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Published: June 26th 2015
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Good evening/afternoon, my fellow Americans! Before I start with my adventures for the week, I just want to take a moment and brag about my wonderful boyfriend whom I love so very much. He left on Monday for his own 8 week summer adventure at an archaeological field school in Idaho. I am so incredibly proud of him and all that he has accomplished thus far in his academic career and so happy for him that he was granted this opportunity. He has said that it is very very very hot there, so I'm sure he would appreciate any and all good/positive/rainy thoughts sent his way 😊 Now, onto my adventures for the week. On Monday, a couple of the interns took those who wished to go on a traditional hike up to the top of Dumyat hill (apparently pronounced duh-my-it, and every american at some point has called it dum-yat). For those of you who don't know, I love hiking and always have. I've done many hiking trips in my time and while at home in Monmouth I do a copious amount of walking each and every day (at least 5 miles a day, several times per week). I thought
I was in relatively decent shape. I was wrong. The hike takes about an hour and a half each way, and maybe less than halfway to the top there were audible gasps and groans of fatigue coming from almost every American student. At least I wasn't the only one who thought I was going to die before reaching the top. The view from the top at around 1,300 feet in elevation was worth every single second of leg pain and lung burning. You can see for miles and miles and it was absolutely gorgeous. On the way up, there were numerous clans (I believe the word is actually flock, but clan feels more appropriate given we're in Scotland) of sheep, some of which were babies. I tried to take a picture with one but it ran away from me. The hike took up basically our entire night, and needless to say I slept well. Thursday was trip day (my favorite day) and this weeks trip was to St Andrews. Now, before any of you ask (and I know some of you will because I've already been asked many times), no I did not go golfing. I decided to leave my
clubs at home for fear of putting all other golfers to shame with my amazing skill. I went ahead and made my reservation at the fancy hotel where all of the pro golfers stay when they come to visit starting at around £1,000,000 per night so mom, you'll be getting the bill later. They were setting up for the British Open which is apparently in a couple of weeks, so that was a cool thing to see. It was also graduation day for students at the University of Saint Andrews, and so there were students all dressed up and walking around town with their fancy robes (which are much cooler than graduation robes in America. They're more like capes with sleeves). We walked around and saw the ruins of St Andrews castle as well as the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral, which was amazing. I can only imagine what the cathedral must have looked like when it was still standing, although we have yet to find out why it was abandoned in the first place. St Andrews is a quaint little town that lies right on a bay and it reminded me so much of home and being on the
coast, which I enjoyed. Today was excursion day for the class that I'm taking. I promise that I really am doing schooling. We took a trip to Doune which is about 8 miles from Stirling and went to Doune castle. For you movie buffs, this castle is apparently where the TV show Outlander was filmed, as well as an episode of Game of Thrones and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I have never seen any of these, although I'm told that I must watch Monty Python and apparently it's shameful that I have not yet watched it. Oops. The castle was smaller than other castles we have visited, but it felt much more authentic somehow. There were numerous little doors off to the side that led up fearfully small spiral stairs up to the top towers. The only downside is that there were bats that would occasionally fly around, and I hate bats. So that was sort of terrifying. This week has been a bit bleak and rainy. While Josh is in Idaho baking in the sun, I am here soaking up the rain and the cold and I love it. For those of you who don't know me
very well, I am very much a winter and cold person and very much not a summer and heat person. I own more scarves than I care to admit and I love that it's June and I can wear a scarf here. It makes me very happy. The weeks are starting to go by faster and more trips are starting to come up, and it makes me sad to think that before I know it my time here will be over. For now, I am focusing on the time that I do have and making all of it count. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to read of my adventures! I hope everyone at home is enjoying the record breaking temperatures (so sad that I'm missing it.....), I'll just enjoy myself here in the cold and the rain 😊
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