Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Scotland is bringing out my domestic side
Two of my friends and I have recently decided to make weekly dinners a ritual over here. One person hosts every week, cooks the meal, and cleans up. As it's usually the only normal and well balanced dinner we have every week, there's a lot of pressure to make it good! Tonight was my turn, and after a great deal of stress, because cooking is not my forte, I decided to cook some spicy chicken. Don't judge me too harshly, but this was actually the first time I've used the oven, so figuring out how to turn it on took a bit of time (In my defense, I have used the stove top). To my great surprise, the whole meal was a success! I made my own rub for the chicken, grilled it, sautéed some vegetables in soy sauce, and made my own garlic bread. I'm feeling quite domestic at the moment, and Mom, I might help you more in the kitchen when I'm home (but no promises)!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Weekend pictures
I forgot to mention in my earlier post that I was able to share my many musical talents with the world on Thursday evening through karaoke. But not just any karaoke: karaoke with a live band. My dreams of becoming a rock star have been fulfilled. I also forgot to include a few pictures from my weekend. I'm having a case of the Mondays.
Family Homestay
Part of the program I'm studying abroad through includes a mandatory, two night homestay with a family in the United Kingdom. This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to go to Raughton, England, a tiny hamlet outside of Carlisle and stayed with a lovely family, the Openshaws, in their home with two other girls from the program.
The ride to Penrith (the initial drop off point) was about 3 hours from Edinburgh. Unfortunately, I was car sick the whole time, so I wasn't able to enjoy the ride as much as I would have liked, but the landscape was beautiful. We drove through rolling hills, covered in sheep and cows, and tiny villages. After being picked up by our host mom, we drove half an hour to their house and met the rest of the family. The Openshaws have three grown daughters (all of whom have moved out of the house), a cat, and two dogs, Beau and Coco. Beau was a yellow lab puppy, and instantly won our hearts, despite his tendencies to cause trouble.
The family lives in England's lake district, so after an enormous breakfast on Saturday, we met up with a few other families hosting students and hiked to a beautiful waterfall in the middle of the woods. It was a beautiful day and nice to get some fresh air. After the waterfall, we were taken to a small lake, surrounded by hills and mountains which were covered in sheep. The scenery was so picturesque and looked like it was straight out of a movie. Although it was chilly, we rented rowboats and got to take a spin on the lake. Thankfully, in the lake district, boats that travel over 4 mph are banned, so we didn't have to worry about getting run over by a large boat, although we did manage to hit each other quite a bit. Rowing was so challenging! I tried for approximately 1 minute, and didn't move at all. Luckily I was in a boat with three boys, and one was able to get us around the lake. After rowing (and by rowing, I mean sitting while people rowed me around) we all went to a stone circle, built 4,500 years ago.
After sightseeing for the day, we went back to the house and took the dogs for a walk around the hamlet. I'm obsessed with British literature such as Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma, and the area is exactly what I imagine every time I read those books. The old houses, huge fields, stone walls, and sheep and cows roaming around was exactly what I had envisioned when I imagined the British countryside. We did have to be careful when walking the dogs though because they weren't on leashes. If dogs get into a field of sheep or cows, the farmer has a right to shoot the dog because it could cause the other animals to abort or stampede. Who knew?
After another huge breakfast on Sunday, my host mom took us into Carlisle, the nearest town. We visited a cathedral built in 900, went to a museum that focused on the history of the town and its Roman influences, and took a trip to TK Maxx (the exact same thing as TJ Maxx). Around 3, we headed back to the bus and back up to Edinburgh.
My host family was so wonderful, and it was nice to get out of the city for a while. I forgot how much I enjoyed seeing the stars! They cooked so much food for us at every meal (think roasted chicken and vegetables, homemade soup, apple and peach cobbler, etc) and the beds were unbelievably comfortable. I slept so well without the noise of cars and screaming boys outside my window all night! My host family was really interesting, and we had great conversation all weekend. Bill, the father, works a supervisor on oil rigs (I refrained from talking about environmental degradation and global warming for most of the weekend) and gets to travel all over the world. Melanie has joined him on many of his trips, and they take vacations all over the world every year, so they've been just about everywhere. Their last trip, last week, was to Boston, so they wanted to hear my thoughts on the Red Sox (there's always next year), the Museum of Science, and Faneuil Hall. They told us all about Europe, India, South East Asia, and Africa. Their stories were endless and very entertaining.
