Monday night music at Harvard Square

Finally, the weather again showed signs of summer. It’s been a warm and sunny day and on this particular Monday night sitting my apartment I decided to go for a little evening walk. It was dark but still pretty warm outside. If you are familiar with the area I walked at Mt Auburn St to Brattle Square, and from there to Harvard Square. If you are not familiar with it I can tell you that it’s about a ten-minute walk to Harvard Square (and ten minutes back).

During the day and especially on weekends when the weather is nice, a lot of people are entertaining around this area – musicians mostly. On this random Monday night, on that ten-minute walk I passed no less than 5 music “bands”! To be fair, one was a single man with a guitar, so not really a band, but anyway… I have posted two videos. The first is with two guys: one playing cello and one on drums. Playing like the world around them doesn’t exist. That one is from Brattle Square. The other one is from Harvard Square. The band is playing from energy only made by three modified sofa-bicycles standing behind the band. The people listening then took random turns on the sofa-bikes to make the energy for the band’s instruments, microphones and light etc. I don’t know if I was able to catch the spirit but the music… I’m sorry; their music was fucking awesome. And in one corner even the homeless people usually crowding parts of Harvard Square, where people tend to be pretty generous, were dancing (or at least trying to).

Summing up: New York might be the city that never sleeps. But Cambridge is the city where people never stop living.

High 5

For the first time in 39 years! The Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup (meaning the National Hockey League Championship) against Vancouver Canucks. Of couse, as the Bostonian I have partly become, I had arranged to meet with some friends at a sports bar at Canal Street just outside TD Garden. TD Garden is the home of both the Bruins and the Celtics (NBA), and even though the game was in Canada, Canal Street was the place to go for the best sports bars and the craziest fans. We have been there before, and we usually meet an hour or so before the game to get a table. Well, this being game 7 (i.e. the last and final game) of the final series we met two hours before. But no no no, Bostonians are insane when it comes to their sports teams and there were 100-people not-moving-lines in front of every bar…

We then walked south towards the Haymarket to find another bar – successfully. After the usual stuff (read: crap) about showing passports to check that we were actually over 21 and not just looked way past that, we got inside. Great bar, but no tables and no chance of getting one. We decided to go for a quick bite and return within 10 minutes. The man at the door said they could only let in 100 more people so we had to be quick. When we got back there was a line going round the block… So once again we headed south. This time towards the financial district. In the end we found a great bar that ended up being crowded before the game – just as it was supposed to be.

Everybody were excited and there was tension in the air But we ruled the Canucks – 4 to nothing!!! Champagne’s were popped, people were cheering, jumping, dancing, shouting and last but not least high-5’ing! I made a personal record in high-5’s that night. Americans aren’t known to be shy and after some beers and cocktails it’s even better. Yahhh – gimme 5, yes yes, GO BRUINS!

After the game we headed back to TD Garden high-5’ing everybody on the way. It was awesome. Everyone were truly happy. Except the police that were attending the event as if a bunch of autonomists or government terrorists were about to destroy the city. Well, in European soccer when two teams meet in a rivalry final game, the loosing team’s fans will often be pretty unpleasant or even violent, but hear we were only happy Bruins fans. Equipped with bats, angry dogs and in combat uniforms, hundreds of police officers were patrolling the streets. Some places we couldn’t be on the sidewalks and should walk on the road. Other places the roads were off limits and yet again some places (or just regular streets) were completely restricted areas. We realized that the area around TD Garden was one of those restricted areas, because… well, only God knows why. The expected party on the streets after 39 years without the cup slowly diluted to subway stations and street corners.

We headed home, which was more difficult than we thought it would be. We had to walk a few miles ‘round the strange roadblocks to get to the T. It was an awesome event even though we had to be treated as bunch of criminals. High-5!

A reason to run

Bostonians are avid runners! For those who have never been to Boston or the northeastern corner of the States, it may come as a surprise that a lot of people are living a very active and healthy lifestyle. One thing that surprised me was that where I live, there are none of the major fast food restaurants present. Instead there are a lot of healthy alternatives… Before moving to Boston I would usually scout the city I was going to visit for sports stores, because running shoes and apparel is so much cheaper. I have often had a hard time finding real running clothes (and not just T-shirts). It was not until I visited Boston for the first time last year that I not only found it easy, but also an incredibly large selection – the largest I have seen anywhere. And boy, do the run. No matter what time a day you go for a run several like-minded joggers or fast-pace runners will join you.

I previously wrote about the Boston Marathon, in which I was only an active spectator. Heading for the Memorial Day weekend, I was to run the “Run to Remember” half marathon, which in addition had a 5K run for those who didn’t want to suffer as much. Many runs here are what I would call “run-for-the-cause” runs. This run was to honor law enforcement officers who had been killed on duty. In a addition the speaker announced on several occasions that we were also fundraising for children at risk… I’m pretty sure that like me, most of the participant had not the slightest idea about “risk” of what? Anyway, who doesn’t want to help children at some kind of risk.

