Scottish for a Semester

Then maybe you’ll enjoy reading my film reviews!

I’ve decided to create a blog dedicated to the reviews I’m writing for my Professional Film Review class.

You can find out more here:

http://popcornandpontification.tumblr.com/

So guess what. I made it back safely to the US!

I decided to make one last post before I delete the blog (or maybe keep it on the internets for future reference for other would-be study abroaders?).

Coming home wasn’t as strange as I thought it would be, but it definitely was different. I no longer had that magical feeling I would get when purchasing something in pounds. While I was glad not to worry about the exchange rate anymore, I did find myself frantically deciding what my last candy bar would be while waiting in Heathrow.

I flew into El Paso, Texas, and for the first time, there was snow. In fact, so much snow that my parents couldn’t take their normal route and had to drive up through Pecos. They luckily made it…ten minutes before my plane touched down.

I have enjoyed sharing my little anecdotes about the UK. I have been slightly let down by the rarity of hard cider. Woodchucks Granny Smith is good when served chilled, but it’s not the same as Bulmers or Magners.

I didn’t have any problems accidentally driving on the opposite side of the road. Although I did find myself mostly broke when I learned the cash machine I went to a couple days beforehand had withdrawn double the amount I wanted (without me getting those extra notes). Luckily my credit union reversed it, so I’m broke, but not as much as I was before.

I found it more alarming that it was so bright in New Mexico. And that we got more snow than Edinburgh did while I was there. I’ll admit, it was nice to see the sun not going down at 3:30. Also, everything is much bigger here AND we truly are gun crazy. Seriously, would it hurt for us to tone it down?

While visiting friends in Albuquerque, I went to a world market and found a UK aisle, with products such as Heinz baked beans, marmite, Jammie Dodgers, and Irn Bru. I went into a spasm and bought two bottles of the Irn Bru.

I still miss Edinburgh, and the more I think about it, the more I can see myself living there, if only for a while. There’s a one year film programme I could do if I get this scholarship that pays for tuition, so I’m looking into that as a possible option when I graduate this May. At the very least, I know I will return, hopefully sooner rather than later. If there’s one thing I’ve gained while being in Scotland, it’s being adventurous and taking more chances.

I have bittersweet feelings about returning to Missoula. I ended a relationship with my boyfriend of three years, and my dog that I’ve had since I was 11 was put down today after having a series of violent seizures.

Needless to say, my start of the year has been rough. But rather than feeling stuck with my problems and feelings of low self-worth, I feel like there are opportunities waiting for me. I don’t know if they’re good or bad, but the future doesn’t seem as closed to me as it once did. Maybe these things coming to an end is a way to kick me into starting something new.

And I always like fresh starts.

So for those of you that have stuck with me through my Scottish journey, thank you and cheers.

Today has mostly consisted of me packing, and then going into a 2-3 hour cleaning frenzy, scrubbing down the toilet rooms, kitchen area, my room, and taking five different trips to take the rubbish out. 

But I did manage to do some “relaxing”, and walking through Edinburgh for the last, but hopefully not forever, time.

Went to Eteaket, a tea shop, with Hilary, Kirsty, Liu, and Andrew and had some lovely tea, and then to Wagamama with Chazz and her friends for dinner. I will miss the many opportunities to hang out with people. I feel more social here than I ever have back home, but I’m going to try and change that. 

My flight goes out at 6:30….IN THE MORNING. Which means I should get to the airport two hours before, which means I will need to take a taxi an hour before then, which means I have to wake up at 3. I still have to remove my bedding, and then hopefully Hilary and Christine will bid me ado. The taxi, luckily, is only going to cost me 14.50. Pretty damn cheap for a taxi, and I leave relatively far from the airport. 

Then it’s London Heathrow, Chicago O’Hare, El Paso Texas for the night, AND THEN home sweet home. In some ways I’m glad that I’m staying in El Paso, because otherwise I would have to jump into a car with my parents and drive for 2 1/2 hours to where we live. Around 8pm, I would kind of like to stop moving for a bit.

Anyway, sorry this isn’t more reflective, and I might give tomorrow or the next day for that chance. But for now, I’m going to watch the last four episodes of Avatar with Hilary rather than being cooped up in my room like this.

So until I’m in the States, cheers everyone!

Thing I will miss

Hearing bagpipes on Princes Street and the Royal Mile. I like being constantly reminded that I’m in Scotland. 

I’ll also miss the little side streets, like Rose Street. I discover new ones every time I go out.

