OX1 1DW: Pembroke College Boat Club

My second post was inspired by my friend Liz, who was unfortunate enough to stumble upon my blog and mused that it had only one entry.

It’s 8 am here on a Friday morning and I’ve already been up for two hours, thanks to an early erging session at the Pembroke College Boat Club. Yes, I took up rowing at Oxford. Anyone who knows me well enough may picture me awkwardly perched up on an erg and may have a delightful laugh—but hey, I’m dutifully expanding my boundaries as any study abroad experience requires.

Just in case anyone may get the wrong idea, there’s the Oxford University Boat Club, known as the Oxford Blues, that competes against Cambridge at “The Boat Race” which takes place every spring; this is also the team that the Twinklevoss twins row for (I keep hoping to catch a glimpse of them training or walking down to the boathouse, but no luck so far).

Aside from the Blues, each college has a rowing club that competes against each other at various intercollegiate rowing events throughout the year. Pembroke College in particular has a stellar rowing program—both our men’s and women’s first boats came in first at the 2003 Oxford Summer Eights, the main intercollegiate competition. I’m currently on the novice crew of the PCBC.

Rowing is a fascinating sport (*Note: people here almost never refer to it as ‘crew.’). Workouts at the crack of dawn, skintight clothing, rowing jargons—it almost seems like a cult sometimes. Practices are getting more intense now. And every outing, as I struggle to keep my oar from getting sucked into the current, I find myself wondering, “Why did I get myself into this in the first place?” But then I’d catch a stunning sunrise cross the Thames after another early morning erging session, and all my doubts would melt away.

Anyway, I shall keep posting on my progress (or lack thereof ;) ).

Here are a few pictures!