Suurbritannia Dmitri Turenkov 2018: The first full-time day in Canterbury

The first full day of our stay in Canterbury is coming to its end. This morning we met both Brian and Silmara at the Canterbury College. As my cell phone’s battery happily breathed its last at night (since I was smart enough not to have bought a three-to-two-pin adapter in advance, applaud to the beacon of reason is welcome here), I had to follow my intuition in trying to find my way out of the maze of the living history embodied in brick and mortar. This cost me good twenty minutes and probably a couple of grey hairs since I was trying to make it on time.

At College, Silmara inducted students into what they were going to do during their vocational placement, as well as mentioned a few indisputable things students should follow at all times at their work stations.

Then, we were toured around the premises of the college. Students who are to take their vocational placement within the walls of the college, were shown to their workshops and introduced to persons-in-charge.

What caught my eye was the posters with local students' feedbacks,

lining the walls next to the workshops:

Part of the masonry workshop. The mortar used for binding bricks and cinder blocks contains a lot of sand which makes the masonry easy to knock down.

Following that, a lunch on the receiving party was organised. At that point we parted with Brian and Silmara took us to a posh hotel where two of our students would begin their internship tomorrow and then toured us around the downtown and its budget outlets.

Abbots Barton Hotel, Canterbury. Here, Richard and Diana will take their vocational placement

At that point, we were left on our own. Later in the day, we had a fabulous walk down the medieval streets of Canterbury.

High Street

the river Stour

I showed the students to the Canterbury Tales Museum, which is a must-to-see when in town.

The Canterbury Tales Museum. Opening hours 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

By that time, the access to the premises of Canterbury Cathedral had become free of charge, so we took a short stroll around it (mind the construction works) and I told them a tale by Chaucer, thus finishing this introduction to the English history and calling it a day. Tomorrow, I will start attending English classes at the college. Looking forward to it !