I’ll miss the Christmas market and all the holiday festivities going on Princes Street. For instance tonight, there were ski slopes set up for people to practice skiing.

I’ll miss Nandos, the best chicken restaurant and one of the only places I can get Peri-Peri chips. Sooooo delicious, and I had that for dinner tonight with Hilary and Christine. I also finally got to go inside the Jekyll & Hyde pub, and got a Sloth cocktail drink (they have drinks named after the 7 deadly sins). Mine had Irish Cream, Baileys, Kahlua, and milk and cream. Tasted like an iced latte. 

I’m not liking the packing and the depressed mood everyone’s in, but that’s to be expected. I’ll at least be glad when that’s over, but I’ll miss my new friends here terribly.

Alternatively, I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends back home.

Last night out at the Golf Tavern, and then maybe the Banshee’s Labyrinth. Tearful goodbyes are sure to follow.

Cheers everyone!

Edinburgh Zoo

So a few weeks ago Edinburgh received two pandas from China. This was a special event, since apparently there haven’t been any pandas in the UK for over 17 years or something. When I found out, I was ecstatic to see awesome panda goodness at the zoo — except they would not be on display for another 2 weeks. I counted how many days left I had, and realized it would fall either the day before I leave, or the day of. 

But as fortune would have it, December 16th (today) would be the grand opening of the panda exhibit. I booked my ticket with Hilary and Liu, and that’s where I spent most of today.

Edinburgh Zoo has one male (Yang Guang) and one female (Tian Tian), and they are big and fluffy.

Oh, and also ASLEEP. I imagine they stuff as much bamboo into their mouths as possible and then go into a massive food coma. There’s always that side of me that has a twinge of guilt when I go to zoos and look at caged animals. But pandas are endangered and cannot survive in the wild anymore, and I’m sure they’re not complaining about the unlimited amount of bamboo they’re given. They also have another outside play area, where they’ll go when not sleeping. Yang Guang and Tian Tian are actually kept in separate exhibits. It has something to do with when mating season comes around (which for them is either never or two days a year). Tian Tian will bathe herself, and Yang Guang will do a panda handstand and pee into the air. The looks on the little kids’ faces when the tour guide told us that were priceless.

We also saw other animals, like the painted hunting dog.

The Sea Eagle.

Monkeys

Koala bear.

Leopard.

Tiger.

And lots and lots of penguins.

Oh yeah, and there was a PENGUIN PARADE.

It was a good day, except for freezing our feet and hands off. Humid cold is much more different than dry cold.

I’m so glad I saved my zoo visit until the very end, not just so I could see the pandas, but that I could also again see a part of Edinburgh that I hadn’t yet. 

It’s a city that truly has many layers to it.

Per request of my father, I am going to use his questions as my prompt. Since it’s 1am here, my buzz is wearing off, and I have a drunk Hilary in the next room to look after.

What have you learned this past semester in Scotland?

This is a big question. I don’t want to say something typical like “my horizons have been broadened”, but as someone who has NEVER left the US until coming to the UK, I really have seen a whole new side to this world. It really should be a crime for someone to not see another country in their life time. I’ve lived in two states that have bordered another country, and I’ve never been to either of them (hint: what’s south and north of the US?). Which is really sad and something I want to amend. So I guess what I’ve learned in Scotland is that the experience one can get in traveling is limitless. It’s something I’ll still be mulling over years from now. There’s a huge price to pay when traveling, but the life experience itself is boundless.

Cover what you have learned in your classes.

Na-na-na-na-na-na-BATMAN! But really, my Pop Culture class was really insightful. I had never read a graphic novel before (insert massive gasp), but I think when I get home I’m going to check more of them out. I was unaware how you can analyze and pick apart how the artist chooses to present their story. It’s a very filmic way of storytelling. 

In my Women’s Writing and Filmmaking class, I learned more about women’s presence in filmmaking. I also learned that a feminist means equality, not that one gender is better than the other. Alicja, a Polish girl I met in that class, was also enlightening to talk to while she explained the documentary she was working on.

While I felt my Postcolonial Fiction and Film class was kind of “meh” for the most part, I can at least say I’ve seen some Indian and African films. My favorite lecture was probably when Mark Cousins, a documentary filmmaker from Ireland, came in and talked to us after we watched his film “First Movie”, where he rented film cameras to children in Iraq and let them make their own film. Any sort of interaction with a local filmmaker is incredibly rewarding.

