So for those of you out of the loop about sports this side of the pond, let me enlighten you. For the past month, Europe has been having what is called "6 Nations" which is basically the big rugby championship between England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, and France. It dominates every TV you see, in every pub, hall, or just general restaraunt. Basically it is everywhere. Last night, it being Friday and all of us having been severely deprived of hang out time with each other, decided to meet up for drinks at a lovely pub called The Rule. Good food, good prices, good atmosphere. Meg, Natalie and I got there just at 7.30. I was actually a bit afraid that it would already be super crowded since it was a Friday night. But we walked in, and there were several booths empty so we grabbed one and settled in. The rest of the group showed up (which by the way was three more people than we thought were coming! Gonna need a few more glasses over here!) and no sooner did they walk in and go to the counter to order (that is how most pubs do it) then literally I looked up and there had to be at least thirty people at the bar waiting to order. Then it hit me "Oh, it's Friday night.....6 Nations.....France vs Wales....I should have known!" It was so fun though. Even though Scotland wasn't playing, the fact that the other team was France, EVERYONE was rooting for Wales, which was super fun to join into, even though my rugby knowledge is next to none. It's actually a bit easier to follow if you know about American football. The game was one of the most exciting I'd seen, and even though France won (blah!), Wales scored a wonderful goal within the last 20 seconds of the game. They really came back in the second half, having not scored at all in the first half. But it was such a fun atmosphere, chowing down on beer-battered onion rings (the greatest thing since sliced bread by far!) and Tennents in hand. Over all, it was a fun, relaxing evening with friends. I'm telling you though, the mindset of the uni students over here is something else. Even this JSA who came along from Sally's kept on saying how this was the most sober rugby match he'd ever watched. I thought that was a bit silly, not to mention stupid to keep repeating. We went to the student union after that where we played everything from Fuse ball, to darts, to pool. I finally was dying, not to mention I couldn't hear myself think with all the noise! Come 11 pm, that place is packed full of students! It was nice to finally get out in the quiet night air, even if it was drizzling! Meg and I are running again this morning, and then we are going to have a go at starting our essays! AHHHHHH! We'll see how that goes. First ones for each class are due in two weeks! This could be interesting folks......
Cheers
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
A sunny, cold, sunny, cold update.....
I know it's been awhile since I last blogged and I apologise. I warned you that I might not be faithful! But I am trying, so I'm back. The last week has been fairly normal for me, but that is nice. And I know normal for you is what you want to hear. Meg and I have found a wonderful church to go to. The Kingdom Vineyard is a very student oriented, contemporary worship kind of church. The first time we went, we both cried because we had missed out on such fellowship for so long. It is now something we look forward to every week. I'm getting into the swing of classes, even the crazy Thursdays I have where I literally run back and forth from St Mary's to The Scores from 2 to 3 to 4. It's interesting....but it works. The first test is coming up for me as my first essays are due in two weeks....that could be interesting...see how I do with the British system, which runs on a 20 mark scale. Basically, I really want a 15 or above. Meg and I have also started to try to get into a routine of running three times a week. So far so good! And I really enjoy it too! (who knew I could enjoy running....) By the end of term, I'll be ready to do Jail runs at the ranch! I also run barefoot, which I really like. Yes, it is a bit cold here still, but I really enjoy running on the beach barefoot! I'm glad Meg is keeping me accountable in this. I'm finally exercising on my own time! I never thought I'd see the day.....
