Blog: Autumn 2020 Blog Post

Added Wednesday 23rd September 2020 by Jill Johnson (Return to Blog)

 ダラムキャンパスの秋期タームが始まりました。例年であれば帝京ダラム秋期留学生を迎えているこの時期、あたりは静寂に包まれています。残念ながら今期は日本からの留学コースはありません。幸いにも新任のウェルフェアオフィサー高木は３月に着任、新中村校長夫妻も無事９月１７日にダラムに到着しました。 一日も早く、ダラムキャンパスに学生たちが戻ってくるのを願っています。    

The start of the Autumn term here in Durham is very quiet compared to previous years. Instead of welcoming new students from Japan and settling them into life in the UK prior to the arrival of the Durham University fresher’s, the sound of silence is everywhere as students are unable to join us this term.

Actually, it is not totally silent; birdsong is louder than ever. More rabbits and squirrels are visiting the lawns around our buildings. An awareness of nature has never more apparent than it has been during lockdown.

The staff have of course been very busy. The teachers are now delivering online lectures and lessons direct to Japan so that students studying English may continue to do so, even if it is in unusual circumstances.

Our new Welfare Officer Mr Takagi arrived just before the UK lockdown, so his introduction to Durham has been somewhat unorthodox.

Thursday 17^th September saw the arrival of Teikyo University of Japan in Durham’s new Principal; Professor Nakamura and his wife Masako arrive in Durham in warm sunshine. Durham has never looked so welcoming! Let us hope they thoroughly enjoy working and living in Durham and students soon return to our wonderful campus.