What have you learned about the Scottish people, Edinburgh, and other cities?

The Scottish people, from my experience, are incredibly friendly. I had visited London back in November, and I was really able to finally compare the English with the Scottish. The Scottish have this cool, tight-knit community, willing to unite, but also half-assing it at the same time (case in point: no one willing to clap for the singers at the Christmas concert in St. Andrew’s Square because it was cold as shit outside). And I love them for that. For me, Edinburgh is the perfect city. I never thought I could handle a big city, but Edinburgh is very approachable. It’s spread out, but still maintains a certain level of comfort. I’ve never really felt unsafe here, although crime does happen. I had also visited Italy, which I immensely enjoyed, but I think I would’ve had a harder time adjusting to that culture and lifestyle than in Scotland. Not to say I didn’t gain any cultural insight by studying in Scotland. I did. I just came already loving everything about the UK, and studying here has firmly cemented that. I would seriously consider living here if I knew I wouldn’t find it difficult to be away from my family.

What have you learned from the new friends you’ve made?

I’ve met some amazing friends here. While I was slightly bummed about rooming with only American girls, I’ve become best friends with Hilary and so incredibly grateful that we were placed in the same flat. But I’ve also met people from other countries as well as Scotland. Nathalie from Sweden (who has the perfect American accent, is so sweet and funny to be around), Liu from Germany (who’s always up to do anything), Kirsty from Edinburgh (who was the first person not afraid to talk to me in class), Eilidh from Crieff (who’s been incredibly gracious by showing me a part of Scotland I never thought I’d see). There’s going to be way too many people to list if I start this now. But the community of people I’ve had the chance to meet have really made me feel welcome here in Scotland, and I hope we can continue to stay in touch. It’s been interesting being the “international” student for once, and I think by my interactions with the friends I’ve made here, this will help me reach out to other international students when I return home. 

What have you learned about yourself?

Okay, leaving all “soul-searchy” answers behind right now. I’ve learned that I’m no longer a lightweight when it comes to drinking. I don’t go out drinking every night, or even every weekend, but somehow I’ve built up a tolerance, and that is both a good thing, and a bad, expensive, thing. 

I’ve also learned that I can actually function independently. I say this because I had been in a relationship for the last three years, and never really got to know myself outside of that.

I’ve also been more “chance-takey”, more in the way of traveling. I’m not as fearful about that as I was before.

As much as I’m terrified of what I’ll be doing when I graduate in May, I don’t think I would be afraid to move to a new place where I don’t know anyone. I guess that’s what I’ve taken from this whole study abroad experience. I can go to a new place, with a new currency, with new grading systems, grocery stores, even a new way of driving, and I can adapt to that without completely falling apart.

That alone is comforting for the future. 

Thing I will miss about Edinburgh, Scotland

The food. It’s not just the wide selection, because I could get that in any big city in the US. The food here just seems to be higher quality in my opinion. Everything’s fresh and made in the UK, or if not, they come from Spain, Italy, or Africa. And they put REAL sugar in their soda drinks instead of corn syrup. REAL SUGAR. You also haven’t lived until you’ve tried Scottish butter and Scottish ice cream. Here are just some of the foods I will miss because as far as I know, the US does not have them:

• Scotch egg: hardboiled egg wrapped in sausage and bread crumbs. Learn more about it from this informational video here.
• Irn Bru: a soda drink only available in Scotland because it’s ILLEGAL in the States. It’s orange, tastes like bubble gum, and seems to be the pick me up drink of choice for a hangover. Again, refer here.
• Deep fried Mars Bar: self-explanatory, and you can probably find this anywhere in the States. But there’s something special the Scots do when they deep fry things.
• Tesco brand apple and mince pies: seriously, I’m going to miss seeing these in the grocery stores.
• Jammie dodgers: short bread cookie sandwich with a jam center. And yes, I merely tried it for the Doctor Who reference.
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• Jelly babies: gummies. Also for the Doctor Who reference.
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• Galaxy and Cadbury chocolate: I think it was Hilary who said it makes Hershey’s taste like chalk.
• Tomato paste: wait for it—in a tube. Doesn’t that make more sense than putting it in a can when you’re not even going to use all of it?!
• Alcoholic cider: I really don’t know why this isn’t more popular in the States as it is here. It makes you question why you ever drink beer.
• Blackcurrant: you see this flavor literally EVERYWHERE. It’s a fancier way of saying grape, but it tastes so much better.
• Microwavable porridge: I really, really hope I can find this in the States. 
• Chips: yes, I’m going to start calling them that now. Chips with salt, vinegar, ketchup, and chippy sauce (a sort of brown sauce) = best late night snack ever.

