Week 2

I’ve had another splendid week in Scotland, with so many things that I’m straining to remember at this point. Hmm…let’s see.

CLASSES ARE INSANE…

The European Union is complicated y’all. Couple the extensive readings, with the papers, with the intense lectures, with the many speakers, with the long classes, with planning for our week-long research trips, it’s a LOT. We’re tired most of the time, but we’re learning a ton. This may be my most challenging term thus far, but I love my classes. There has been much freaking out, but…

ALL IS FORGIVEN WHEN YOUR PROF HOSTS A GAME OF THRONES SCREENING

We watched the first episode of season four at Dev’s house this past week. It’s a special bond, watching Game of Thrones with someone else. We’re all different people now.

The Salvation Army is a god-send and cheaper than a cup of coffee

The thrift shops in Edinburgh can be pretty fantastic. There’s a Salvation Army I’m in love with that is super affordable and has a great selection. The store is surprisingly small, but the pieces it does have are really neat. There aren’t any dressing rooms so I’ve done many awkward put the sweater over the tanktop situations.

What the hell is a céilidh?

(pronounced: CAY-LEE)

Last Thursday night I went to the Scottish céilidh lessons with some of the other students. The céilidh is a series of Scottish dances, both group and pair, that is somewhat popular here (in certain pockets of Scotland). The dances are kinda goofy, and we got there fifteen minutes late because it was so far away from our houses! When arrived we picked it up, but it was rather quick and everyone was sweaty/red-faced in no time. Doing the waltz while you’re dripping sweat? It’s real.

The walk back was amazing. The church that our lessons were at was at least two miles away, and the walk runs right past the Meadows. The Meadows are the long, grassy fields at Uni (they go on forever!). It was dusk as we walked back, so the sky was all different colors, and we could see the outlines of all the buildings surrounding us. Friends, I cannot explain how beautiful it was.

Photo taken by our wonderful writing assistant, Molly Curtis

I had an even greater time because I was spending it with Ms.Bailey, a fellow student on the program. On the walk back we talked about spicy food and Bailey’s time on the Turkish/Syrian border this past summer. ‘Twas magical. 

The Highlands!

Most of our Friday was spent adventuring through the Highlands. We travelled by charter bus, with a tour guide talking us through it all. There were enormous green hills, snow-capped mountains, sweeping forests, SO MUCH FOG, and many lochs (bodies of water below the mountains). We also had the fortune of a good amount of sun, which is quite rare! We stopped at Loch Ness and took an hour long boat tour of the loch as well.

  

The two things I enjoyed most about the trip were our stops along the way, and the ride itself. We took breaks in small towns and ate lots of food. Even the touristy parts of these small towns were great; they didn’t feel commercial or artificial in the way that some places in the states do. Secondly, the drive was amazing. It was so much breathtaking nature in one sitting, I think it’s impossible to remember it all, much less communicate it to you. The tour guide talked the whole time, which was a bit intense, but I just listened to the music the entire ride and felt connected with my surroundings.

2 songs I listened to on repeat during the drive…

Magazine (Caroline Smith) and Beauty in the World (Macy Gray)

 

Lastly…

Yesterday was one of the sunniest days we’ve had in Edinburgh. I walked to the Farmer’s Market and visited the National Museum of Scotland with some friends. I spent an hour or so walking around the museum with my friend, Alice. We talked about the ethicacy of zoos, liberal arts colleges, and the human rights crisis that is climate change.

After that I walked around the Edinburgh castles (with a stop at the Princess Gardens on the other side). The day was made even better by an evening whiskey tasting with the prof and the other students.

So much love from Scotland,

Mollie