Blogs from Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe - page 35

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Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Lanarkshire » Glasgow September 24th 2006

Ce dimanche à Glasgow ne fut pas très réussi puisque nous nous sommes retrouvés sous la pluie, donc ce n'était pas très agréable pour visiter! Nous nous sommes quand même promenés dans le centre ville, avons visité the Glasgow Cathedral et St Mungo Museum of religious life and art. Nous sommes finalement rentrés en bus sur Dundee dans l'après-midi, avec un petit rhûme comme souvenir! Nous y retournerons donc une prochaine fois sous le soleil! ... read more
George Square
George Square
George Square

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Lanarkshire » Glasgow September 24th 2006

I finally had my first real Scottish night out last night. Although I am aware that Glasgow is not the mecca of night life in Europe, it makes Vancouver seem like a small town still under prohibition. There are endless amounts of clubs and bars here versus the 5 “good” ones in Vancouver. We chose to go to a rugby club. I had no idea what that was. I thought it was some stinky extra room connected to the change room but actually it was more like a club house/bar. We were invited by one of our classmates (one of the only guys in the course who also plays rugby and gets smashed every weekend). Sounds like a classic Scottish night to me. The picture of us is taken after we shared a bottle of wine. ... read more
Obscene Sticker
Sunday Afternoon
Posh Gummy Candy

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Lanarkshire » Glasgow September 23rd 2006

My Scottish roommate came up with a really “brilliant” idea about making this blog more interactive. Actually, it’s Saturday afternoon and we were sitting around having our 4th cup of tea for the day when we started analyzing the fish pictures on our wall. Before everyone thinks we have really bad taste in art, these were created in a workshop on Thursday about art in the primary school. And since anything would look better than our bare pastel yellow walls we decided to put up our works of art. We ask for your participation in some amateur art critiquing. Keep in mind we created the fish and the colourful painted borders. The fish were created using a stamping technique. We used pens to indent very hard in Styrofoam for the “stamp”. The borders are supposed to ... read more
Fish #2
Fish #3
Fish #4

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Lanarkshire » Glasgow September 22nd 2006

Whisps of musky air spin candlelight across ancient walls, as dimly lit corners play host to pilgrims in reflection and prayer. I lit my own candle, placing it into a wrought iron stand thats been warmed by countless candles from centuries gone. Paintings surrounding me tell tales of history and miracles. A simple prayer of safety for my friends and family seemed to be multiplied in its deliverence while kneeling in such a place. The hallowed ground of The Crypt in Canterbury Cathedral is reveared as one of the most Holy places on earth. People from all religions, races, and social class have come to this place of worship since the 12th century. No cameras are allowed in The Crypt, it is a place you must physically visit, giving you a deep memory to keep inside ... read more
Painted Stories
The Black Prince
The English Channel

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Lanarkshire » Glasgow September 21st 2006

This week is considered Freshers week (whatever that is) here at the college. I have been attending Orientation sessions with Mr. Jim Wilson (the international advisor) and Ms. Allison Handly (the international exchange coordinator or the Kirsten on the other end as she would say) and getting info about happenings around the campus. There is a lot of good information, but my brain has been on overload combined with jet lag; not a good combination. I have also been doing a lot of walking around trying to orient myself to the area. I had the opportunity to sit in on a Physical Education class (Practicum-based) yesterday. That was interesting. I learned a lot about the school systems here in Scotland, which are very different from back home. The school that I will be teaching at here ... read more

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Lanarkshire » Glasgow September 17th 2006

Earlier this week I had to provide remains honors to a fallen soldier at the Knoxville Airport. The flight was delayed so we were taken to the back of the airport to wait in an employee breakroom. We were then escorted directly out to the tarmac to help unload the casket, drape the flag, and show our deepest respects with a slow, reverent salute. Today while traveling to Scotland I was subject to strict airport security to include removal of my jacket and shoes (it seems like it is just short of strip search these days). I was also among the "lucky" ones chosen for a random bag search prior to getting on the plane in Knoxville. For someone who puts their life on the line to protect the world against terrorism to turn around and ... read more

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Lanarkshire » Glasgow September 17th 2006

This is officially the beginning of freshers week. All the people who are planning to live on campus (usually freshmen) move in either yesterday or today. And for the next whole week they have no classes or responsibilities except to party like they’re 18 years old and away from mum and dad for the first time. The Union which is supposed to be a student’s union is more like party hub with 9 floors of clubs and bars. The freshmen can buy a gold card for almost $100 to get into the club nights for free all year and get discounts on drinks. I think I’ll have to go buy those ear plugs I’ve told to buy for Tuesday. The Union is having a drinking marathon for all day and night, all drinks for 99p (about ... read more
1 minute after eating the pepper
5 minutes after eating pepper

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Lanarkshire » Glasgow September 11th 2006

One major difference between education in Scotland and Canada is the extra focus in religion and moral studies. Religion has mostly been left out of the Canadian curriculum. I remember when we had to do a small prayer of thanks or oath of some kind, which included God, everyday in my youngest years in school. I believe that practice was stopped when I was in middle primary due to the increased ethnic and religious diversity in the school. Nowadays, Vancouver is nicknamed Honkouver for the amount of Chinese people that have immigrated there. In drastic contrast to the ethnic diversity of Vancouver, Glasgow is mostly white with a tiny scattering of Middle Eastern and African. I know there is a small enclave of Chinese here too, but they seem to really keep to themselves and I’ve ... read more
Old Police Box
Random Statue
Glasgow Cathedral

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Lanarkshire » Glasgow September 11th 2006

I just got home early Sunday morning (as in the wee hours of the morning), and my body is still in night shift mode. I am trying to readjust to days, in addition to trying to unpack, then repack for Scotland. I have a lot to do, and very little time to do it in. It doesn't help that my family is demanding a lot of my time right now, since I have been gone for a month already. ... read more

Europe » United Kingdom » Scotland » Lanarkshire » Glasgow September 7th 2006

I had my first day in the placement/practicum primary school today. The kids were so well behaved, it was a bit scary. The children are taught from a very young age a much stricter code of conduct than in North American schools which include opening doors for teachers and other students, being very quiet for the majority of the class and general courtesy and polite manners. It was definitely a refreshing scene to see such well behaved kids. How much this type of ethos encourages their learning is another matter. Good manners and general courtesy is never a bad thing. I just wonder how much an effect it has in terms of expressing feelings and creativity to be so discouraging with talk. From first impressions the system seems to be a cross between the extremely strict ... read more




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