13th December 2009: Trekking back to Delaware and Rumination of the First Quarter of my Scottish Adventure

What an adventure indeed these past three months have been!! I woke up about a week ago and truly realized how privileged I am to be in the position I am—I wake up every day and experience something new, whether it’s a completely new place (like Glasgow or St. Andrew’s) or something as simple as finding a new coffee shoppe. I am trying to soak this all in and really grasp every moment. It’s funny how you can take something for granted simply because you are experience it on a regular basis—but my life the past 3 months has been far from ordinary and I am so lucky to be living in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, pursuing my Master’s at one of the world’s top universities, and meeting some of the most amazing people.

Edinburgh is gorgeous. It’s a city quite unlike any other I have ever visited—and the more time I spend in and around it, the more I fall in love with it. I love picking a new coffee shoppe to study in or going out to a new place to eat. Yet, I often find myself not taking advantage of this as much as I should…this sounds awful, but there are days (esp with Final Assessments in the past 2 weeks) where I hardly leave my room!! Next semester I am making a resolution to get out more!!! To study out more! To eat out more! And to travel more! As mentioned in previous entries, I find I don’t actually go somewhere unless I plan it out and mark it on the calendar indefinitely—so my plan is to put on the calendar where I want to go next semester and buy the tickets in advance—then I’ve strategically roped myself in!! ☺

As much as perhaps the programme I am enrolled in is not what I was anticipating, I am enjoying being back in school again. I am enjoying the opportunity to broaden my perspectives (which I am dramatically doing), while simultaneously strengthening and further shaping what I believe and why. Next semester I am taking three courses (and also continuing the French classes at the Applied Language School)
-Corporate Social Responsibility and the Law
-Economic Issues in Public Policy
-Global Politics of Public Health

I have made some of the greatest friends here. The first, which I have mentioned several times, is Laura Scott. Basically, we’re two peas in a pod, Shirley and Vern, peanut butter and jelly (you get the point!) She’s 23, from Texas, and enrolled in the Global Health and Public Policy programme. She is going to go to medical school after this year and then progress on to be a doctor! We both love working out, chai tea, hot chocolate, and candy more than any other humans I have ever met. I seriously don’t know what I would have done without her this semester! Laura knows what I’m thinking without me having to say it. She is a great advice-giver and possesses a gift of saying the right words of encouragement when I need it.

Another friend I have become really close with is Rebecca Manias (my St. Andrew’s buddy!) She lives next door to me and keeps me sane in Richmond! I cannot verbally describe how funny she is—my late-night YouTube buddy (check out Greg the Bunny on YouTube when you get a chance…just sayin’!), mid-afternoon study break entertainment, and garlic baguette-loving partner in crime.

I’m sad to leave Edinburgh at the moment, but thrilled at the thought of Christmas with my family! And catching up with my friends from home/New Jersey. It’s been too long without seeing them and I am ready for Gordon-Maggie morning workouts, baking with quality appliances, and Wal-Mart (yes, I miss Wal-Mart!! You all have NO IDEA how much you take this place for granted…in Europe, there doesn’t seem to be any stores where you can get groceries, craft supplies, and electronics ALL in the same place…) An hour left on the flight and I am back to enjoying Forrest Gump and perhaps another nap (I’ve already slept for 4 out of the 7 hours…which is good considering I went to bed at 4am and got up at 545am)

Dunbar Rotary Club

Tonight I spoke at my 'host' Rotary club in Dunbar. What a fantastic group of people! Tonight was the monthly 'spouse' night, where members are allowed to bring their significant others, so there was quite a large group. In addition, Lindsey Fyfe accompanied me (the other Ambassadorial Scholar hosted by the Dunbar club). Lindsey is from Los Angeles and studying at the Edinburgh College of Art. She is indeed quite a talented young lady (but then again, I suppose most Rotary scholars are...or rather 'talented young persons', since all of us aren't ladies--sorry William!) She was just commissioned to design a Christmas postcard by the City of Edinburgh--for which she selected the 'Heart of Midlothian' as her subject. Lindsey gave a brief talk to the club before I went on about the project and why chose chose the subject she did. So impressive!



My talk went well (but then again, it's hard not to do well when you have a group of 30 people who are there to see you succeed and cheer you on no matter how awful of a speech you give!) Unfortunately, the projector was not compatible with a Mac, so I was not able to show my slide show. Thus, I improvised!! I discussed where I'm from, some of the projects my host Rotary district is involved in, how I became interested in the scholarship, and what I plan to do with it while in Edinburgh and after. The Rotarians couldn't have been more supportive of my ideas and thanked Lindsey and I both for our presentations.

What can I say, my host club is fabulous!!

Ceilidh!

I went to my first Ceilidh! It was right down the street from Richmond Place (where I live)--which was convenient considering it was freezing outside and I had on a halter dress! The Ceilidh is a traditional Scottish dancing event, which can be an informal event or competitive. Some of the most popular Ceilidh dances are 'Strip the Willow' and 'The Gay Gordons'. Some of them are really complicated and some quite simple. Thankfully, at most informal Ceilidhs, there is someone up front (called a 'caller') with a mic explaining the dance steps to the crowd before the dance actually begins.