The Canterbury Chronicles

This is a blog of my experiences abroad at the University of Kent in Canterbury, United Kingdom.

[canterburychronicles]

Hi! I'm a USC student and I'm really interested in doing this program next fall. Do you mind if I ask you some questions? I have a lot haha. One of the things I'm most excited about is getting to travel while I'm there, and I'm so glad it looks like you got to do that a lot! How do you find trains and such? And what were the fares like-- were they fairly reasonable? If you're still checking this haha, can you Facebook message me? My name is Alexis Deese. Thanks so much! :)

Hey! I'd be happy to answer your questions. I sent you a message!

[canterburychronicles]

The Adventure doesn't end in Canterbury. A quick recap of my time abroad for USC Undergraduate Research's Discovery Day!!!

[canterburychronicles]

hello! lovely blog. i'm studying abroad at kent very soon and i was wondering if you could answer a couple questions if you get the chance?? anyways i was wondering a) if you have any packing suggestions, like things you especially needed or whatevs and b) how easy you found it to meet people/how was the social scene. thanks!!

Hi! First of all, I think it's great that you're studying at Kent. I absolutely loved it there! Second, I also have a YouTube channel that talks about my experience abroad while being at Jent if you wanna look at that (I have a video on packing). The link is on my blog page. But to answer yiur questions A)I suggest that you pack in layers that way you'll be flexible & comfortable if the weather changes. B) It's really easy to meet people, everyone is nice but don't be offended if they're not very chatty. I've discovered that they're a more conservative bunch unless they have alcohol in them lol. C) The social scene on campus is great. There's always something to do like themed parties. There are over 5 bars on campus you can go to & places in town like The Cuban which is a nice club. I found this blog very helpful: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1251148

[canterburychronicles]

The Canterbury Chronicles Chapter 9: Today's the Day My last video here in Canterbury, UK. Less than 14 hours until my flight back home!!

[canterburychronicles]

Last night at K-Bat

[canterburychronicles]

December 20, 2013

I don't know what to call this post. I don't wanna say goodbye and and I don't wanna say that this is the end. There's so much to be said about my time here in Canterbury: I've done so much. I learned a lot while being here too. I've met some really amazing people, most of which I'm glad to call my friends and several of them I will be visiting in the near future.

The one thing that I've learned since coming here is this: Everything happens for a reason. I'm glad that I waited until this semester to study abroad. I needed to mature back home before coming to a country foreign to me and dealing with so many different people. I'm glad that I've matured as a student because being here I've learned that you have to be on your toes if you want to be successful. Kent is not for those who don't enjoy a challenge...My experiences back home prepared me to study abroad and I am grateful for that.

Today I went to town for the last time and it really made me sad. I don't think that my leaving here is like saying goodbye for good but who knows when I'll have this opportunity again? It's almost bittersweet: I'm happy to be on my way home but I'm gonna miss here. I'm gonna miss my friends a lot and my housemates. I'm gonna miss our nights at K-Bar and Tuesday nights at Origins. It won't be the same.

This time tomorrow I will be on my flight back to The States. I've had such an amazing time here. I have so many photos and memories. I'm so happy that I decided to do this blog but my experience will be out there for the whole world to see. Hopefully my experiences (however, candid and honest they may have been) will encourage others to study abroad. It's time to close this chapter of my chronicles and start a new one! I can't wait to get started on something else!

[canterburychronicles]

The Canterbury Chronicles Chapter 8: "See What I Had to Work With?" A little tour of my humble abode. Didn't use the best camera for this video.

[canterburychronicles]

Shame on me

[canterburychronicles]

The Haul: Study Abroad Edition. My first haul video on all the things I bought while overseas. So many things, I don't think I named them all. I also have no idea how I'm gonna pack all this!

[canterburychronicles]

#TREND Boat Party on the River Thames

[canterburychronicles]

Wanna see what I've hauled since coming to Europe? The Haul: Study Abroad Edition coming soon!!

Kelsey

[canterburychronicles]

Wrapping Up the End of the Semester

Since Paris I've been on a crazy world wind of things: essays for my modules, Christmas parties, and a night trip to a boat party on the River Thames.

Let's start with these essays. Initially, I had two essays, a poster and an interview assessment due for my Dickens, Medieval Literature, and Anthropology modules respectively. Me, being the Queen of Procrastination, decided to wait until the end of the semester to complete these items. Bad idea. Word to the wise: If you have an assignment that isn't due until later in the semester, do it early so that you don't have to think about it or cram to get it all done. I'm not necessarily cramming, but I've learned that I can get things done when I really want to do it. So far, I've completed one assignment, leaving me with less than a week to complete the others. On the plus side, my interview isn't officially due until January so I'm not gonna stress myself with that just yet. Essays here are stressful, just as challenging as I though they would be (come on, we're talking about English literature in its birthplace). I should have known better but it's a challenge that I can say I've conquered.

On Monday, my housemates and I went to a buffet at the Pavilion. It was really nice, a lot of the students there weren't very talkative but we still had a good time. The food was also good. Yesterday, we went to London for the #TREND party on the River Thames. The venue we paid for (which was about £28 with a Visa) hired buses to take us from the Penny Theatre (in Canterbury) to the river. We were on this boat called, "The Pride of London". I thought the experience was really nice. London is beautiful at night, especially with the neon lights lighting up the London Eye and Tower Bridge. It was really cold but I had a really good time with my housemates. By the time we got back home it was after 2am and we had to wait on our taxi for 15 minutes in the cold. I crashed as soon as I made to my room. If #TREND ever offered to do it again, I would definitely recommend it.

[canterburychronicles]

Yes, there were bad times, but the good outweighed the bad. Photo montage of our time in Paris. Soundtrack: "Sugar" by Stretch Princess

[canterburychronicles]

Despite my unfortunate event, I will post the photos (maybe a video) of my time in Paris!!

~Kelsey

[canterburychronicles]

The Canterbury Chronicles Chapter 7: "Ish Happens...Excuse My French" Update on my trip to Paris, France. Lesson learned that despite everything in your power, ish happens that you can't control. Uncensored and cynical.

[canterburychronicles]

Packing for Paris!! I'm Stoked! I'm Stoked!!!

[canterburychronicles]

A dramatic reading of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. What a great way to start off December!