One week until break!!!

For a little fun fact, Saturday (the 16th) will mark 6 weeks since I left the U.S.

Things around here are starting to resemble fall. The leaves are changing colors, the days are starting to get shorter, and the air smells like fall! I don't think that there will be any pumpkin picking or carving around here. Also, Halloween isn't that big so I will have to find something else to do! I have been meaning to take pictures of campus so I will start carrying my camera with me and will post some good ones!

As I was walking home from class the other day, I realized that I have been here for too long - I think that driving on the left side of the road is normal now. And when I try to think of how I drive at home, I think it looks wrong so I re-adjust it. I guess it's a good thing that I live in such a small town so there won't be much traffic (if any) when I get behind the wheel again! (Mom and Dad, there is no need to be afraid =] )

Since I last wrote, I have taken a trip into Edinburgh. I went with Lisa and Jess (two of my flat mates) to celebrate my birthday (again!). The train ride was pretty neat - I got to see a lot more of the countryside through the windows and learned a few new card games! We got a late start, so there wasn't too much time to walk around the city. We wanted to eat in the more authentic part of town and the walk to get there was really pretty - there were beautiful old building all around with some really pretty architecture. (I will go back to the city at another time and take a guided tour in order to see all that the city has to offer.) We came to a place in the sidewalk that has a heart built into it. Tradition says that one is supposed to spit into the center of this heart and in return, you will have good luck in love. Naturally, Jess and Lisa insisted that I do this:

Spit for Luck!


We went to a pub for dinner and our appetizer was lovely but the burger left something to be desired. (Gives me a huge craving for a bacon cheeseburger at home!) We then roamed the streets and popped into a few more pubs before going to a vodka bar that was also in 3-D (which doesn't sound like a good idea) and a neat pub called Frankenstein. Apparently at midnight, Frankenstein drops down from the ceiling but we weren't able to stick around long enough. We plan on going back later in the semester with our other flat mate, Melanie, and sticking around long enough to enjoy the nightlife (although that would result in waiting for the 5am train home...) It's a nice trip since a round trip ticket only costs £8.

The city:




The three of us! (Jess, me, Lisa)


Saturday morning, I woke up with a lovely cold complete with congestion, sore throat, itchy eyes and lots of sneezing. The weekend was an enjoyable one cooped up in the room with my box of tissues. My trip to Glasgow got canceled again so I didn't go there on Sunday as planned. =/

In other news, I joined the Urban Dance club. It focuses on hip-hop and does not require an audition (yes!). I am picking everything up really quickly and it helps that salsa has gotten me used to memorizing choreography because I already know three routines. I have met several more people (one who lives in the flat above me and one who knows tons of people at Clark and will be spending her fall break there!). We have covered locking and tutting so far and are getting into more of the typical hip-hop dance style this week. We are done with classes until after midterm break due to work load but we are having a 'bonding night' next Thursday which should be a lot of fun - everyone is really laid back.

I also became a member of the mountaineering club and signed myself up for a trip over fall break. It was too late to start booking plane tickets so instead, I am going on a 5 day backpacking trip to the Isle of Skye. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skye It is a very beautiful place off the west coast of Scotland and the hostel that we will be in is a nice one (although I don't know which one that is...) A few of my friends will also be going on this trip which should make it even more fun. The trip is from Saturday the 23rd to Wednesday the 27th (which means I won’t have any access to the internet so don’t freak out if I don’t respond to anything!) That will still leave me Thursday-Sunday. As of right now, I plan on using one of those days to spend in Edinburgh and do the city tour that was recommended to me and another, in Glasgow. My friend, Stephanie (from Clark), has a friend studying in Glasgow and we have been in touch and she would like to meet up and show me around the city! Climbing the Wallace Monument is also on the to-do list! And of course, I will make up for all of the sleep that I have lost so far this semester!

Academics have been moving along just fine. Next week is midterm week and I have quite a few assignments. On the 18th, I will be giving a presentation to my history class on the success of the Scottish diplomacy c.1298-1302 with France and the Papacy. On the 20th, I have a history essay due (which will relate to the presentation topic and allow me to do research for two things at the same time!) as well as a linguistics essay and a Spanish essay (completely in Spanish). On the 22nd, I have a Spanish culture essay due which will involve comparing and contrasting two of the authors we have read and how they represent the culture of Latin America (past and present). Phew! It’s going to be a fun!

Sitting at dinner the other day, I realized that I don't have too much time left here. After fall break, I will have about 4.5-5 weeks of classes and then finals leaving me with two weeks to travel. If I play my cards right, I can hand all of my papers in earlier to leave more time for travel...this plan will require serious motivation on my part but would definitely be worth it! (I'll let you know how this plan works out...!)

Exciting news - my flat mates Lisa and Melanie were informed that they have been accepted to their study abroad programs! (Chile and Mexico!) The wonderful part (for me!) is that they just may get/arrange a layover in Boston/NYC so that they would be able to spend some time with me! Lisa studied in Indiana for a year of high school but never made it to the east coast. Melanie and Jessica have never been to the states!

Tuesday night, I had a German lesson from Lisa. I think she spent more time laughing at me than teaching me. Apparently I do not come close to having a German accent...maybe someday. She also taught me a few French phrases and we spoke in Spanish a little bit. Jess will teach me Gaelic phrases from time to time but those don't stick nearly as well. It's really neat living with them because Lisa is fluent in German, French and English and practically fluent in Spanish. Melanie speaks German, English and Spanish and is taking French classes here for fun (she isn't getting credit for them.) Jess speaks French and English and conversational Gaelic. Most of the time, it's confusing because every once in a while they don't realize they slipped into their native language...haha

Some good news - the porter (almost the equivalent of the RA position but they are adults and are paid) brought me a new desk chair (since my seat cushion didn't actually stay attached to the seat) and tomorrow I should be getting a new base for my bed...the bed is barely being held up right now and makes a ton of noise so obviously this is very exciting!!! Finally, quiet, functioning furniture!

We have had quite a few visitors in the last three weeks - Jess has had her sister and her boyfriend visit from Ireland, Melanie just had her little brother come over from Germany for a few days, and Lisa's mom will be here through Tuesday! Talk about a full house! It's been nice meeting new people and see more of the culture and language differences - I am still getting used to words such as "knackered" for tired.

Well, I think that is it for now! With all the updating and large amount of skype calls this week, I think it is time for me to get back to those midterms! Have a lovely weekend and I will update you all again before I go on my fall break trip!

Love, Sha =]