I’m sure there’s more food I’m leaving out, but this is what I’ve come up with so far. Long story short, the Tesco and Co-op groceries that were so foreign to me in the beginning have become a familiar haven for food. 

I’m also going to miss going to movies with my friend Kirsty, who became my movie buddy far too late in the term. We watched Puss In Boots at the Odeon, had the whole cinema to ourselves, and pigged out on candy. It was glorious. 

I’m also going to miss cooking and talking with Hilary in the kitchen, and then watching episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender so she can avoid studying. She met J.K. Rowling today in Morningside, and we still can’t pipe down about it. 

Thing I will miss about Edinburgh Scotland

How extreme winds can be officially called hurricanes in the newspapers. Seriously, I only left my flat once today to print off my tickets to see the pandas. It’s been Hurricane Bawbag Part II all day long. I can only hope this doesn’t go on when I’m in the plane heading to London. Yikes.

I’m going to miss the Bruntsfield/Morningside part of the city. There are so many neat little shops, like Peckham’s, The Chocolate Tree, the Asian market, the Indian woman selling curry in the abandoned police box, Luca’s Gelateria. I would’ve walked to Merchiston campus today if it wasn’t for the winds because it’s always kind of peaceful, but with a slight buzz of action. 

Although I’m glad to be done with class, I’ll miss my bus route that goes through Morningside and takes me to Craighouse Campus. No more staring off at the cemetery with its fallen headstones, or that steep climb the bus always has to make before pulling into the gates. I’ll be making the trip probably one last time on Thursday to pick up one of my essays. Craighouse won’t be a part of Napier anymore, but I’m glad I got to be one of the last class of students to go there.

Thing I will miss about Edinburgh, Scotland

Being able to walk to/take a short bus trip to Princes Street. I’m sure people that have lived in Edinburgh, or maybe even Scotland for most of their lives, probably get tired of Princes Street. That’s where all the shopping and tourists are. In all the places I’ve lived (count that as 2), I’ve never had that luxury to have a large selection of places IN TOWN that I can shop from, and also have an awesome view of an epic castle to gaze at while I do my shopping.

I’ll miss the little old ladies at the bus stops (except for that one who, when I asked if she was in the queue to get on the bus said no, and STILL wouldn’t move aside for me), and yes, I will miss hearing Scottish accents wherever I go. Everyone is always so warm and friendly, even the strange woman clerk at the Co-op who always mumbles and I can never understand her, so I just nod with the occasional “I know.”

I’ll miss the kids running and shouting out on the Meadows. As annoying it could sometimes get, I always found it really made me feel like I was living here. 

I’ll miss actually dressing up when going out at night. I’ve tried that in Montana, and all I get is, “What are you so dressed up for?” Sorry, I’m a girl, and I like reliving my days when I used to dig through my mom’s closet and wear high heels that wouldn’t fit me.

I’ll miss the stupid rain. Damp really is a color here. Actually, I won’t miss the rain-wind combination that almost turned out my umbrella today. But there have been few days when it constantly rains, and the sun always does come out eventually.

I’ll miss my cold room (LET ME FINISH) because it made me rediscover the wonderful invention that is the hot water bottle. AND IT HAS A LOVELY JUMPER.

A week from today, I’ll be on a plane back home. My study abroad workshop said it’ll be difficult reintegrating back into my home culture, and I can understand that now. So for those who will be seeing me again in a week, please bear with me. I’ll try not to talk your ear off about Scotland and force you to sit down and go through a slideshow of the 12894548596942 pictures I’ve taken. But if we can talk about it in intervals, I would really love that.

One week left in the most amazing city I’ve ever been in, and I just want to

Originally I thought I would go to Wales for a couple of days this week, but looking at how much money I have left, I decided it wouldn’t be possible — considering how much I’d have to pay my friend for petrol and then stay in a hostel for two nights. It would have been lovely to see Cardiff, but I’m going to have to reserve that for the next time I visit the UK. 

In the meantime, I’ll have to make the most of this week. Which sadly will consist of me scrambling around packing and getting rid of stuff I’m not taking back with me. But to catch everyone up, here’s what’s been going on:

Trip to the Highlands

Eilidh took Hilary and me to the Highlands last Wednesday, and it was beautiful. There was more snow north of Edinburgh, so it was shocking to see, but at least we had our snow boots and heavy coats ready. Since we weren’t sure about the condition of the roads (or the ever changing weather), Eilidh’s dad came and drove for most of the time. Here’s a slice of what I saw.

