Technically i can say this because there is no Thanksgiving here in Scotland; meaning that Christmas tunes have been played sporadically over the last month or so. But you can definitely tell that winter is upon us here. The temperature has dropped drastically, it rains a lot more frequently (there is also SNOW on the forecast for later this week!), people are beginning to revise (review) for finals and write final papers, but most importantly- the Edinburgh Christmas festival is being set up over in Princes Street Gardens. As of now, i can see a ferris wheel, other rides (swings!!), lights being strung all around town, and a few trees being put up. Within the next few days everything will be finished (skating rink included) and the Lighting Ceremony will take place- November 25th i believe. And i am also planning on doing a charity run around Princes Street Gardens with a few friends, the 10 quid entry fee includes a santa suit to run in and keep :) Obviously im really looking forward to this, and dont worry- there WILL be photographic evidence. I guess Thanksgiving is this week too, IFSA is throwing us American's a Scottish Thanksgiving at a local restaurant on Wednesday. Although, there is no turkey on the menu...hmm, but ill survive. I am just excited to see everyone from the program and fill the void of family with some friends. Also, my friends Suzy and Barbara are going to help me attempt to cook a thanksgiving dinner on Thursday- i never thought i would be tackling my first thanksgiving dinner this early in life.
Aside from the holiday festivities, my classes are now almost over. The last week of classes is this week. I cant believe that its almost over! i feel like im just getting the hang of all of them. The term is a full two weeks shorter here than at Redlands. But we do get an entire week for revision rather than the three-day weekend UR gives us. My revision week isnt exactly going to serve that purpose as i have my first final (take home for British Scociety) from December 1st-2nd. Luckily that was scheduled exactly when it was because i have a trip to london this weekend and i get back on roughly a day and a half to prepare myself for the final and then leave again on the 3rd for Paris. I am so excited for Paris, ive wanted to see it since i started taking french in 7th grade (but i definitely did not trust my french skills-or serious lack thereof- enough to study abroad there). I am going to stay with a girl that goes to school with my best friend from high school. Immediately following my return from Paris, i have my final paper due in Science and Society and then the next day i sit for my Ecology exam. So, by 430 pm on the 9th i will be done with the "Study" part of Study Abroad. It is going to be a whirlwind, but im ready.
This weekend i had the pleasure of hosting one of my best friends from Redlands here in Edinburgh. We toured campus a little bit and then went to my favorite Scottish restaurant, Deacon Brodie's, and i introduced her to Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties. She said they were good but probably could never eat haggis again once she found out what was in it- i guess sheep's intestines freak some people out? That evening we went out to my favorite little club, the Hive, and danced the night away. The next morning we woke up early and toured the Palace at Hollyrood. I have been before but it is a really cool place. I'll put up pictures once i can borrow a camera cord. After that we went to another one of my favorite restaurants near my flat- The City Restaurant, toasties and soup was a nice warm break from the rain that pelted us ALL weekend. After lunch we experienced the Scotch Whisky Experience where we learned about the different sorts of whisky made in Scotland. We also got to sample some at the end of the tour, and i have to say-not really my thing. Then i took rachel to the Greyfriar's Cemetery where there is a headstone that any Harry Potter fan would enjoy- Tom Riddle. It just made us a little more excited to see the new movie next weekend in London. For dinner last night we went to an Indian place that i had never been to before, it was delicious. Then we went to a local pub for a bit. This morning we toured the castle before rachel had to catch a bus to the airport. It was a quick visit but i am very glad i could hone my tour giving skills before the parents get here in a month :)
Well, i should probably continue to write my Ecology lab report that is due tomorrow, i will be so excited when it is done!
Happy Thanksgiving- eat some turkey for me!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
A Month in the Life
Its been a month since my last post and instead of traveling, i have been living the life of a typical Edinburgh student. Going to class, spending late nights reading and studying, going out at night, and soaking up all that is Edinburgh. I am currently half way through week 7 of 10 and i have turned in two papers and taken one exam. I have two papers left before finals start and luckily all of my finals will be done by December 9th even though finals can be scheduled up until the 17th. This will probably equate to a lot of stress in the first week of December, but it will also give me more time to travel with my sister when she gets here on the 13th.
