Sometimes you have to get out

The following mini-blogs are all about the short trips I took over the year to escape my little dorm room in Canterbury. "But why," I can hear you asking, "would you ever want to leave?" I'm glad you asked.

There was one benefit to my room at UKC: I didn't have to share it. That was it.

On the other hand, I had a "mattress" that was literally - I kid you not - a blue 2" exercise mat. The sheets they provided - excuse me, sheet - was a bolt of cloth, un-hemmed. The pillow was featherless, and the bed frame consisted of two wooden planks laid across another couple of wood planks for support. And that's just the bed.

The bathroom in my room looked like a little pod, which never drained correctly and never dried, so the room was constantly damp. The windows didn't lock and the radiator didn't work. My hallmates, whom I spoke to a total of once (on move-in day) liked to play loud music and practice soccer in the hallway, using my door as a goal. There was no kitchen, save an unplugged mini-fridge, a microwave, and a sink. No oven, no stove, no freezer or cabinet space. Meals were few and far between. John estimates I lost 20 pounds that year.