Canterbury, University and what they did to me
Canterbury Cathederal
Three years ago I left my home in Cardiff and started a new life in The University of Kent, in Canterbury. Whilst there I made many friends, continued playing the violin as a member of the orchestra and often sang with the University choir. Not only did I enjoy my course but also had lots of fun exploring a new city with lots of new people. Here are just a few of my "Kentish" experiences.
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View from the Hill
The University
Canterbury and District
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Darwin College rooms
Our student house in Kemsing Gardens
The University campus is built on a hill overlooking the city and you just can't fail to notice the cathedral right at the heart of the city centre. Such a view provided us with a fantastic spot for sunbathing through the summer months, making visiting family and friends very jealous at times. My course was great, giving me an excuse to read many of the books I'd always thought about reading but felt were too difficult before University. Homer's Iliad and Plato's philosophies on the Atlantis myth quickly became two of my favourite reads. Despite studying English and American Literature and Classical and Archaeological Studies I still had plenty of time outside lectures and seminars to explore the main campus in my first year. To give you an idea of the size of the place, it wasn't unusual for people to drive or catch the bus from one end of the campus to another! The actual buildings on campus leave a lot to be desired but the scenery and the views are lovely. Despite not being the prettiest of colleges, Darwin College became my home for the first year in Kent with my room providing some of my fondest memories of University life, enjoying many a night laughing with friends and eating sausages from the George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine kindly donated by someone sympathetic to the needs of canteen-dining students.
Our local - many long nights playing Trivial Pursuits
Staple diet on the BBQ at our house
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Canterbury and District
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Canterbury is a beautiful city, built in such a way that no building even comes close to the size and grandeur of its cathedral. Obviously, the city's people prefer to keep the main shopping street historical and traditional, but that doesn't mean it fails to cater for the tastes of us younger folk. I found all the shops there that we have here in Cardiff; they just always came in miniature. Living in Canterbury was not just about staying in the city though. Being fairly adventurous my friends and I often went to the beach in Broadstairs on the train, walked around some of the countryside in Kent, travelled to London for day trips countless times and even ventured as far as Dublin and Paris on occasion.
The Marlow Theatre
Canterbury High Street
The Whitefriars Shopping Centre
The Broadstairs Pier
The University
Canterbury and District
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Cat and I readying ourselves before the Artsfest concert this year - Our last concert.
As people know, when I go anywhere I take my love of music with me and University was no exception to this. Mam and Dad are scarred for life after travelling the 220 miles to Canterbury for my concerts in the dining hall in the University and for thennual concert in Canterbury Cathedral. As a member of the University Symphony Orchestra and Choir I was privileged to be able to perform in such a prestigious and historical venue, which a also provided the backdrop for my graduation ceremony earlier this month. I will never forget playing those most famous first bars of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, hearing the sound of so many instruments filling such a fantastic space. By far my favourite event though was at the end of the year, on campus, sitting out on the hill overlooking the cathedral and the city. Add a rousing prom concert, a bag of balloons, pretty dresses, a crowd of family and friends, many a smile and an explosion of fireworks and you get The University of Kent's annual Artsfest celebration! I am very lucky to have had so many musical opportunities in Kent, and I am determined to pursue those interests now that I have left Canterbury and the University.
The University
Canterbury and District
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Eleri in Paris in front of the Eiffel Tower
I loved my time in Canterbury and will never ever forget the people I met, the places I visited, and the varied experiences I had. University was such an eye-opener and really helped me to develop independence, to learn to co-operate with others, and to enjoy life, whether it meant playing Trivial Pursuit in the garden or going on a road trip to Paris via Belgium (no, don't ask!). It is said that pictures speak louder than words so here are a few of my favourite pictures from the last three years.
Graduating with an Upper Second Degree
The University
Canterbury and District
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