The Byre internship is going very well. I had my second day today, and no sooner had I got there that Stephen and I jumped into his car and were on our way to Kirkcaldy to meet with a lady in the beginning stages of refurbishing a theatre. It was actually kind of a waste of time; four hours spent away with only about half an hour of actually talking to her. Four hours because it took us about an hour to get there because we had to take the back roads to get there because it was snowing and the coastal road was getting flooded. The drive was beautiful though! Snow-covered hills untouched by footprints, with a soft fuzz about them from the beautifully falling snow. Rural back roads that were so quiet and lovely and white. It was sort of like being in a fairy tale, as corny as that sounds. Kirkcaldy itself however, was miserable. Right on the main coastal drag, where the building was, it was windy and cold and rainy (since it was too warm for snow by the water) We stopped in a car park and met up with Gordon (the technical manager of the Byre) and it took us another half hour to actually find the place, since we had no idea what it was called! And we finally get in.....and the lady is out until half past. Stephen up and puts us in his car and we drive to a place called Rejects (yes, that is the actual name) It is a mixture of a department store (sort of) and a little cafe. We stopped in for hot drinks and a treat (on the Byre of course!) and then Gordon and I really began to admire the store. It is the kind of store that is a prop person's dream! Filled with every kind of random thing you could imagine, from a dalmation covered chair, to a gigantic trunk with CALIFORNIA written in big letters on it. It was so much fun! The gaudiest lamp shades you could ever imagine, teal rugs...I mean this place was the mother load! It was super fun. So we finally had our meeting with the lady (which was a bit fruitless I'm afraid because she wasn't in a position yet where we could help her) and we went back to the Byre. From then on it was pretty relaxed for me. I did some computer stuff with Gordon and ordered some things for the theatre, and finally got out around 8pm. It was a day to be indoors, that's for sure. Cold and wet, the kind of weather no one wants to be out in. The theatre is hosting "Guys and Dolls" right now.....I know, ironic. So as the show began, we packed up and went home after a long day. Gordon kindly offered me a lift home, which I gladly accepted considering now it was dark, cold, and rainy! I'm really getting into the rhythm of things now, and like keeping busy. Stephen says there is going to be some kind of social thing next Wednesday, so that should be fun. I love the girls who work under Stephen too. They are really sweet! Well, here's to another full day!
Cheers
The Byre internship is going very well. I had my second day today, and no sooner had I got there that Stephen and I jumped into his car and were on our way to Kirkcaldy to meet with a lady in the beginning stages of refurbishing a theatre. It was actually kind of a waste of time; four hours spent away with only about half an hour of actually talking to her. Four hours because it took us about an hour to get there because we had to take the back roads to get there because it was snowing and the coastal road was getting flooded. The drive was beautiful though! Snow-covered hills untouched by footprints, with a soft fuzz about them from the beautifully falling snow. Rural back roads that were so quiet and lovely and white. It was sort of like being in a fairy tale, as corny as that sounds. Kirkcaldy itself however, was miserable. Right on the main coastal drag, where the building was, it was windy and cold and rainy (since it was too warm for snow by the water) We stopped in a car park and met up with Gordon (the technical manager of the Byre) and it took us another half hour to actually find the place, since we had no idea what it was called! And we finally get in.....and the lady is out until half past. Stephen up and puts us in his car and we drive to a place called Rejects (yes, that is the actual name) It is a mixture of a department store (sort of) and a little cafe. We stopped in for hot drinks and a treat (on the Byre of course!) and then Gordon and I really began to admire the store. It is the kind of store that is a prop person's dream! Filled with every kind of random thing you could imagine, from a dalmation covered chair, to a gigantic trunk with CALIFORNIA written in big letters on it. It was so much fun! The gaudiest lamp shades you could ever imagine, teal rugs...I mean this place was the mother load! It was super fun. So we finally had our meeting with the lady (which was a bit fruitless I'm afraid because she wasn't in a position yet where we could help her) and we went back to the Byre. From then on it was pretty relaxed for me. I did some computer stuff with Gordon and ordered some things for the theatre, and finally got out around 8pm. It was a day to be indoors, that's for sure. Cold and wet, the kind of weather no one wants to be out in. The theatre is hosting "Guys and Dolls" right now.....I know, ironic. So as the show began, we packed up and went home after a long day. Gordon kindly offered me a lift home, which I gladly accepted considering now it was dark, cold, and rainy! I'm really getting into the rhythm of things now, and like keeping busy. Stephen says there is going to be some kind of social thing next Wednesday, so that should be fun. I love the girls who work under Stephen too. They are really sweet! Well, here's to another full day!
