JKB: How’s Govs so far? 

MC: It’s good. Everyone is really welcoming, and I am really happy here right now.

JKB: Why did you want to come to Govs?

MC: That is difficult to answer because I did not apply to Govs particularly. I wanted to come to America because of new experiences and know how it is different from a U.K. school. I did not apply to Govs directly but applied from the program.

JKB: What is the main difference between the U.K and Govs?

MC: Everything. So much more space here. So much more serious sport. The teaching style is very different. I went to public school in London, so we had like 1700 people, and the school ground was way smaller than this. But at the same time, I was a 5 minutes walk away from central London. It was very different everywhere.

JKB: I checked your profile picture in Veracross…why did you cut your hair?

MC: I went to a Turkish barber, and I asked for medium-length hair, and he just completely decimated me. I did not actually want to cut it this short. He just “Turkish barbered” me.

JKB: What are things that you want to tell people at Govs?

MC: Just open to talk…happy to talk to anyone.

JKB: What was your biggest culture shock?

MC: Not being near the noises of the city because I grew up in the city my entire life. Kind of quietness being out here, which I don’t really mind, but it is very different. That will be my biggest cultural shock.

JKB: Did you have any difficulties?

MC: Playing football every day. We do not train as much as here in England. We are not serious about sports. Training every day shocked my body.

JKB: Did you play any sports in England? 

MC: I boxed for like 5 years, and I also played a lot of soccer. Everyone plays soccer in England, so I played sports, but in school it is not as serious as here.

JKB: Who is your favorite teacher?

MC: That is tough. Um…I think Ms. Anderson. Maybe because that is what I am going to study at university. She is teaching similar stuff like physics and multivariable calculus which I am most interested in. Every single teacher is good. 

JKB: Do you miss anything? 

MC: I miss the noise a little bit. I miss being able to get on a train and basically go everywhere I want to go. I am missing friends, but I am settling here for a while, so everything is pretty good.

JKB: Who helped you the most when you first came here?

MC: Everyone has been really welcoming. I love the teacher allowing me to be a couple minutes late to class.  I do not know where the classes are. People are helping me with technology. All the people in Ingham. Everyone has been sound.

JKB: Who has the best British accent?

MC: Amelia Barlow. She is the only one who is doing it consistently. She is getting better.

JKB: JKB: Do you know Thomas Tennet?

MC: I met him a couple times for the program. I never met him before. 

JKB: How much better is the food than in Britain?

MC: Definitely, better than school food in Britain. This guy called Jamie Oliver who set up a bunch of rules about sugar and different ingredients messed up school meals. Being able to eat here is way better. 

JKB: Do you drink tea?

MC: I never drank tea or coffee here yet, but I used to drink coffee every day when I was in England. I like tea. I would not say I won’t, but in the past, coffee was my drink.

JKB: What are you looking forward to the rest of your time at Govs?

MC: Making friends for life, and also learning some more math. Assimilating to culture and playing sports. Getting a little bit healthier.