Close to 9,000 runners of which more than half did the 21K participated. I have to say that it was pretty amazing to see how many different reasons there are to run. Run to cure cancer, raise funds for the Children’s Hospital, Crohn’s and colititis research, leukemia research, and so many different diseases that you almost had a full medical dictionary made by the peloton.

I think it’s nice to run for others than yourself. I would like to do that so I looked into it bit. But it’s not only the thought that counts. Often you have to raise several thousand dollars (or pay them yourself) to run for a specific team (or cause). Being born and raised in Denmark, where we are the “proud” payers of sky-high tax, I guess fundraising is close to trying to ask people living in the dessert if they would like to buy some sand. So I have no idea how to do fundraising (and not $3,000+ to pay myself). So nope, in Denmark we pay our tax so we don’t need to invest time in helping others (in my opinion, at least to some extend).

I’ve heard many people say (especially people who have never been to the States) that Americans are greedy and only caring for themselves. I could not disagree more (at least from my Bostonian experience). Here, people have the right to be “greedy”, but what I also experience is that people actually invest their time, thought and money in the less fortunate and for good causes. I for myself would be pretty proud to run in a shirt from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (where I work), knowing that I had raised more than $3,000 for research or something good. But no, I pay my high Danish tax and run for myself. Somehow sad I think… (NB. Since running is health-associated there are a lot of health-related causes, but don’t think that it’s only because people just what to raise money to prevent some disease they might get someday. Outside running, time is invested in many other causes, like helping homeless people for instance).

No matter for which reason I ran the race and it was awesome. Running in historic Boston a warm Sunday morning late in May, with so many great people cheering. It was definitely worth a damaged toe and sore legs. 

Graduation at Harvard

Long time no see. I know, the blog has been a little quiet for a while, but I now back at full strength. A million things have happened since last time so I might update a quite frequently for a while.

Harvard Medical School dressed for commencement

Last week were the week of graduation for most of the Bostonian colleges and universities – and there’s quite a lot. I think I remember that about somewhat 250,000 students attend higher education in Boston. So the streets have been filled with happy graduates and proud parents. And of course the same goes for Harvard. I knew that the graduation, or commencement as the ceremony itself is called, took place on Thursday 26^th, so I thought I would bring my camera on my way to the lab since I pass Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Yard (main campus and home of the college), Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health.

Outside Harvard Yard (no people and a lot of cars at this time)

As I have told previously, I usually take the M2 Harvard shuttle bus from the Yard to the medical school. It was something past seven in the morning and already very hot (in Boston it somehow went from winter to summer in a week). When I reached Harvard Square I had to check my watch to check if I somehow overslept because the usually empty square were filled with people in gowns, with camera’s, flowers etc. I wasn’t really expectiong anywhing to happen this early. Nonetheless, all the installations that had been set up during the last week or two, changing the yard with seating’s and so on, were now to be taking into action. Unfortunately for me, my bus stop outside the Yard was of course also moved. I wasn’t really sure whereto so I decided to head back for the square to take the T (subway) instead. As it turned out that was a lucky move, ‘cause I got to see what it’s like when the different undergrad houses march toward the Yard.A little background info. Only the freshmen live in housing at the Yard. The rest are assigned on a random basis to one of 13 houses located between the Yard and Charles River, where they stay for the rest of their time at Harvard College.

I have attached videos of Lowell and Kirkland (Mark “Facebook” Zuckerberg’s old house). I don’t know the background for the themes but it was easy to tell that there’s a lot of history and tradition at this College. Well, it was the 360^th commencement... I thought it was pretty cool. And everyone was of course very happy and excited just as they were supposed to be. It was a joyful event. Made me want to graduate again! I don’t think there’s going to be a march and back pipes when I defend my PhD next year…

There were people from all over the world. Easy to tell form all the different languages spoken around me, which made it even more exciting. The commencement address was provided by a former Harvard student, the president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Pretty cooI as well, I guess.

I was happy that day. Well, ya sure I’m always happy, but although I really had nothing to do with it affected me. College graduation is a big thing. Somewhat comparable to gymnasium in Denmark. The youngsters (I feel old when I say that – and not in a good way) are now on their own, facing the good and bad on their path. The president of Harvard, Drew Faust, said in her Baccalaureate Address earlier in the week: “Search for your own sermons. Finish your own sentences. And then rewrite them, again and again.” A great life lesson, even for “poor guy” like me who wasn’t even graduating :-)

Boston Marathon

Today is Patriot’s Day. I have no idea what it is but it's the day of the 115th Boston Marathon. It is the oldest consecutive running city marathon. There's will be 25,000 runners, 500,000 spectators and the event will gain a revenue of about 125 million $ for the City of Boston. Amazing!

