Not So Different from Us

When I first arrived in Grantham with my peers, I expected to spend a lot of my time at the Manor when I wasn't traveling. Gladly, that hasn't been the case. Although we've only been here about a month, my friends and I have taken the time to go into town quite often -- sometimes several days a week. Due to the frequent visits to The Goose, and other venues, we've had the opportunity to meet and socialize with some of the locals.

I didn't expect the people we met to be so open with us, especially since we're not from the area. However, everyone we've had the honour of spending time with has treated us like we were old friends. We talk about everything from sports to clothing stores, and even get to teach each other slang. Don't get me wrong, I didn't expect everyone to be completely different here, but I also didn't expect to see how similar they would be. Like me, they have their funny quirks, joke around with their friends, go out, and have to deal with the occasional nagging parent. Although we all have various cultural backgrounds, the people we've gotten to know so far are just like us -- dealing with the same things we have to, back at home.

It's refreshing and comforting to be in an environment where I can communicate easily with other people. Meeting new people and making new friends has certainly made the experience at Harlaxton worthwhile. It has also shown me that no matter where you go, you can find commonalities and find people with whom you can relate.

Ariel Campbell