Birthday in Edinburgh

Okay, this is the second attempt at getting this journal up... wish I had broadband in my room; instead, I am forced to trust the completely UNtrustworthy computers in our English Graduate lab :)

Hello everyone! I am writing you with the exciting knowledge that I will be home in less than a week... crazy. This may have been the longest 2 and some months of my life, in good ways as well as difficult ones. Let's just say I am ready for a rest, that is, as soon as this last essay is completed.

Now, to fill you in on what has been happening in the last couple of weeks. For my birthday, (the big 2-3!) Shannon and I bought train tickets to Edinburgh. We rode up on the morning of my birthday and stayed for two nights with Mia. Now, Mia is currently an assistant warden (ie, an R.A.) in Pollock Halls, so... we were actually staying in the Freshers dorms! It was a nice change of pace, slumber-partying it with an air mattress in Mia's tiny, yet impeccably decorated room. The view from her window is quintessentially Scottish-- I'll attach a picture if the computer decides to cooperate.

In our visit to Edinburgh we went shopping on Princes Street (H & M, woo hoo!) and at some of our favorite restaurants (pub food at The Last Drop, paninis at our favorite cafe in Stockbridge...). We also went dancing at Medina and Frankenstein's. We saw some friends we hadn't seen in a year and a half, and it was like old times. I had missed the city so much, and it had been so long... and yet it was like no time had gone by at all. The strangest thing about walking along the streets was how NOT strange it felt. It was like being reunited with an old friend, and jumping right back into conversation so naturally, as if you had just seen them the day before. *sigh*

Coming back to York, back to the reality of essay writing and the end of the term was actually not as hard as I thought it might be... probably because I know that I am going home soon to see so many of you. I had my last seminars today, and I have to say I feel very much in my element here, in graduate school. Even though the work is exhausting, I really am getting so much out of it. Despite sometimes missing my city-girl life in L.A., I am happy:)

I know I am leaving out many details here, as my brain is going a mile a minute... probably should not write these journals just after drinking a cappuccino... but I wanted to say thank you for all of the 'Happy Birthday' emails and cards. Even across an ocean, I felt very loved. The people in the house also went in together and bought me a beautiful pair of shoes I have been coveting since I got here, and never would have bought for myself... and of course, Shannon and Mia went all out to make my birthday in Edinburgh special. I love you all so very much. I am very lucky to have so many amazing people in my life.

See you soon!
Love,
Ryan

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