The landscape is comparable to what I’m used to in Montana, or even during the times my family has driven up through Colorado and Wyoming. But there’s definitely a difference in the look of the Highlands. More hilly, valley type formations, and the way the snow lays out across the land is more lumpy due to the thick grass. The last picture is my new favorite animal, the Highland Cow (or “Hairy Coo”). It’s not a very good picture, since I couldn’t get too close, so here’s one I just grabbed off the Internet.

They’re ginger cows with a fringe. WHAT IS NOT TO LOVE?

We drove westward, originally planning to go up to Loch Ness, but the drive would’ve been long and with unpredictable weather, we decided it best not to chance it. We landed in the city of Oban around lunch time.

Also, SEAL COLONY.

I had the baked macaroni cheese and chips on the side, which is the perfect comfort food EVER.

It was interesting reading the street signs, because the Scottish gaelic would be on top of the English, such as this Royal Bank of Scotland sign.

On our way back, Eilidh’s dad took a little side trip to the Falls of Leny. The trail to this spot was very muddy.

We got back to Edinburgh later that night, and good thing we did, because the next day Hurricane Bawbag struck. Well, not really a hurricane. Scotland just got severe winds. Really severe winds. Schools were canceled, the airport shut down, and a wind turbine caught fire. Crazy shit like that. I braved it for a wee bit while doing my Christmas shopping, and the winds were literally the worst I’ve ever experienced. The name of the winds originated from Twitter, with the word “bawbag” referring to Scottish slang for “ball bag”. You get the idea.

Christmas Parties

There’ll be more to come, but had an enjoyable evening Friday. Jimmy Chungs with friends (finally got to try a Christmas cracker and wear a paper crown — pictures to come whenever my friends upload them). Then another party at Hilary’s classmate’s flat, where we were going to have mulled wine, but it ended up being a concoction of hot cranberry juice and Bulmers Cider. Whatever, it was good.

Church of Scotland

So I finally granted my dad’s wish (and also because I was curious) and attended a Sunday service at the Barclay Viewforth Church of Scotland just around the corner from me. I’m Lutheran myself, but weirdly the only Lutheran church in Scotland I could see was in Glasgow. Admittedly, I don’t go to church that often when I’m away from home, mainly because I don’t have a lot of Christian friends to go with, or the friends I could make that are Christian are, like, POST-BIBLE-VERSES-ALL-THE-TIME-ON-FACEBOOK Christian. Which is totally fine, but that’s not my style, just out of respect for my non Christian friends who don’t want to be exposed to that on a regular basis. And I’m picky about the way I like to worship. I like to be in a small congregation with organ music and lots of old people where they won’t force me to dance. I know, I’m weird. But with my ever creeping social anxiety, I’m most comfortable with that. So the church I went to today definitely delivered! And the reverend even pretended to be blind for 10 minutes. So there we go. (Also, I think Edinburgh has the highest concentration of old people I’ve ever seen). 

ALSO also, I didn’t mean to make this a whole study of how Jessica does religion. But there you go.

And more…

I finally reserved my ticket to see the giant pandas this coming Friday at the Edinburgh Zoo. I’m so excited, because I don’t think I’ve ever seen a panda in real life. Which seems odd, so I must have. But my family never goes to places like San Diego where we’d actively go to a zoo. At any rate, the pandas are the first pandas the UK has had in like 17 years. I like them because they’re fluffy, they eat a lot, and they have zero sex drive!

This Thursday and Saturday night, I have two different Christmas parties at the Golf Tavern. One’s for the international students, and the other is one Hilary’s been organizing, which is a Christmas dinner the pub has put together. 

Other than that, I just have boring stuff going on, like closing my bank account here, packing, unpacking, crying over things that won’t fit, packing, getting rid of stuff, etc. And to make matters worse, I had checked BMI (the airline I’m using from Edinburgh to London) about extra, overweight luggage, and realized I’ll probably be spending over 100 quid to check in my stuff.

Which makes me both cry and want to hit something.

I think what I’m going to try and do is make a blog post once a day until I leave. It might not be about anything exciting, but it’s just to try and preserve my last days in Edinburgh, and hopefully get me out and doing something worth writing about.