Category: 2014/15 Fernanda O. (Brazil)

I cannot believe I am leaving. I cannot possibly picture myself away from those people. I feel that I´ve got a really well structured social cycle here, and I am honestly not willing to let it go.

This last month has been spectacular and although many people are feeling quite tired about the end of the term, since we are all absolutely packed with things to do, I am trying to enjoy every single second I have left here.

I don’t even know how to explain my relationships with my friends over here. I am deeply in love with them, I mean, I feel that we get on so well that I won’t be able to survive without them when I come back. Those guys are amazing: they are interested in discussing politics, culture, history and so many interesting things all the time, without feeling awkward about it. It is sad, though, that I just got to really know some of them at this point, because now that we are actually close friends I will have to leave. I guess that’s the price I have to pay for being so happy for a couple of months.

This last month I’ve been to the Natural History Museum, to Harrods and to Westfield Mall in London, in different school trips. I had lots of fun there, and even though I am not a shopping fan I enjoyed going shopping with different people, and I had a really good laugh with some of them. I also went to London on an Economics trip to the London Economics Society, where we learnt about the relationship between economists and journalists. After that, as we were late to catch the first train, our teachers took us to have a mean at an Indian restaurant in Covent Garden.

Actually, I ended up going to London again, two days later with my Literature teacher to watch a play based on a John Ford’s drama at a candlelight restored theatre, which is part of the Shakespeare Globe. It was absolutely breath-taking.

I’ve been asked to write two articles to the school newspaper this month and that made me feel even more part of the community here. As an international day pupil I was also allowed to board at school for a weekend, and I really enjoyed it, as it was an opportunity for me to enjoy my last weekend with my friends at the boarding houses. There was a lovely Christmas supper and a Disco at night and I had such a great time with them.

Christmas atmosphere is something wonderful and new for me, as I’ve never had cold during Christmas time in Brazil. Here, people seem to get friendlier, the streets are beautifully decorated, full of lights, and there seems to be some kind of ‘magic joyfulness’ in the air.

The last day of the term was one of the best days of my life. Regardless of the fact that I had been crying the whole day long as my international friends were leaving to spend holidays at home, one by one, I had the most extraordinary opportunity to take part in the Kent College Carol Service, singing with the School choir at the Canterbury Cathedral, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. We sang the most beautiful Christmas Carols, holding carols in a procession along the gorgeous building, and I could help getting really emotional.

At the end, I got to hug most of my teachers, who I am going to miss so much, and from whom I’ve learnt so much. I am still saying the last good-byes, but I am not ready to go at all. Anyway, I don’t think I will ever leave this place. I might physically do it, but I will never leave it in my heart.

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