Since the beginning of my college search, I have been intrigued with the idea of studying in a foreign country for a semester. I have always envisioned myself traveling the world, meeting new people, and learning through a new perspective as a college student. With two years of college completed, I am excited to start my next big adventure: a semester at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Although I was initially overwhelmed by the number of international universities I could study at around the world, I eventually settled on the University of Edinburgh because of its beautiful location, the size of the city and school, and advice from friends who studied there in past years.
As I have thought about studying abroad for years, it seems hard to believe that in one week, I will be leaving the United States, destined for one of the most exciting adventures I will probably ever have. I am flying out of Newark on September 7 and will be returning to the United States on December 18. While in Edinburgh, I will be living in a flat in Kincaid's Court, a building that sits in the shadows of the Scottish House of Parliament, the National Museum of Scotland, and a huge medieval castle. My classes include International Law, Human Rights in International Relations, and Modern Scottish History. I developed a great interest in international relations last semester at Colby, and I'm very excited to learn more about human rights through a perspective other than that of the United States. Although I have heard that courses taken abroad are much easier than Colby courses, I'm nervous that expectations will be different, I'll have difficulty understanding the professors' accents, etc.
This final week in Maine will be dedicated to packing, saying goodbye to friends and family, and getting as much sun as possible (I don't have high expectations for Scottish weather). Thankfully, my mom is much more organized than I am and she's keeping me and my packing on track. I'm sure I'll be receiving a few more talks on safety from my Dad as well (Stop worrying Dad...I promise I'll be careful!). I'll certainly miss Maine, the US, and fall at Colby, and I have had a wonderful summer, filled with long days outside, fun summer nights, and new friends, but I'm definitely ready to leave Biddeford for a new adventure.
I've decided to keep this blog in order to record my thoughts, memories, and experiences while I'm in Scotland. Time flies by so quickly, and I want to make sure I remember as much as possible from this trip. If you would like to email me while I'm abroad, my email is kwfisher@colby.edu. I hope to hear from all of you at some point!
