of time during break reviewing
lots class material. This is expected though, and many of my classmates are reviewing as well.
So, the work is still hard. The material is hard, and there is lots of it in Maths. It is no vacation
workwise. However, at the same time, I feel that I have the ability to go out on a Wednesday night, or
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1/30/08 2:42 PM
CMI Exchange: Tilke's Response to questions from <i>The Tech</i>
http://math.mit.edu/undergraduate/cmi/tilke-tech.html
see a play on Thursday night. In other words, I feel I can work during the day and go out in the
evenings. At MIT, I felt like I had to go to classes during the day, work in the evenings and then only
go out on the weekends.
Another thing that is unusual about my classes is that I am taking ALL math classes. At first I thought it
would be a disappointing not to be able to do anything else. However, I have found that there is a great
benefit to studying just maths all at the same time. Classes build on each other, and I feel that I am
solidifying a foundation in mathematics when I see everything together at once.
4) have you met many people from Cambridge, or hanging out with other MIT students?
I live at Downing amidst only Cambridge students. I am the only MIT student at Downing. This means
that I go to class, row, eat meals, and live with people with British accents! However, on some
occasions I'll meet up with MIT students when we have meetings or Formal Hall swaps or go to see
each other involved in our activities.
5) Done any traveling so far? Any plans for Christmas break/IAP?
A couple of us MIT students popped off to Paris for a weekend to visit our grad student from the Media
Lab. I also went to Oxford for a weekend to visit a Princeton friend who was studying abroad.
Christmas break I am planning on staying at home and visiting MIT for a bit. Easter break is when I
plan to do most of my European traveling. Holland is a possible location because I have so many
relatives there, and France is attractive because I want to practice French.
6) Anything you miss about MIT? Or just looking forward to coming home for a while?
I really like Baker now that I'm away from it because it is a great student dorm. The halls are large and
open, there are lots of (up to date) bathrooms, and excellent window views. My hostel at Cambridge is
also very pleasent, though small. Only 10 of us live there, and there is only one closet like shower:)
7) Any regrets so far?
None whatsoever.
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