Cheers
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Breaking news at 11.....well, 20 past....
I've been here for a total of three weeks and already I have a technology crisis (that is currently being fixed, before you all freak out!). I open a seemingly harmless facebook message that leads to a video link...very normal....it required me to download adobe....again, very normal....however, after a few failed tries to open it, I decided to leave it. Next think I know, I'm getting random websites popping up and my computer is apparently in "danger of security breach!!!!!!!!!!!". Or something like that. So I take it to IT, and they tell me I have a facebook virus that they can do nothing about, take it to the PC clinic....thank you very much. They tell me it will cost 30 pounds and will take a week to even get an appointment.....you have GOT to be kidding me.....welcome to the UK. Then they tell me, "oh and there is a place by the West Gate on South Street too". Ok, I'm going there because I don't want to wait a week. So currently, my computer is in surgery for the next 24 hours, getting rid of the so-called facebook virus.....I hate facebook right now.....But for now, that's all folks....back to you in the studio, Bob.
Cheers
Cheers
Saturday, February 13, 2010
When in Britian, do things the british way.....
Well.....today was the refreshers fayre, and it was very interesting. To put it in one sentence, I went in to look at the Volleyball and drama societies, and came out a member of the Polo club! As in, the horses, the sticks, all that jazz. I look back, and it may have been hasty, but I don't believe I am going to regret it. It is something I can't do back home, and looks like a fun group of people, and a new way to look at riding. I just thought I'd let you all know I am conforming......at least in the sports way :)
Cheers
Cheers
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Who knew what you could miss so much...
It was like Christmas morning.....you wake up, run downstairs and see all the.....SUNLIGHT!!!! You'd never guess after a week of rain and gloom, that waking up to blue skies and sun would make me grin from ear to ear! Meg and I practically ran outside to bask in the sunshine. Cold as it was, I could put on my SUNglasses, and warm up in the sun. Supposedly it is supposed to be like that tomorrow too! WOOHOO!
Cheers :)
Cheers :)
Friday, February 5, 2010
Cold? Ceilidh!
Well, it is official. I am now a fully matriculated, registered student at the university of St Andrews. And what better way to end orientation than by the full Scottish welcome of a Ceilidh! (kay-lee). There is also no better way to warm up on a cold, rainy night in the coldest Scottish winter in 100 years! (true fact ladies and gentlemen...) For those of you who are not familiar with what a ceilidh is, just think of a barn dance or line dance.....but the Scottish equivalent! With live music, laughing faces, and traditional Scottish morsels (Haggis included!), this was about as Scottish as they come! And yes, I did try the haggis.....it tastes like corned beef hash.....yummy! Along with that lovely traditional food, there was Iron Brew (of course) which basically is the sweetest soda you could possibly imagine, shortbread (duh!), potatoes, and the best tasting thing in the town, Caramel shortbread! People, it doesn't get much better than that!
Dances include crazy songs such as The Gay Gordons, The Dashing White Sergeant, and one of my favorites, The Flying Scotsman! After days of matriculation lectures and procedure, it was the perfect way to usher in the first of many weekends!
Cheers!
Dances include crazy songs such as The Gay Gordons, The Dashing White Sergeant, and one of my favorites, The Flying Scotsman! After days of matriculation lectures and procedure, it was the perfect way to usher in the first of many weekends!
