First Impressions...

First Impressions of Mertens House....

Jake Freeman (Shell)

When I first came to Ardingly I was feeling nervous about meeting new friends and getting to know the other boys in Shell. I was amazed at how nice the atmosphere was in the house and in lessons. Lessons weren’t that bad and the prep was easier than I expected. In the past I have had bad experiences with school food but not at Ardingly. The breakfast is always nice and keeps you going until lunch. Lunch is also very nice with a big variety of what you want to eat with salad and soup on the sides. The common room is the main room that everyone goes to in the evenings to play pool, table football or watch sky. Evening school is quite good, everyone settles down to do work at sevenish and either does prep or revises. I have really enjoyed my first week here and I am looking forward to next week.

Maxwell Pierce (Shell)

When I first stepped in to Mertens house I was so anxious I didn’t know anybody and everything looked so different. Then, when I was in my bedroom, I met an Italian boy called Mauro. He was just as shy as I was. Eventually I got to know Mauro and a lot of the other boys in Mertens House. The lower sixth are so nice they always help you with your homework and talk to you if you’re feeling a bit lonely.  At first I thought the lessons were going to be really hard and annoying but they were very enjoyable. In the common room they have a PlayStation 3, a pool table and a flat screen TV. Most of the boys in shell are addicted to FIFA ’11; you wouldn’t believe how much they play it. The food is great every weekend Mertens House has a barbecue and we have hamburgers, hotdogs and lots of other great things. This week has been fantastic; I can’t wait till next week.