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| Don't let the crazy map fool you! Canterbury is easy to navigate because you can spot the cathedral from anywhere. It's the perfect marker to find your way around. |
Canterbury
is similar to Naperville (my home institution’s city) because it is very quaint
and everything is within walking distance.
Also, I like to think Canterbury is similar to Naperville because both
places are just an hour away from major cities (London and Chicago). Most of the tourist shops here are filled to
capacity with London souvenirs, despite the fact that this is not actually
London. The same is true back home; many
shops in Naperville and the surrounding area carry touristy Chicago items.
*Side note:
Chris, one of my new friends from Northern Ireland, says that in Europe
and the UK, the presence of a cathedral is what determines whether the area is
called a town or a city. If there’s a
cathedral, it’s a city. If there’s no
cathedral, it’s a town. This label has
nothing to do with population. It’s all
based on the presence of a cathedral.
Interesting!*
There’s
lots to do here – a scenic river walk area, cute (expensive) little window-shops
and cafes, and a coffee shop on every corner (one of two British favorites: Starbucks
or Costa). However, most businesses close
by seven on the weekdays and by four on Sunday.
If you’re lucky, you’ll find a Starbucks open past seven on Saturday. I’m hard-pressed to find a cheap café where I
can hangout and read, study, etc. It’s
times like these that I miss the Boilerhouse at NCC (even though BoHo coffee is
mediocre at best).
I’ve
been on a bit of a high this past week. Everything
is going just perfectly and I’m very happy with the way this new life of mine
is turning out. However, I am bracing
myself for the low that is sure to follow this.
Before leaving home, we were told about the dramatic ups and downs that
usually plague the first few weeks of a study abroad students’ experience. I am determined to avoid the lows, but in
case I suddenly become really homesick, I am mentally preparing myself for it.
Today was
beautiful, weather-wise. THE SUN CAME
OUT. Like, it actually peeked out from behind
the clouds, then, later in the afternoon, it burst through the clouds and the
entire town was aglow. I hate to be so cheesy,
but it was magical. It was almost
humid. Certainly not Chicago humidity, but
definitely the warmest day I’ve seen since my arrival in this rainy place.
Not the best quality photo, but THE SUN.
After a
quick visit to campus to pick up some paperwork from Doug’s office, I sat out
on the lawn and stared to read The
Canterbury Tales (for the second time this year). I hate to admit it, but I really hated the
Tales the first time through (Sorry, Dr. Eaton!). I know, I know, I’m an awful English Lit. major. Maybe it’s because I’m IN Canterbury, but after reading through The Miller’s Tale earlier today, I was
actually enjoying myself. Ha! Funny how that works.
While I
was sitting there reading, some random foreign dude came up to me and asked me
where the Centre for Sport is located. Judging
from his thick accent, he was definitely not English. I couldn’t tell where he was from, but I could tell that he was trying to hit on
me. I guess flirting is the same in
every language, heh. Awkward.
The state-of-the-art library that I can use for the next three months... YAY!!!
Anyway,
nothing too exciting happened today.
Tomorrow I get to tour the Canterbury Cathedral… finally! I am definitely looking forward to that. Also, there is a “Vintage Fayre” at the Student
Union with free giveaways and FOOD. You
best believe I’m going to that. At 7:30,
the CU has its first meeting in the chapel.
I’m interested to see if this meeting is similar to Focus, our
inter-denominational student-led worship service back home. And hopefully, I will get plugged into a Bible
study once I find a church.
And lastly, dear reader, I leave you with these pictures of the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral!
Cheers!
– K
BRITISH WORDS OF THE DAY
module - course or class
wellies - rain boots; Wellingtons
