Kent Village
July 25, 2008 – 7:08 pmThe University of Kent is beginning to resemble a village. Halfway through the 20-day conference, delegates, participants and “others” (that would be us, in the media), are getting accustomed to their surroundings. We are settling in, so to speak. Even though most of us miss home, we’re not as catatonic as we were last week.
I see a group of African spouses sharing a good laugh under the shade of trees and much as I would love to join them I wouldn’t want to scare them with my turquoise lanyard (”Avoid, bad media,” some have been told), so I stay away and watch them from a distance. I wonder what they’re talking about. I wonder if at some point their thoughts and conversations shift to loved ones back home. It’s not easy to be away of one’s comfort zone for this long.
Some bishops and spouses been stocking up on provisions at the grocery near the Mandela building. This university shop has everything — from fresh bananas to adaptors.
Others have been having “house visits.” I had a brief chat with the bishop of Taiwan, David Lai and his wife, Lily, and they told me that they have already invited Bishop Mark MacDonald, the national Anglican indigenous bishop, and his wife, Virginia, who is of Taiwanese descent, for tea in their wing. (In case one forgets, bishops and their spouses are staying in student residences.)
University food at Kent is also more than decent. At the Darwin Building, where the media centre is located, there is a fine, reasonably priced Mexican restaurant aptly called Origins. Incidentally, this is where the retired bishop of Niagara, Ralph Spence, holds court. Well, this is where most the Lambeth stewards, who he pastors, go for lunch and dinner. It’s also where most go to unwind — quite a good selection of beer and wine, I am told.
I haven’t been to Woody’s Bar, near Keynes Collage, which I am told most Canadian bishops prefer. In relation to the Media Centre, it would be like walking to another village. But I will have to check it out as the conference draws to a close next week.
