New freshman Alice Kellie recently transferred from Raphael Independent School in London, England.
Q: How did you hear about Country Day?
A: My aunt told us that it was a really good private school, so we went on the website, and it seemed really relaxed compared to other schools I’ve been to. And I’ve transferred schools quite a lot.
Q: How many times have you transferred?
A: I’ve transferred thrice in England during high school. The first time was because the school I was going to really dropped in standards.
Q: Why did you move to Sacramento?
A: To be close to my family. My aunt lives in Sacramento. And my grandmother and nearly all my mother’s siblings live here. But some live in San Jose.
Q: How many siblings do you have?
A: Two. My little sister goes to SCDS, and my older brother goes to Oxford University in England.
Q: Why did you decide to attend Country Day?
A: Because I shadowed here and thought it was better than Buckingham and Cristo Rey. The lessons seemed good, and the results here were good too.
Q: How is Country Day different from your old school?
A: The schedules here are different because in England PE is not so often, and we don’t have the same lessons every day. We usually have an A and B week, which we change every semester. And everyone wears a uniform. Coincidentally, mine was red and black!
Q: What was your first impression of SCDS?
A: Really nice because in England the people aren’t as nice as they are here. Here people walk down the street and say hi, and in England they don’t.
Q: What are some of your hobbies?
A: Playing the piano, reading and watching films.
Q: How long have you been taking piano lessons?
A: I’ve been playing the piano since I was 8 years old, but I started getting proper lessons in 2012. I usually play songs I listen to for fun but some classical as well.
Q: What’s your favorite book?
A: Currently it’s (the young-adult novel) “Eleanor & Park.” It isn’t the type of book I usually read.
I usually read classics, but I really like “The Fault In Our Stars.” John Green reviewed “Eleanor & Park,” so I decided to give it a shot and actually enjoyed it.
Q: What’s your favorite movie?
A: “Bonnie and Clyde” because it’s a real story that’s so unique. And it shows that even though people do bad things, it doesn’t mean that they’re not good and don’t have the ability to love.
Q: What subjects are you most interested in?
A: English and science, because I’m better at them than all the others.
Q: What do you miss about England?
A: Knowing the area and my friends. I miss fish and chips, which are so easy to acquire in England. I also miss how small the roads were and how easy the transport was. You could go anywhere by bus.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do with friends?
A: My friends and I like to do a thing where we “trade” music. The way it works is that if my friend shows me a 3-minute music video/song, they’ll (have to listen to one of my) 3-minute music videos/songs.
Q: How many times have you been in the U.S.?
A: I’ve been to the U.S. four times: once in 2012, then in 2014 and twice this year counting now.
Q: What is a great trip you’ve been on?
A: A great trip I’ve been on is to Dubai when I was 12. I liked it because I lost my first kiss to a dolphin. I also rode a camel.
Q: What’s something about your hometown that you’re proud of?
A: My hometown, Romford, is a famous market town in England where even royalty would go to buy goods in history.
—By Ulises Barajas
