Hansee
Canadian, female, twenty-something, doing a post graduate program to become an elementary school teacher....IN SCOTLAND!!!Back to School Special
Travel Blog Posts
July 9th 2007
url='/Videos/4215.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/4215.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' singing the national anthemurl='/Videos/4219.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/4219.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' bagpipe interval I’ve been back 3 weeks and it feels like a lifetime ago that I was drudging through dirty Glasgow streets and contemplating the consequences of quitting the relentless work of school. I’ve gone on 2 three hour thigh crunching bike rides. I’ve lost all the weight that was gained from many nights of cheese cake feasting. I’ve developed a tan worthy of the most pretentious Vancouverite. I’ve seen at least 10 wee dogs in purses. Most interestingly, though, I’ve done almost no work! I haven’t even gone to run the basic necessity errands to reinstate myself as a resident of Canada. I miss Scotland so much it’s not... read more
Escape from Isle of Gigha
Published: June 11th 2007Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Argyll » Oban
June 11th 2007
url='/Videos/3716.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3716.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' Karaoke gone wildurl='/Videos/3717.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3717.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' The ramsurl='/Videos/3718.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3718.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' Gillan Sleeping during lecture on the floor My last weekend was spent on the west coast of Scotland. Jeanette and I were invited over by one of our classmates, Davina to stay in Lochgilphead for the weekend. I had no idea, of course, that Davina was actually a student teacher/property mogul. She put us up in one of her places, this one in the centre of town, a small apartment that’s been refurbished with all the modern amenities yet still retains its 18th, 19th century structure. Davina got a puppy 5 months ago and asked me if she cou... read more
June 4th 2007
After much badgering Jeanette about going to the borders again, we made my last trip to see how the sheep have grown. Those babies are now nice and plump….yum, yum. Now there are young horses in the back yard, too. They’re very curious and kept trying to sniff me. There’s still shit stuck to Daisy’s (one of the pet sheep) ass. Jeanette’s dad said he would have to snip it off soon before the flies get to it. Many of the farm sheep have had their wool shaven off. They look naked! My first night there we went across the street to the village hall for a fundraising karaoke event. Basically there was me, Jeanette’s mom and dad, another family and some stray kids. Me and J. decided to sing 4 songs. We started with ... read more
Border Invasion
Published: April 4th 2007Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Roxburghshire » Newcastleton
April 4th 2007
url='/Videos/2509.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/2509.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;' Hermitage Castle I had one intense week at my new and last placement school. I’m teaching 7-8 year olds or the Scottish equivalent of grade 2. I continued my astonishingly large amount of ecclesiastical involvement this year at a whole school fieldtrip to the local church for an Easter service. Friday was spent watching Happy Feet, where we had a laugh about the backwards, old penguin being Scottish. Then it was Saturday. Only people going through this mind numbing, self depreciating course would understand how much we were looking forward to the break. We had two contradicting lectures about what we should do during the break. One told us that we should give up any vacation and spend the two weeks planning. The other told us to have some fun and get some ... read more
March 18th 2007
Before I came to Scotland, I drank maybe once a month, probably not even that much. Friends back home will testify. Now? - Almost every weekend. Why this has happened, you might ask. The drinking culture here is strong. They start drinking at about 6pm and last till the early rays of sun start peeking through the thick grey clouds. This is evident in their “no more food served” policy after 6. I, unfortunately, do not have the Scottish stamina for partying and drinking and start looking for my bed at around 12. I feel if they could start drinking at a more decent time, say 9-10, then I may be able to go past midnight. It’s the middle of March and it is snowing. I had a hang over from hell this morning and had ... read more
Braveheart: The Pilgrimage
Published: February 12th 2007Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Lanarkshire » Glasgow
February 11th 2007
After a short but potent night of drinking, I decided, last minute, to go with my two new roommates and a visiting fifth Canadian roommate to Stirling. Before I go on with the story, people should understand the significance of this trip to our visiting Canadian friend, Jeff. He has spent the past month backpacking through most of Western Europe; Glasgow was his last stop, before his return to Ontario. He’s only been here sleeping on our remarkably uncomfortable couch since Wednesday and just left this afternoon. In this short time he’s become a welcome fifth roommate. He came to Scotland to live his dream of re-enacting Braveheart in Stirling. Oh, and he came to visit his childhood friend Sarah (our roommate). I wasn’t planning on going on this trip and had just cancelled a pre ... read more
Ceilidh= country dancing made cool
Published: February 3rd 2007Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Lanarkshire » Glasgow
February 3rd 2007
I went to my first ceilidh last night. It was held on a permanently docked ferry on the River Clyde (in walking distance from where I live). The dancing was high energy and manic. It just so happened that we have P.E. training classes at the university and last Wednesday was the class on how to teach dance! I was swung, pushed and pulled around by my more knowledgeable Scottish peers. Learning intention: to learn the basic steps for Scottish country dancing. Actual learning outcome: be drunk enough to be sufficiently pliable for the physical trauma. With my new found knowledge in mind, my Scottish counterpart and I decided to relive our high school years by getting really drunk really fast and really cheaply. Jeanette drank so much she spent the rest of the night drinking ... read more
Sweet Home Glasgow
Published: January 11th 2007Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Lanarkshire » Glasgow
January 11th 2007
I’ve pretty much settled back into life at the flat. I can actually call Glasgow home now. Life just doesn’t seem the same without screaming freshers, howling wind storms, torturous grocery shopping trips, and the Glaswegian accent. But the most important thing that makes this place home is my urban family, Jeanette and Ryan. I have to dedicate this entry to these guys. I came home a day before Jeanette and listened for the door all the next day for her. I managed to hear that familiar front door handle open and rushed out of my room to ambush her before she even got the chance to open her own door. On Friday Ryan cooked a “Canadian” meal for us consisting of beans in maple syrup, chicken and fries with Swiss Chalet gravy. Combined with the ... read more
January 3rd 2007
On my night of arrival Sam took me to a local pub for the pub quiz night. Pub quizzes are really big in the UK. The questions are also much more difficult than you would think for testing a bunch of inebriated people. I was lucky to arrive at all with many parts of Britain under a fog alert. Gloucester is probably a typical smaller English town. It does stand out with its enormous cathedral and small canal running through the centre. The weather was mild and mostly sunny (or foggy); a nice break from the torrential rain and winds in Glasgow. As always, it is the people that make the place and I was never lacking in invitations for parties, dinners, and pub nights. I probably spent more than a healthy amount of time drinking. ... read more
December 13th 2006
It feels like a lifetime since I’ve been able to do this blog again. Unfortunately, school has sort of sucked me dry of any creativity and wit. I’ve never felt so drained in my life. Doing this course is like being in some alternate world similar to the book “1984”. I’ve been broken in room 101 and now they are slowly building me up to be one of them. Well, maybe they haven’t broken me yet. I’ll just have to pretend like I’m playing some sort of game to get through the next 6 months. For any people out there thinking of doing teacher training at Jordanhill, just know that you will be dealing with the devil and his minions. Now that I’ve gotten that unpleasant bit out of the way, I’m finally on my winter ... read more
Tot: 0.092s; Tpl: 0.003s; cc: 15; qc: 89; dbt: 0.0644s; 1; s:notus w:www (50.28.61.183); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.8mb
