An Update

PHOTOS! Click Here!
(These are just some funny pics of my casa. If you click the 'View Slideshow' link in the righthand corner, you see full size pictures. And make sure you scroll all the way down to read the captions.)

Don't worry, I am still alive and well over here in Scotland! I've spent the last two weeks learning a lot about true St. Andrews life and culture and trying to find my place in it. I had a little case of the study-abroad-blues last week, but this week has been fabulous.

It has taken a little while to get used to going out several nights a week. Everyone goes out on Tuesday nights, which is fine since I don't have class on Wednesdays. Which makes Wednesdays feel like Saturdays and then Thursdays feel like Mondays. However, Thursdays also feel like Fridays since I don't have class on Friday anyway. So people go out Thursday night, and Friday night, and Saturday. So if you're keeping track... there are four Friday nights every week in Scotland... and I'm constantly in a state of confusion as to what day it actually IS!

Monday I went to a supposed lecture on Globalization with one of Rachel's housemates, but according to the guys we had a drink with afterwards, it might as well have been a Socialist party meeting. Anyway, the little I understood was interesting, but the real fun started afterwards. A couple of us went to the pub across the street and one of the guys bought us a round and we started talking about the lecture and politics and America (of course). It was my first real political conversation here, and luckily the guy I was talking to did most of the talking and didn't express too much hatred for the US or Bush. He conveyed that there wasn't hatred towards America, just lack of respect.

I stayed out much longer than I intended ... which is so easy to do ... because of this buisness of buying rounds! I actually really like it, but it was both funny and frustrating on Monday. Hamza had bought the first round for us, then Sarah bought a round, and by the time it was my turn I realized that a) it was already 11 and b) i didn't want another drink and c) i didn't have enough money for 4 drinks but d) if people are buying you drinks, you have to buy them drinks. So borrowing money from Sarah, I bought the third round, downed my Pepsi and tried to leave... but I couldn't, because the 4th guy (whose name I never caught, so I'll just call him the mohawk guy) had brought me another drink! Oh, Scotland!

**EDIT**I'm doing more than drinking here, I promise. But Tuesday, I went out with my housemates and that was absolutly a riot. I went downstairs and asked if I looked alright (because they get all glam to go out) and Cate, from Belfast gave me a critical once-over and said, "You need more Bling." (Bling = really flashy jewlery) I laughed so hard because, well, it was hilarious. She lent me a necklace since I was so obviously lacking in that department. We went out and made the rounds to several of the more posh pubs, including the one Wills is rumored to visit, but no prince sightings yet! **I came real close tonight though! We got to the pub about 3 minutes after Prince William left. And not for walking the mile into town as fast as possible either!**

It was brought to my attention this morning before lecture that I have a 5000 word essay due right before Easter. And apparently 5000 words translates roughly into 17-20 double-spaced pages. HA! How is that an essay? And my topic is going to be something related to Plato's influence on Augustine's ethic of love. In the wise words of my father, "Woof!"

**EDIT** That will certainly take up some of my time in the next few weeks, but afterwards... oooh, I'm spending the first half of my Easter vacation in Greece. Heee heee! I'm ridiculously excited! Mmm, warm beaches. Plus, we'll be their over Easter which will be huge. And when I come back to the UK, my mom will be here the next day! And then Max and Pat! And then Kyle! **Scratch the Greece part... Looks like Rach and I will be spending about 6 days in Venice!**

Speaking of travels, I'm going on a weekend trip to Bath tomorrow. It is circled in the red section of the map below... on the west coast of England (Just for you, Mama!!) Looking forward to seeing the Roman Baths and a Jane Austen museum. And in honor of that, I'll be reading Pride and Prejudice on the train/plane trip down!



A handy reference map to refresh your memory (and my own) on Britain's geography.


And don't be shy to use the address I posted! Letters and packages have definetly been making my days lately!!