They also loved talking to us about the United States and our views of the world. They both asked lots of questions about the Tea Party, immigration reform, gay marriage, and our thoughts of the Middle East. Their entire family loves Obama, and told us how the election was not only important for the USA, but it inspired the world. I didn't understand what an enormous effect the election of Obama had, but they insisted that it had inspired hope and unity across the planet.
Overall the weekend was a great experience, and I'm really glad I had the opportunity to meet such an interesting family.
The ride to Penrith (the initial drop off point) was about 3 hours from Edinburgh. Unfortunately, I was car sick the whole time, so I wasn't able to enjoy the ride as much as I would have liked, but the landscape was beautiful. We drove through rolling hills, covered in sheep and cows, and tiny villages. After being picked up by our host mom, we drove half an hour to their house and met the rest of the family. The Openshaws have three grown daughters (all of whom have moved out of the house), a cat, and two dogs, Beau and Coco. Beau was a yellow lab puppy, and instantly won our hearts, despite his tendencies to cause trouble.
The family lives in England's lake district, so after an enormous breakfast on Saturday, we met up with a few other families hosting students and hiked to a beautiful waterfall in the middle of the woods. It was a beautiful day and nice to get some fresh air. After the waterfall, we were taken to a small lake, surrounded by hills and mountains which were covered in sheep. The scenery was so picturesque and looked like it was straight out of a movie. Although it was chilly, we rented rowboats and got to take a spin on the lake. Thankfully, in the lake district, boats that travel over 4 mph are banned, so we didn't have to worry about getting run over by a large boat, although we did manage to hit each other quite a bit. Rowing was so challenging! I tried for approximately 1 minute, and didn't move at all. Luckily I was in a boat with three boys, and one was able to get us around the lake. After rowing (and by rowing, I mean sitting while people rowed me around) we all went to a stone circle, built 4,500 years ago.
After sightseeing for the day, we went back to the house and took the dogs for a walk around the hamlet. I'm obsessed with British literature such as Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma, and the area is exactly what I imagine every time I read those books. The old houses, huge fields, stone walls, and sheep and cows roaming around was exactly what I had envisioned when I imagined the British countryside. We did have to be careful when walking the dogs though because they weren't on leashes. If dogs get into a field of sheep or cows, the farmer has a right to shoot the dog because it could cause the other animals to abort or stampede. Who knew?
After another huge breakfast on Sunday, my host mom took us into Carlisle, the nearest town. We visited a cathedral built in 900, went to a museum that focused on the history of the town and its Roman influences, and took a trip to TK Maxx (the exact same thing as TJ Maxx). Around 3, we headed back to the bus and back up to Edinburgh.
My host family was so wonderful, and it was nice to get out of the city for a while. I forgot how much I enjoyed seeing the stars! They cooked so much food for us at every meal (think roasted chicken and vegetables, homemade soup, apple and peach cobbler, etc) and the beds were unbelievably comfortable. I slept so well without the noise of cars and screaming boys outside my window all night! My host family was really interesting, and we had great conversation all weekend. Bill, the father, works a supervisor on oil rigs (I refrained from talking about environmental degradation and global warming for most of the weekend) and gets to travel all over the world. Melanie has joined him on many of his trips, and they take vacations all over the world every year, so they've been just about everywhere. Their last trip, last week, was to Boston, so they wanted to hear my thoughts on the Red Sox (there's always next year), the Museum of Science, and Faneuil Hall. They told us all about Europe, India, South East Asia, and Africa. Their stories were endless and very entertaining.
They also loved talking to us about the United States and our views of the world. They both asked lots of questions about the Tea Party, immigration reform, gay marriage, and our thoughts of the Middle East. Their entire family loves Obama, and told us how the election was not only important for the USA, but it inspired the world. I didn't understand what an enormous effect the election of Obama had, but they insisted that it had inspired hope and unity across the planet.
Overall the weekend was a great experience, and I'm really glad I had the opportunity to meet such an interesting family.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Arthur's Seat and a Fried Mars Bar!
When planning my weekend on Friday afternoon with a friend, we thought 10 am would be a completely feasible time to wake up and hike the extinct volcano that sits in the middle of Edinburgh. I wasn't pleased when my alarm went off, and I did hit the snooze button a few times, but I finally managed to drag myself out of bed and get outside. Arthur's Seat is a 823 foot peak in the center of the city, about 30 minutes from my flat, in the middle of Holyrood Park. A friend and I made the trip up, and although it was a more intense workout than I would have liked on that Saturday morning, it was great to get outside. Who knew I'd become so outdoorsy after moving out of Maine and into a city?
