After approximately 6 months and several weeks of severe anxiety, I'm finally in the UK, at the University of Kent in Canterbury to be exact. We just finished our first week of studies here and I must admit that it's all a very different experience. It's nothing like the Grad certificate at Columbia or the first 2 semesters of my PhD at Antioch. I'm actually getting another undergrad degree but in Conservation Education, no less! And so, here I sit with 4 other incredible women from the Bahamas, Saipan, Palau and Mauritius....all ready to tackle this program with force.
As it is, I'm sick! The stress and anxiety of the days before my departure spun me into a downward decline in health. The 1st class seat from HI to NJ did alievate some of my flu like symptoms but not enough to stave off full blown misery upon arrival in the UK.
After convincing the dour-looking immigration agent to let me into the country, identifying my driver and battling the horrid London traffic, I made my way through the idyllic English countryside toward the county of Kent and the town of Canterbury.
Canterbury, from what I could remember from my high school readings of "Canterbury Tales", is a medieval town with a large cathedral at its heart. The university sits atop a hill overlooking its famous neighbor. I'm the 2nd of the RARE participants to arrive and had a chance to welcome the silence of an empty house and quad. I arrived just before "Fresher's Week", or Freshman Week for us Americans, and so all was quite. But that would not last for long.......the arrival of my program mates also ushered in the arrival of the "Freshers" and signaled the end of a quite night's sleep.
Needless to say, although I am a heavy sleeper.....English undergrads definitely can drink and yell till sunrise without getting tired. My fellow housemates, unfortuately are having a harding time adapting to that fact.
Forced cohabitation is definitely one aspect of unversity life I don't miss. Even though, my roommates are genuinely friendly, the idea of communal living and queing for showers makes me cringe. The idea of " action by consesus" never really works, and the thought of having to expend energy of assert my independence justs exhausts me. Unfortunately, I think this is all a way of univeristy life, no matter how old you are or what program you're in.
Besides battling the sinus infection from hell, the English "Uni" experience is definitely different but reminisent of previous experiences. For one thing, there is a pub or cafe in every building, so if you wanted to get a pint in between classes - it's acceptable and almost encouraged! My classes so far are definitely interesting. We haven't gotten entrenched into Social Marketing as of yet, but I can imagine thoroughly enjoying the experience. We finished our first module, Methods of Study - an intro course to our computer equipment and software - good for the jet-lagged and sick. I somehow think that all the other modules will quickly intensify and be more complicated in subject matter and assignments.
Well, that's all for now....I'm heading for the local pub and to get the full "uni" Friday night experience!"
Labels: "University of Kent" Canterbury UK sick
