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Published: January 18th 2007
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St. Giles' Cathedral
it's not a great photo, and you can't see the whole thing -- better one coming soon, I promise! One of the greatest things about studying at Edinburgh is how international the city is! I've been meeting people from all around Europe, even the world -- the city isn't as racially diverse as a city like New York (my standard comparison city for just about everything!), but it feels very cosmopolitan, and there's quite a large international student population. It is absolutely wonderful!
Wednesday night I went to the first meeting of the semester of the Scandinavian Society, mostly on a lark, and on the basis of my mother's Norwegian maiden name and my half-Norwegian background. They were meeting to socialize at Native State, a popular restaurant and bar for society meetings. I was really glad I went! I joined the society, and met a bunch of genuine Scandinavians (not pass-for-Scandinavians like me!) I had a long talk with some guys from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark -- it was great, and they were very friendly! This Sunday they're going to a sauna at a local hotel, so hopefully I can join them for that, and continue to bond with my Scandinavian homies! (At Bannerman's last night one of the Norwegians from the meeting saw me and came over, super
The Royal Mile
the fun touristy street excited, going "heeeeey sorry to interrupt but I just have to say hi to her, cause we are sort-of kind-of from the same country! woooo!") Being in Europe makes you realize how uniquely American questions such as "what's your ethnic/national background?" and hugely mixed/diverse answers such questions are -- it's very diverse here, but it seems to be the exception rather than the rule that someone comes from a mixed national background.
Thursday afternoon I wandered into the International Student Center for their coffee social (every Thursday from 4 - 6). Turns out the social was cancelled, but going to the ISC was a great move on my part -- I met a girl from Germany and a couple of girls from Signapore, then some Italian and French guys wandered in. Within half an hour we'd all exchanged mobile numbers and were making plans to go out that night! I've found that it is super easy to befriend fellow visiting internationals -- they're in the same boat as me, looking for people from other places to learn from and explore a new city with.
That night, I went out with a bunch of
Braveheart!
this dude was standing near the Castle when we went on our walking tour . . . it was reeeeally windy, so I almost got to see what a Scotsman wears under his armoured kilt . . . the people from the ISC -- two French guys (both civil engineers, both socialists, and both named Pierre!), two Italian guys from Genoa named Matteo and Guglielmo, two Italian girls named Linda and Elisa, and Sean. We met in front of the student center, followed Matteo in a big circle around the city, realized he didn't know where he was going, and wound up at the Three Sisters bar on Cowgate. We just sat around chatting, and I had a great time! It is really such a cool experience to be with so many international people.
Friday I had no classes! (Hooray!) I went to the Philsophy Society's reading group about -- wait for it -- trying to outline necessary and sufficient conditions as to what constitutes an act of flirtation! Trust philosophers to talk about even flirting in such a way -- haha. Whenever two or more philosophers gather, you are guaranteed to have some level of absurdity. It was a blast!
Sophie and Katie, two of my flatmates, made delicious chicken curry for dinner that night, and I went out with my flatmates and the guys across the hall to a couple local bars. I finished
Our dinner party!
the whole gang at Matteo and Guglielmo's flat on Sunday night up the night meeting my other flatmate, Lauren, and her friends at Siglo, a nightclub with a bit of a reputation for sketchiness . . . but it wasn't too crowded, and we had a lot of fun.
Saturday was a fabulous day! I went on a walking tour of the city sponsored by the ISC (student-led and mostly showing us newbies the good places to buy groceries, etc.) We walked up to the castle, and I hung out with the people I'd met on Thursday and a few others, two more Italian girls named Elisabetta and Claudia, and an Australian girl named Fiona. We all went to a pub along the Royal Mile for coffee after the tour, then Elisa, Linda, Claudia, Elisabetta, Fiona and I walked up to Prince's Street (the big-time big-spender shopping street) to do some window shopping.
We finished just in time to go on the ISC pub crawl at 6:00! The night started early, and we went to a total of four local pubs. I discovered that I like Strongbow, the locally brewed cider, which I was told is enjoyed only by hobos and teenagers . . . oh well, I'm only
My room!
Home sweet home, for the semester at least a couple of years away from being a teenager, and I suppose it's preparation for when I am a philosopher-bum! The pub crawl was great, and we finished off the night dancing at Liquid, a hip-hop club next to Finnegan's Wake. There were breakdancers there! (see video!) We left at 1:30ish (12 and a half hours since I'd started walking around the city!), and I returned home completely exhausted, with very sore feet, but very happy!
Sunday night Matteo and Guiglielmo invited us all to their flat for an Italian dinner! We had ten people, six bottles of wine, delicious pasta, nutella for dessert, and a fabulous time! I really like hanging out with these guys -- and they like to practice their English with me, cause I can help them with vocabulary and grammar. Believe it or not, they told me I am one of the few Americans they can understand, because the others speak too quickly or unclearly! I suppose I automatically speak more clearly when I'm with non-native speakers, cause most of you probably know that I'm not known for being a slow talker!
Monday I went to an hour and a half yoga class
My kitchen!
A full kitchen for my culinary masterpieces . . . hooray for a microwave (or cooker, as they call it here!) with Claudia and Elisabetta -- it was great, but some of my muscles still feel sore! I suppose that's normal for beginners -- at least it's a productive pain! Claudia, who lives in my building, made a tortellini dinner that night -- I love being friends with people who cook well! Last night was Bannerman's night again, which I absolutely love -- the place is super crowded, packed with friendly internationals!
I've just finished writing my first paper, for my systematic theology "tutorial" (every week we meet twice for lectures, and once in a smaller group with a tutor.) It was difficult, partially because I think I'm not as familiar with the background concepts as I should be, and partially because I was trying to answer five questions about the Christian doctrine of the Trinity in only 650 words!
My blog has been mostly fun-stuff so far, but I'm really enjoying the intellectual atmosphere here, too -- I think it's in part a matter of being at a large university with a strong graduate program. Don't get me wrong -- I adore TCNJ, particularly the philosophy department, and I wouldn't trade a closely knit, strong department with great
SNAKES ON MY PLANE!
the promised photo from last week's entry . . . professors who know you and small class sizes for the world! But I'm really excited about the ample opportunites I'm finding here for lectures and etc., supplementary to my classes. Today I went to a lecture at New College (the Divinity School) called "What's Wrong with the Postmodern Approach to Religion." (note the period, not the question mark!) The lecturer was an American, though he teaches at the University of Aberdeen, and he was quite angry at those crazy PoMo people . . . fun stuff, especially when he said "they don't know what the hell they are doing, it, it, it makes no damn sense!" He then paused, took in his surroundings -- stained glass windows, two crosses on the wall, a big portrait of some Presbyterian minister -- then went "Oh, I, um, guess I'd better, ah, clean up my, my language a bit."
Well, it's pushing midnight and I'm beat -- I'm going to turn in so I can be well rested for tomorrow, I've got a busy day planned! I should have an update about it Friday, for all of
I've had it . . .
Where is Samuel L. when I need him? you who are just dying to know what I am up to every minute of every day ;-)
that's all for now -- Cheers! (chin chin as they say in Italian!)
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Sig Little
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Yay
I'm glad you're having a great time, Miss Alida!!! We need to get you some posters for your room- it looks a little bare to me!