Homepage Clifton College: http://ds.dial.pipex.com/clifton-college/ 

“It’s a big difference” This was my first thought as Wednesday morning approached and I suddenly found myself dressed up in a suit sitting on a bench in the college Chapel. 

Seeing myself in a suit with a black tie with purple stripes around my neck (which I think looks pretty strange) and black shoes which have to be polished all the time. It is quite a difference for someone who used to wear wide trousers hanging from below his waistline showing his behind and comfortable shoes. 

And here are some of Benjamin's fotos

But I really didn't have time to think about that because after singing a short Hymn and listening to the words of the prayer I had to go directly to a Tutor group meeting. A Tutor is a person you can always talk to about all the things that don't work as they're supposed to. After this short meeting I went straight off to my very first lesson in my new school. I felt that the lessons in Chemistry and Physics aren't as difficult as they are in Germany. The only problem I have to get rid of, which remains my main problem when I'm in lessons is to understand the question. Explaining things which are easy to explain in German can be a really hard task in English. Especially when the questions in English are too difficult for me to comprehend. After surviving my first day of school in England I was also about to experience the English food of which I had heard really bad stories. But in fact it wasn't that bad.

Of course there were more new things to experience than only the food and the English education system. I also got to know what living in an English boarding house is like. And that is probably the part of this report I like writing about most. There were several new things for me to experience. Like sharing a room with another person and having call over every evening. But that wasn't all that was new for me. I expected life to change when you are living in a house with 51 other people but I didn't expect that it was going to be that great. I like the people in my house. And I've already become the freaky German, which I like the idea of.

I think being in a boarding school isn't bad at all. There is always a lot for me to do and I hardly get bored. There are a lot of sporting activities available but I don't do any of them because I'm off games at the moment because I became ill the second week into my time here. But I have recovered and I am feeling great. I am also given a lot of homework, which is, as you would guess, something that keeps me really busy. You have two hours every evening to do your homework or as they call it here ‘Prep’ from 7:15 PM to 9:15 PM. In that time you are supposed to be in your room and be doing your Homework. But on some occasions the two hours aren't enough and you have to continue working in your free time. But I think that this is a strong point of this school. At least everybody is doing his or her homework.

Ben Feustell BFeustall@clifton-college.avon.sch.uk 21-09-2000