Christian La Fontaine - Trent Study Abroad Program

Why did you decide to travel abroad?: I have an interest in Medieval history, and I felt that studying in England, particularly in Canterbury, gave me a great opportunity to pursue that interest.

Why did you choose to study at The University of Kent? How did you learn about it?: I chose the University of Kent for a few reasons. Firstly, it is in Canterbury, one of the most important medieval cities in England. Studying a twenty-minute walk from Canterbury Cathedral was a dream come true for a budding medievalist like myself. Further the location was perfect for traveling as it is only a short train trip to London and it is on the Eurostar line giving easy train access to Paris and the rest of Europe. Finally, the reviews for the university that I found online were extremely positive and the modules offered were exactly what I was looking for in choosing my third-year course of study. All in all, Kent was an obvious choice for me.

What was your experience like? What are some of the differences & similarities with Trent?: The main difference is that Kent is a lot bigger than Trent and it was a little overwhelming at first. There are more than twice as many students and the campus has a lot more buildings. It is basically a city with two grocery stores, three bars and a nightclub. But quickly I got the feel for the layout, learned which buildings mattered to me and simplified things. The class sizes, at least for my program, weren’t too big so that part was fine. The campus is also quite beautiful. It's in a forest, like Trent, and the amount of wildlife you get to see is amazing. Foxes and rabbits are everywhere. The most significant academic difference I experienced was the differences in scheduling and the increased importance of exams. At Kent with a full course load, I had just six hours of in class time per week compared to Trent where I have thirty. As a result, you really have to stay organized and self-motivated. Also, while at Trent the bulk of my marks have come from essays and term papers, both of my courses at Kent have had more than sixty percent of their grade's dependent on an exam. It’s quite a different approach to academics and it takes some getting used to.

What did you find was the most challenging while abroad? : The most challenging thing for me was being away from all my loved ones for a long time. As much fun as I was having, feelings of isolation can pop up, especially on holidays when I would normally go home and be with family.

In your opinion, what would you say are the benefits of studying abroad? : I think it is just a great opportunity to get out and experience more of the world. There’s a saying that the best way to travel is to stay longer in fewer places and with a semester abroad you are getting the opportunity to do that. You can really get to know a new place and figure out all the ins and outs of it and I think that has a lot of benefits for life in general.

What was one of your favourite memories from your time abroad? : I am not sure if I have one specifically but the access to nature and walking trails in Kent was incredible. I spent a lot of time out in the woods or walking along paths through fields, and some of those paths have existed since Roman times. I’ll remember that time spent for a long time.

If someone told you they were thinking about studying abroad but weren’t convinced they should, what would you tell them? : Well, I’d say it’s a great experience and opportunity but it’s also a challenge. I think much of what you get out of studying abroad depends on what you put into it, so it's important for people to decide if they are up for it. That said, I would certainly encourage everyone to consider studying abroad because it really is one of the coolest experiences you can have as a part of university life.