Last spring I discovered the cure for those unfortunate moments when you have a lot of assigned reading behind you and a lot ahead, and all you really want to do is watch “Parks and Rec” until you pass out. Are you ready? Here it is: Read for fun.
So, after all these posts, are you interested? I hope I've managed to make clear how valuable a study abroad experience is--the hard part is figuring out which one is right for you. In order to present the Kenyon Exeter program as broadly as possible, Jenna Nobbs '15, another member of the program, has also contributed a piece about her experience. We share a lot of the same positive sentiments: the work, the independence, the travel. I think the differences in our experiences are valuable, and I hope you take the time to read both sides as you work towards a decision.
Kiss me hard before you go
Summertime madness
Just want everyone to know
That, gambier's just the best
One of the differences in the British curriculum is something I literally just learned about: they have three terms. The extra third term is there for exams--which, as an abroad student with the classes I've chosen, I don't have. Therefore, when the second term ends, we essentially have two months of "free time." I put that in quotes, because it's possibly the busiest time of the year. This is where all the traveling goes, the group trips, the bucket list items, all scheduled around final essays. I just returned from a three-week bender in Europe, and tried to document it as best as I could. Here's a taster of what I got up to. Now it's just time to hunker down and write before jetting off to Scotland in a week.
Take a break. Kenyon sometimes is too much, so take a break. Not from the college itself, but from your work, your activities and your responsibilities. Sit and listen to music, go for a run or take a nap, but make sure to unwind. Sometimes I listen to some Norah Jones or talk to my mom.