wow, what can i update you all on. it feels like i've done so much and yet i've only been in canterbury for a few days. yesterday i went to ASDA, the british version of wallmart, and stocked up on essentials. after ASDA, we had a great (free!) buffet lunch at one of the restaurants on campus and then had a library tour. the library on campus is awesome. it's four floors with tons of computer rooms and silent study areas. i'm hoping to make that my home base for studying if my dorm room happens to be a little to distracting. after the library tour, lindsey and i went to downtown canterbury and discovered that their shops close at 5 pm. what?? are they run by centenarians that need to get to bed early? anyway, we found an AWESOME cafe/restaurant with funky art, and an entire wall devoted to clocks. it's so cute, i know i'm going back. we then proceeded to get lost on our way to the ghost tour, but happened upon it right when it started. i guess the spirits were with us. the ghost tour was cool - the guide took us around town to different buildings and told us of the gruesome things that happened there. after the tour, a group of us went to a pub and i tried strongbow. it's good, but i prefer kronenbourg. i met some more girls from the US that are at uni of kent through a different program than mine, and they're super nice.

as of yet, none of my roommates have arrived. i wonder what they're like. i hope they take me out with them to show me the town! can't wait for classes to start monday. hope they're not too hard!

well, here i am in my room at the university of kent in canterbury, england! it's almost 10 o'clock pm here and i am so happy to finally be settled in my own room. i'm completely unpacked, and i am so impressed by the amount of free space i have left. they even forgot to put a chest of drawers in my room but i managed to fit my clothes into the other spaces they provided (though instead of books i have clothes in my desk drawers). tomorrow i plan on exploring the town of canterbury with my newfound friend, lindsey, a fellow education abroad student from uc santa cruz, who was also my roommate during our london orientation.

it is cold, but quite pleasant as long as you bundle up in layers. the worst part is going from the cold outside to the warm indoors. you have to get your coat off as soon as possible or you risk overheating. tomorrow and the next day are kent orientation, and then i have a weekend free to adventure. no plans yet, but for sure something exciting. classes start monday, and i hope they're good!

i'm missing my loved ones back in the states, but as the days go by, it is becoming easier for me to cope with it. i'm sending warm wishes to you all.