Eriko writes about

Precious memories in England

I was staying in Coventry, England from April 2000 to March 2001. Coventry is located to the heart of England, so it is very convenient to visit some other cities, for example, Stratford-upon-Avon or Birmingham are very close to Coventry. The reason why I chose England is that I am interested in British culture. I wanted to see or visit English countryside and old cathedrals. I also wanted to know how the British life is nowadays.

During the stay, I went to college, which is for both overseas students and British students. For first five months, I was studying in the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) course. There were many students who are from all over the world. Especially, I got many Italian and Chinese friends. I often went to pub or disco with them. Also I traveled Scotland with some Italian and Spanish friends. We rented three cars and went around from Edinburgh to Inverness, Loch Ness, Isle of Skye, and Glen Nevis. Everything was so beautiful. I was so impressed. While we were travelling, we argued about our plan, however, our friendship became stronger than before, so this is a special memory for me.

From the end of September, I started to study Travel and Tourism Management with British students. Although this course was very difficult for me, I had a really good experience of studying something in English. Actually, this was the hardest experience during the stay, but on the other hand, I could have some confidence.

Turning to talk about accommodation. I was staying at an English lady's house for four months. She was very kind and we often had a chat with English tea. I also stayed at her friend's house for two weeks. In this family, there are three lovely children. I often played with them even after I had left the house. Then, I moved a house, which is for students to share. It was also a new experience. I was sharing with Chinese students. I think, to
live with foreign people is the best way to know each other's culture. Sometimes it was hard to accept for me, but very interesting. We often had someone's birthday party or Christmas party, New Year's party. They were really unforgettable good memories!

Finally, I would like to write my personal thoughts about the country "U.K." However, I was there only for a year. It was impossible to know well, but I like this country. I like English food, music, cities, and people I met there. On the other hand, I found many good points about Japan. If I had not stayed in England, I would not have felt this feeling. Also I knew the importance of friends. When I was worry about something, they always gave me a hand. They are not only Japanese friends but also friends from all over the world. I will never forget this special experience forever and I hope this would be helpful in my future.

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