Letter from Kenrick Mark (9th Edition)
Letter from Kenrick Mark
Dear Esteemed Readers,
Although I have been adjusting slowly, and meeting new people, and seeing more of the Greenwich borough in London, I need to be honest. I nearly cried at some moments during my first week. I missed home, my family, my comrades. I even downloaded a countdown app, to see how fast the time was going until I arrived back in Big Falls, Toledo. I kept asking myself, especially during the nights of the first week when I was in my room, ‘Why can’t I sleep?’, ‘Why am I so far away from my family?’, ‘What is happening?’. But this was all a part of a new process and a new journey — achieving my childhood dream. And even during the year, there were many moments I longed for my family and my comrades. I held strong.
I had a restful sleep. On Sunday, I woke up late (around 9am), did my routine — shower, check emails, and I had cornflakes. In the afternoon, I went to do laundry. There was a laundry room in the main building. I didn’t know what to do, though. I asked one of the staff, and she told me I needed to purchase a top up card from the machine in the room. I believe I placed 5 (1 pound) coins into the machine and out came a card. There were instructions on the side of the machine. It clearly stated the website I need to visit to create an account with the number on my card, and then, I can purchase credits. I wrote down the instructions and went upstairs to immediately do this.
There were many students queuing to wash their clothes (as there were only three washing machines and two dryers). I don’t fancy crowds, and decided to wait until late at night or early morning (If I’m up) to do laundry. The process on the website was quite easy. I topped up my card with 20 sterling pounds. Around 10pm that night, I came downstairs to do laundry. I placed my clothes and the soap powder into the machine. I swiped my card, paying for the wash cycle, and the machine started. I learnt something new today (smiling)! Since it took an hour, I went outside to walk around, and noticed it was quite abuzz with activity — many young people drinking having a merry time, people out for dinner, lovers walking around cuddled together, homeless men and women on the sideway, loud noises everywhere, and of course, the big red buses zooming by every time. I thought — London, the city that never sleeps! During my first week, I was scared to venture out at night, not knowing if there were gangs around or places I should not be. I did read reports on the internet (before I left Belize) about incidents, thus I kept caution. I returned and my clothes were ready. I placed them in the dryer and paid for the dry cycle. That was another half hour. I strolled around until it was finished. That’s when I saw the vending machine in a corner — loaded with chocolates, fruit drinks, sodas, iced tea, chips, and crackers. My eyes opened wide. I love sweet treats!!! But again, being the ‘bush’ guy from the Toledo district, nestled in the tiny Central American nation of Belize, I knew nothing of vending machines. I later learned though. That will be explained in another edition of my Letters.
When the dry cycle was finish, I was disappointed. My clothes were both half dried and had some ‘white-materials’ here and there on the clothes. These were from other clothing that left ‘cotton’ like materials from the inside. I decided to brush them off. I went upstairs and hang out my clothing in my room. Since my window stayed open from morning until I went to sleep, I was positive the incoming air was adequate to dry them in a day. I never used the drying machine again. It’s a waste of money, time and a mess!
It was Monday morning! It was my first class at the University of Greenwich! I walked over at 9am because classes began 930am. It was a Public Relations Introductory Class in the Queen Anne building. The classroom was on the second floor but given the dynamics of the building, and being a fresher on campus, it was a bit challenging to find. I did found it (after all) and walked in. A few students were already present. Two professors walked in exactly 930am. They introduced themselves — Professor Mark and Professor Mudra. Mudra was actually Indian, like me. They gave a description of the Public Relations post graduate program. They also provided us with an information book. They then asked all of us to introduce ourselves — stating our names, countries, academic background, and relative information. That’s when I used my intuition to see who was the most brilliant of the crew. We all did our introductions — Inge, Silvia, Bianca, Serena, Vania, Amy, Elaye, Georgia, Tolu, and me. I carefully observed the individual introductions and noticed the vibrancy of Inge. Surprisingly, she already had a Master’s degree in Marketing. My new classmates all seemed very humble, well cultured, and eager to commence post graduate studies. We didn’t spoke to each other yet though. Only Tolu and I interacted, as we knew each other from before. It was nearly an hour already. The professors then shared welcoming presents to all of us — a bag filled with memorabilia from the University of Greenwich. I was excited! Gifts, on the first day! I smiled. They told us that’s the end of the session. They encouraged us to fully engage in the academic program and participate in events around the UK (both related to Public Relations, and in general). They reiterated that we need to embrace and enjoy our year in the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Some of us went to the school cafe, others went home.
Our next session was in the evening around 430pm — Foundations of Scholarship. Again, being a ‘bush’ guy from Belize, I arrived early. Yes, that true! I don’t celebrate the Belize time of being an hour late. I arrived at 4am and searched for our classroom, which was on the third floor of the Queen Mary building — a computer laboratory, to be exact. I walked up some very tall but elaborate stairs to reach the laboratory. I sat and rest. I felt a bit warm. I took of my coat. I started reviewing some information from our introduction book. A few minutes later, a tall guy arrived. He stood for a while. He then asked — ‘are you in the Public Relations program too?’ I said ‘yes’. He introduced himself -’I’m Ervin, from the Slovak Republic, but lived in Colombia, South America for some time.’ We talked for a while, and he seemed like a cool guy. He asked me why I came all the way to England to study. I told him that I received the very prestigious Chevening scholarship, my childhood dream. He was impressed. A few of the others began arriving. We waited for our Professor Kristen (we still haven’t met her in person). She arrived at exactly 430pm. She was quite a lady, very British, an avid talker, and told us all to follow her in the computer laboratory. She then introduced herself.
I’m quite exhausted for tonight. I will continue my journey in a next edition of Letter from Kenrick Mark.
Sincerely yours,
Kenrick Mark