Cheers!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Alexander and the Terrible.....I mean, The mishap, meyhem, and molification
Well! needless to say it's been an interesting 36 hours, during which I have gotten maybe 15 hours of sleep....never a good thing for someone like me. So, to recap, let me just say that obviously if I'm writing this blog, I made it....thank you. Flying into Edinburgh was beautiful. It was just after four, and the weather was surprisingly welcoming, with only a few clouds and the sun peeking through. As we flew over what we knew to be green hills, we saw them beautifully dusted with snow...literally it looked like powdered sugar. It was lovely. We drove in with four other girls, two being regular students returning and the other two being JSAs (Junior Study Abroad). By about halfway, it was dark, so there wasn't anything to stare or gawk at on our way in like last time.
After I was dropped off is where it gets interesting. So my hall is practically deserted, I get my key, and go up to my room, which by the way is like finding my way through a maze, open the door....and hit the wall. Both literally and emotionally. By literally, I mean my room is the size of a closet....yeah....but, the bed is a full bed....interesting. Emotionally I mean that I had been awake for over 24 hours, I couldn't see my lovely town because it was dark, and all I wanted to do was go home. Then it gets even better. So I get set up on the internet, and so does Meg so we skype and she says "oh come over and we can go out with the students here, they invited me to go pub hopping". Ok, I thought. I was in an unfamiliar part of town, it was dark, and cold. Basically, I was walking around lost for about a half hour looking for University hall. I was literally crying and walking at the same time (I suppose I can be thankful for the dark just for that reason!) Finally after almost just sitting down and giving up, I found a nice Irish guy who told me where to go. When I finally saw the sign for University Hall, I broke down. So I show up to a foyer full of students ready to go out and Meg just looks at me and says " wanna go upstairs?" and I just nodded my head. I ended up spending the night in her room because her roommate hadn't shown up yet. We slept for 11 hours. yup. After that I felt a bit better, we went back to my room (because at this point I'd been wearing the same clothes for over 30 hours, and then we went out to take care of a few technical errands. We each went back to our respective halls for lunch, and then I met Meg at the corner of Links, and we went for a very redemptive walk. We started with West Sands, which was very therapeutic, with the sound of the waves and all, then made our way up The Scores and said hello to all of our favorite spots. We went to Costas to warm up with a hot drink, then we were at it again. It was lovely, and we both felt great afterwards.
Ending random note. Meg's hall is only like a five minute walk from mine it turns out....unbelievable......
Cheers
After I was dropped off is where it gets interesting. So my hall is practically deserted, I get my key, and go up to my room, which by the way is like finding my way through a maze, open the door....and hit the wall. Both literally and emotionally. By literally, I mean my room is the size of a closet....yeah....but, the bed is a full bed....interesting. Emotionally I mean that I had been awake for over 24 hours, I couldn't see my lovely town because it was dark, and all I wanted to do was go home. Then it gets even better. So I get set up on the internet, and so does Meg so we skype and she says "oh come over and we can go out with the students here, they invited me to go pub hopping". Ok, I thought. I was in an unfamiliar part of town, it was dark, and cold. Basically, I was walking around lost for about a half hour looking for University hall. I was literally crying and walking at the same time (I suppose I can be thankful for the dark just for that reason!) Finally after almost just sitting down and giving up, I found a nice Irish guy who told me where to go. When I finally saw the sign for University Hall, I broke down. So I show up to a foyer full of students ready to go out and Meg just looks at me and says " wanna go upstairs?" and I just nodded my head. I ended up spending the night in her room because her roommate hadn't shown up yet. We slept for 11 hours. yup. After that I felt a bit better, we went back to my room (because at this point I'd been wearing the same clothes for over 30 hours, and then we went out to take care of a few technical errands. We each went back to our respective halls for lunch, and then I met Meg at the corner of Links, and we went for a very redemptive walk. We started with West Sands, which was very therapeutic, with the sound of the waves and all, then made our way up The Scores and said hello to all of our favorite spots. We went to Costas to warm up with a hot drink, then we were at it again. It was lovely, and we both felt great afterwards.
Ending random note. Meg's hall is only like a five minute walk from mine it turns out....unbelievable......
Cheers
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