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Published: September 17th 2008
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I have officially moved in and begun my life as a full time student at "Uni". YAY! It was a little difficult for the first few days, mostly because my flat is so far away from everything else, and I was not in shape. Slogging through the rain carrying loads of groceries was not fun, but yesterday I went with a friend (Rowan) to find boots. we didn't find the kind we wanted, but I invested in some lovely rain boots, and a basic black raincoat from one of the many thrift stores that line the streets near the University. After that, things took a turn for the better... at least when we were splashed by a vicious double decker bus we had dry feet! Today was a huge improvement too, instead of feeling as though I would die, I felt energetic, even after a particularly grueling day of walking. Of course, it may have helped that it wasn't raining ;-)
Saturday was move in day, and I met my flat-mates. Lindsay was with the Butler program like me, Mandy is from a small school in Florida, and Rachel, the lone scot who just graduated from high school in Glasgow.
We're all quite different, but I think we'll compliment each other well. I feel kind of bad because Rachel is only 17 and having to go through her Fresher's week with older foreign students that have done it before in one form or the other. But she said she didn't mind because we're far more sociable than other Scots. Our flat is very lovely, decently big singles with hardwood floors, and a kitchen larger than ones in typical scottish homes. It's situated on the outskirts of campus past a lovely park called the Meadows, where I see lots of boys (no girls...weird) playing rugby, football, and even American football! They weren't very good, but they were trying. It's also where people go with their dogs, or families, or just stroll with their friends. It's lovely during the day, and will be a very peaceful walk in the mornings, but we've been told that due to the isolation of the paths we shouldn't walk alone at night. Common sense prevails, and even though this is a nation with very little crime, it's always good to be cautious. Right outside the dorm is another park, this one a public golf course, where
everyone from old men in tweeds to young children and everyone in between plays. It's pretty and small, and I love the signs!
Sunday was a pretty great day. It was truly sunny, something that the people around me said had only happened one other time during the summer (the scots LOVE talking about the weather- to everyone-at any time) The pictures on the page are all from that day. It was when we had our matriculation ceremony in the absolutely gorgeous McEwen Hall. I refer to it as "the big round building" It's stunning inside, looks like you've stepped into another age of education. Back when people wore the academic gowns to classes, etc. After that a few friends and I wandered in circles around the city before deciding it would be fun to climb Arthur's Seat in the afternoon.
Arthur's Seat is an extinct volcano in the center of Edinburgh proper, within Holyrood park, near the Queen's Palace and of course the Scottish Parliament (remind me to do another blog on the political views of scotland- its pretty awesome). You can see Arthur's seat from almost anywhere in the city, and its always a thrill to
look down an alleyway or crowded city street and see this rugged peak rising in the distance. We had chosen to go up the steep side, which was, in retrospect, not the smartest of ideas, but by God, we got a good work out. We were so exhausted by the time we got back down that our legs were shaking, but the view at the top was so worth it. It's this stunning view in every direction (literally, see the video- it wasn't even taken from the top) that looks out to the Firth of Forth and the North sea, into the City and beyond into the rolling countryside. During our orientation we had gotten a presentation on "hillwalking" and how people that hike in Scotland call summiting a peak "bagging" a peak. Usually this is in reference to the short (by American standards), but daunting Munros that tower above the mostly sea level landscape of the country. We were all very proud of ourselves for bagging Arthur's Seat, and talked about it for many hours afterwards.
After the weekend Freshers week began in earnest. I started it off rather badly by signing up for a tour for international
students, as at the time I was quite panicked about finding my way around. It was supposed to have apicnic lunch but it was raining so the guides said we'd get food somewhere else. We spent time talking to other international students, and even playing an icebreaker... what joy. Then finally they asked us if we wanted to start the tour. We all said "yes, definitely, isn't that the point?". But once outside the tourguide asked us what we wanted to see. Now, I'm used to the tour guides at Tufts which hit a specific and well trained route that while annoying when hurrying to class, is actually very informative. So I was very annoyed by this blatant disorganization and still more annoyed when they showed us very little of the University and more of the stuff that I'd seen on orientation, which wouldn't be so bad if they hadn't been obviously stalling until lunch. I got out of there quickly, and decided not to do silly things like that any more.
Around campus though there is this hugely excited feel, due in a large part to the huge number of people handing things out. This culminated in a
trade fair that gave out literally bags of free stuff, to the point where to avoid getting bogged down and overwhelmed my friends and I have started running away from people trying to give us things. "No! No more candy please!!" One fun thing that we did today was the societies fair, where the 200 + student organizations gathered to get us to join. This was enormous and I signed up for a huge amount of clubs including the GeolSoc a geology club, ChocSoc, dedicated to chocolate, the wine tasting club, ballroom (eh), swing, and Scottish Dance, also a few others that I don't remember. we'll see which ones strike my fancy, but the sheer number was absolutely incredible. It shouldn't have been a huge surprise though, the parties and atmosphere have seemed slightly crazy during Freshers week.
Tomorrow I meet with my Director of Studies- wish me luck! I need to convince them that I am in fact qualified to study with them. It should be amazing once I get started, the building is stunning, as a re the specimens, the equipment, and the caliber of the faculty. More on that next time I hope!
I do
Bagpipes!
We had a piper in full dress playing us into the ceremony! How cool is that?!? miss you all! Lots and lots! Please let me know what's going on with you- postcards are coming soon, I promise!
Slainte!
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Mike Griggs
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TARDIS!!!