Because I burned so many calories yesterday morning, naturally I had to replenish myself today with some traditional fried Scottish food. I had yet to try real fish and chips, so two friends and I talked with some locals, who directed us to The Clam Shell, a local fish and chips place on the Royal Mile (a popular tourist street). The portions were enormous, and the fish was ok, but it's safe to say that the Seafood Center in Arundel, ME beats the Clam Shell when it comes to fried haddock. The Clam Shell had piles of candy behind the counter that was to be fried, and everyone has told my friends and I that we have to try a fried Mars Bar, a "Scottish delicacy," so we decided to split one for dessert. Oh. My. God. It was quite possibly the most delicious thing I've ever tasted. It looked disgusting, but it was oozing with chocolate and caramel and so much deliciousness. Now that my arteries are sufficiently clogged, it might be time to try haggis soon...
Because I burned so many calories yesterday morning, naturally I had to replenish myself today with some traditional fried Scottish food. I had yet to try real fish and chips, so two friends and I talked with some locals, who directed us to The Clam Shell, a local fish and chips place on the Royal Mile (a popular tourist street). The portions were enormous, and the fish was ok, but it's safe to say that the Seafood Center in Arundel, ME beats the Clam Shell when it comes to fried haddock. The Clam Shell had piles of candy behind the counter that was to be fried, and everyone has told my friends and I that we have to try a fried Mars Bar, a "Scottish delicacy," so we decided to split one for dessert. Oh. My. God. It was quite possibly the most delicious thing I've ever tasted. It looked disgusting, but it was oozing with chocolate and caramel and so much deliciousness. Now that my arteries are sufficiently clogged, it might be time to try haggis soon...
Friday, September 24, 2010
Pictures!
After two eventful trips across the city using the bus system (which I finally have the hang of) my camera is working again, and I have my camera cord. I'm finally able to upload pictures! Here are a few highlights from my trip so far!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
First Week of Class
After over a week of freedom in this amazing city, I finally had my first week of class. Although I like my classes and I think the subjects are really interesting, I'm quite nervous about them. Two of my courses are enormous, with over 110 students in each, and I have one class with approximately 50 students in it. The classes are purely lectures, and we have tutorial sessions once a week. Tutorials are groups of 10-15 students, where we discuss the reading and ask questions. The only problem is, I'm not 100% sure what to read to prepare for class. Rather than assign a few books to buy, each professor has assigned about 200 books that fall under "recommended" reading. As I don't have time to read 10 books each class every week, I'm going to have to play it by ear and see how other students prepare. I'm really missing small classes though; It's tough for me to focus in such a huge lecture theater.
Another huge difference between classes here and at home is the way people dress. Although it sounds silly, it's SO different. I haven't seen a single person wear sweatpants to class since I've been here, and definitely no LL Bean moccasins. All of the girls look like they're ready to go out to a club, with their short skirts, big hair, and tons of makeup. I might have to alter my cable knit Polo sweater, jeans, and Uggs look a bit while I'm studying here.
I've had a ton of free time so far this week because I haven't received my course reading guides yet. I've tried to explore a bit and walk around, and I feel like I've become well acclimated with the city. I've tried several new cafes and coffee shops, and I can (usually) find my way around. Tons of places around here have student discounts, so it's easy to get decent food at reasonable prices.
Finally, my building has had four fire alarms in the past week, all at super inconvenient times (The first was at 2 am, the second I was cooking dinner, the third I was in the shower, and the fourth it was pouring). The best part-all four were caused by the same flat. Honestly girls, learn how to use your toaster. I'm sure the fire department loves Kincaid's Court right now.
On a happier note, I've booked my trips to London and Dublin, and I'm so excited!
Another huge difference between classes here and at home is the way people dress. Although it sounds silly, it's SO different. I haven't seen a single person wear sweatpants to class since I've been here, and definitely no LL Bean moccasins. All of the girls look like they're ready to go out to a club, with their short skirts, big hair, and tons of makeup. I might have to alter my cable knit Polo sweater, jeans, and Uggs look a bit while I'm studying here.
I've had a ton of free time so far this week because I haven't received my course reading guides yet. I've tried to explore a bit and walk around, and I feel like I've become well acclimated with the city. I've tried several new cafes and coffee shops, and I can (usually) find my way around. Tons of places around here have student discounts, so it's easy to get decent food at reasonable prices.
