Tomorrow, I’m spending a day at Oxford University.

Sorting things out, discussing future topics with my soon-to-be supervisor, watching the annual cricket match between the Applied Math and the Computer Science departments.

No joke.

So before I sign off for the night, I have to figure out:

1. How to get to Oxford,
2. How I’ll find the math department,
3. Review things I’d like to discuss, and
4. Find out how cricket is played.

“If they ask you to play,” advised my (former) supervisor, “just swing”.

I’m actually pretty nervous about this first meeting. Suffice it to say, I’ll be meeting with one of the superstars of Applied Math (not only in Britain, but all over the world), and I think the potential to make a real dick of myself is pretty substantial.

But it’s not only my performance which is being put to the test. What if we don’t get along? The relationship between doctoral student and supervisor pretty much dictates not only whether you’re going to be graduating with a Ph.D., but also whether you’re going to be successful 10 years down the line.

There are horror stories abound of students not getting along with their supervisors (for whatever reason) and essentially obliterating their careers then and there.

So yeah, I’m pretty worked up.

Oh, and yeah, I know about the whole wet situation up there.

Honestly, I’m more worried about making a fool of myself than I am about drowning.