There are two reasons why I'm not participating: 1) It sold out in 2 hours. 2) The tough one: Requires a qualifying time of less than 3 hours (then you can of course get invited or volunteer etc.). I decided to run to Heart Break Hill. I tough and historical hill close to the 30 km sign and right next to Boston College in Newton. From there I was going to head along the course towards the finish line. After catching the spirit of it all and cheering for the runners I would home to Cambridge again. Me day is told and documented in the video. It was indeed an awesome day! Enjoy :-)

Class at MIT

MIT from Charles River

My first class at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) was yesterday. The research fellows at our lab tend to sit in on the classes of the two courses that our professor teaches at MIT about “Design on medical devices/implants” and “cell/matrix interactions”. Basically we were supposed to follow the entire course, but it turned out the classes were already fully booked by MIT grad students. We were still allowed to sit in the lectures that we would find of particular interest. Anyway, this was my first class since I graduated medical school. I’ve never been too fond of going to class. I usually blame the teachers for my lack of interest. I guess that’s easiest way. I got to MIT, which is actually were nice looking (from the outside); beautiful buildings right by Charles River and much closer to downtown Boston, but on the Cambridge side just as the Harvard main campus. On the inside though, most of it looks like the boring halls and classrooms in the movie “Good Will Hunting” (which it actually is exactly that). I think the newer parts are more interesting, but sightseeing would have to wait for another time.

I got there right on time meaning that most of the seats were already taken. I got to sit right up front, which has never been my favorite. You’re right on the frontline when the lecturer decides to ask improvised questions, and also, you don’t have a good overview of the class. The lecture was very relevant for my research project. It was going to be by a previous PhD-student from the lab that had done a lot of the groundwork for the studies I am doing. He is now a post doc at Harvard by the way – and a really nice guy. But he was running late. Our professor was already there (apparently he had taught a class that had been just as relevant for me) so he started going through answers of their previous homework assignment. Interesting actually, I have to admit, but I was also relieved that homework was pretty much a closed book for me at the moment.

When he finally arrived, a bit short breathed, most of his background and previous achievements were introduced by our professor. The lecture was good and very helpful, but the questions from the students were pretty impressive. That being said, as it often is (I guess) 90 percent of the questions were asked by 10 percent of the students... Afterwards the professor took over and discussed the latest achievements in the field and the questions to be asked. Also, he mentioned scientific projects that would be relevant for this topic. All added up, I don’t think this was my last time attending class, but next time I want to sit in the back. I like it better that way.

The Harvard Crimson

Saturday. No plans and no hangover. A full day for doing… Good question actually. I could of course always work but with temperatures in summer-mood and clear sky something outside was definitely preferable. Compared to Denmark, college sports are a REALLY big deal in The States (as you may already know). I live right across the river (Charles River) from the Harvard Athletics Facilities at Soldier’s Field. I decided that today was going to be a day of watching the undergrads do their best for the pride of their schools and themselves, of course. I packed my backpack with a camera, an apple and to cokes. 

As I got outside my door I could already hear the music playing from the speakers. Now, you might think from one stadium. No, no, no... There amazing facilities: Two boat houses, a soccer field, out- and indoor Tennis courses, an indoor running track, an outdoor athletics field and track, ice hockey stadium, basketball stadium, baseball field, softball field, rugby field, hockey field, volleyball stadium, swimming stadium (in Cambridge though), and the old and proud Harvard stadium (+30,000 capacity) for Football, Lacrosse and soccer as well (and I have probably missed something). The athletes and teams are the Harvard Crimson, which is also the name of the reddish color of Harvard.

As an avid baseball fan (one of the few European ones, I know) I decided to start at the baseball field. Many people were already seated: Parents, friends, alumni, and of course kids who would try to catch one of the foul balls. After rising and facing Stars and Stripes while listening and humming along to The Star Spangled Banner the game started. They were facing Princeton. Harvard is not known for it’s top sports teams (although that had had previous Olympians as seen in the Social Network). Actually, I think that without offending anyone I can say that it goes for all the Ivy League schools. However, interesting and close games are maintained because the Ivy League schools are only competing against each other in… the Ivy League. Though I must admit that it’s not that they are bad. They were actually pretty good. There are just schools and teams that are even better.

I really like the fact that sport and competing in sport are such big things here. I can say without blinking it is not in any way encouraged by the school system in Denmark (and I guess in most of Europe). But I totally agree that sport is good not only for getting you in shape, but also for learning being part of a team, working towards a goal, pushing your limits, and being rewarded when you succeed. At Harvard Department of Athletics it’s called “Education through Sport”, and more than that they believe that by doing this they are “Building Community and Pride in Harvard”. I totally and absolutely agree. However, it’s not only for the elite, as “Students should have opportunities to participate and compete as appropriate to their interest and skills.”

After the baseball game I watched a little softball and then went to the tennis center to watch a little of the. The biggest event of the day was the men’s lacrosse game against Cornell at Harvard Stadium (the game was even being broadcasted on TV). Two weeks ago I had no idea what lacrosse was, but since it’s big thing at least on the east cost I leaned a little about it online. I watched only a part of the of the game and felt that the fact that my skin was Scandinavian White, the sun was burning nicely and that sun screen in early April was not a part of my daily routine, heading home was probably not a bad idea (at night with red arms and neck I was proven right – even an hour earlier would have been a good idea).

I love the idea that sport is such a big thing in school for so many reasons and would lie if I said I wasn’t a little bit jealous. I got home just in time to watch the RedSox loose to the Yankees (the big baseball rivalry). Damn! As the Bostonians don’t hesitate to say: Yankees Suck!

This truly was a Day of Sports.