It has been starting to get dark pretty early since daylight savings time. My evening class is now a walk in the dark both ways- how depressing. The daylight hours have dropped to around 9 and its started to get rather rainy. I guess this is what ive been missing during Tacoma winters these past two years and i cant say im not glad to reside normally in southern california.
I have been trying to culturally educate myself here outside of classes. Suzy, Barb, and I went to see Spam-A-Lot at one of the local theaters, which was great. I think i am finally starting to understand British humor. We also got really cheap tickets to go see this streetdance performance, Blaze. It was actually pretty cool.
The one bit of traveling i have done is a quick over-night visit to St Andrew to help celebrate a friend's birthday- the big 21. Its obviously not a big deal over here, as kids can drink at 18, so we wanted to make a big deal of it. And i believe we did. Quesadillas, margaritas, and guacamole. I also got to go to coffee with a friend from pre-school that is attending St Andrew for all four years and see her flat. It's such a cute little town and i did not see the golf course, so im planning a return trip before i leave.
Last weekend was halloween or should i say, halloweekend. Just as in the US, the Scots go out at least three nights. I only made it out for two because i am a baby when it comes to getting enough sleep on school nights. But i still had a lot of fun dressing up and hanging out with my flatmates one night and a bunch of kids from the program on the other night.
This week has been pretty stressful already, dealing with class registration for the spring and also a pretty large housing dilemma has sprung up which is resulting in quite a few angry phone calls back to the states. I will be so relieved when all of this gets sorted out.
Well, this evening, Barbara has friends in town so we are going to walk around and show them the sights and then go on a ghost tour in the underground vaults. I have already done this tour when i was here two years ago, but im sure i will still be scared.
haha this update probably has not been nearly as fun as the past ones, but hopefully things will liven up soon. Rachel Haag will be making her Scottish debut on the weekend of the 19th and the following weekend we are going to London together and then the following weekend we are meeting up again in Paris. Im not sure if i will survive this much Rachel; wild things are bound to happen around this one.
Until next time :)
It has been starting to get dark pretty early since daylight savings time. My evening class is now a walk in the dark both ways- how depressing. The daylight hours have dropped to around 9 and its started to get rather rainy. I guess this is what ive been missing during Tacoma winters these past two years and i cant say im not glad to reside normally in southern california.
I have been trying to culturally educate myself here outside of classes. Suzy, Barb, and I went to see Spam-A-Lot at one of the local theaters, which was great. I think i am finally starting to understand British humor. We also got really cheap tickets to go see this streetdance performance, Blaze. It was actually pretty cool.
The one bit of traveling i have done is a quick over-night visit to St Andrew to help celebrate a friend's birthday- the big 21. Its obviously not a big deal over here, as kids can drink at 18, so we wanted to make a big deal of it. And i believe we did. Quesadillas, margaritas, and guacamole. I also got to go to coffee with a friend from pre-school that is attending St Andrew for all four years and see her flat. It's such a cute little town and i did not see the golf course, so im planning a return trip before i leave.
Last weekend was halloween or should i say, halloweekend. Just as in the US, the Scots go out at least three nights. I only made it out for two because i am a baby when it comes to getting enough sleep on school nights. But i still had a lot of fun dressing up and hanging out with my flatmates one night and a bunch of kids from the program on the other night.
This week has been pretty stressful already, dealing with class registration for the spring and also a pretty large housing dilemma has sprung up which is resulting in quite a few angry phone calls back to the states. I will be so relieved when all of this gets sorted out.
Well, this evening, Barbara has friends in town so we are going to walk around and show them the sights and then go on a ghost tour in the underground vaults. I have already done this tour when i was here two years ago, but im sure i will still be scared.
haha this update probably has not been nearly as fun as the past ones, but hopefully things will liven up soon. Rachel Haag will be making her Scottish debut on the weekend of the 19th and the following weekend we are going to London together and then the following weekend we are meeting up again in Paris. Im not sure if i will survive this much Rachel; wild things are bound to happen around this one.
Until next time :)
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