Finally, my building has had four fire alarms in the past week, all at super inconvenient times (The first was at 2 am, the second I was cooking dinner, the third I was in the shower, and the fourth it was pouring). The best part-all four were caused by the same flat. Honestly girls, learn how to use your toaster. I'm sure the fire department loves Kincaid's Court right now.
On a happier note, I've booked my trips to London and Dublin, and I'm so excited!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Freshers' Week
With my first full week in Edinburgh complete, I am totally exhausted and plan on spending today relaxing. This past week was Freshers' Week, and it was a huge adventure. The week was jam packed with activities, meetings, and plenty of fun things to do. I've spent a decent amount of time trying to settle in and run errands. I've cooked a few times this week as well, and it isn't as bad as I had expected, and I was quite proud of the results.
Through my program, I was able to get a Freshers' Week pass for free (they're normally 30 pounds). The pass enabled me to participate in all of the activities for free. Unfortunately my friends and I weren't told that many of the events require getting tickets in advance, so we missed a free tour of Edinburgh castle and an open top bus tour, but we were able to take advantage of a free trip to the Edinburgh zoo which was so much fun! The zoo is playing a large role in trying to breed animals that are critically endangered, so there were quite a few very rare animals. The landscaping was so pretty and we got a free tour through the visit. The entire zoo is built on a mountain, so I definitely got my workout for the day walking up, but the views were outstanding. As we were leaving, my friends and I found a vending machine that sells small cups on Ben & Jerry's ice cream! As we're all too cheap to buy real ice cream at a grocery store, we treated ourselves to a little taste from home, and it was delicious.
Thursday was by far my favorite day as I was just feet away from the pope! There was a huge parade through one of the largest streets in the city, leading away from the Queen's palace. I've never seen so much plaid or heard so many bagpipes in my life, but the parade was excellent. The streets were packed and there was a ton of security, but we were able to see the pope in his popemobile quite well. As I'll probably never see the pope again, it was quite an experience.
Yesterday afternoon, a large group from my program was able to go to a professional football (soccer) match. A member of the Scottish parliament, who holds season tickets, was able to get us tickets for only 5 pounds, a great deal. The game was so much fun! I'm not a huge soccer fan, but it was great being with the group and cheering on the local team. The atmosphere among the Scottish fans kind of reminded me of cheap bleacher seats at Fenway on a Friday night. The fans were very rowdy, and slightly inappropriate, but it was great to mingle with local football fans.
Although living in a flat is really fun, there are quite a few things I will never take for granted again, including:
-Wal-mart (one stop shopping isn't an option here)
-Laundry machines in my building
-Dining hall food
-Dishwashers
-Fresh fruit
Now that I've settled in and know my way around the city fairly well, my homesickness is starting to wear off and I'm having the time of my life. Freshers' Week is over, classes start tomorrow, and I am so ready and excited. I definitely need some structure in my life!
Through my program, I was able to get a Freshers' Week pass for free (they're normally 30 pounds). The pass enabled me to participate in all of the activities for free. Unfortunately my friends and I weren't told that many of the events require getting tickets in advance, so we missed a free tour of Edinburgh castle and an open top bus tour, but we were able to take advantage of a free trip to the Edinburgh zoo which was so much fun! The zoo is playing a large role in trying to breed animals that are critically endangered, so there were quite a few very rare animals. The landscaping was so pretty and we got a free tour through the visit. The entire zoo is built on a mountain, so I definitely got my workout for the day walking up, but the views were outstanding. As we were leaving, my friends and I found a vending machine that sells small cups on Ben & Jerry's ice cream! As we're all too cheap to buy real ice cream at a grocery store, we treated ourselves to a little taste from home, and it was delicious.
Thursday was by far my favorite day as I was just feet away from the pope! There was a huge parade through one of the largest streets in the city, leading away from the Queen's palace. I've never seen so much plaid or heard so many bagpipes in my life, but the parade was excellent. The streets were packed and there was a ton of security, but we were able to see the pope in his popemobile quite well. As I'll probably never see the pope again, it was quite an experience.
Yesterday afternoon, a large group from my program was able to go to a professional football (soccer) match. A member of the Scottish parliament, who holds season tickets, was able to get us tickets for only 5 pounds, a great deal. The game was so much fun! I'm not a huge soccer fan, but it was great being with the group and cheering on the local team. The atmosphere among the Scottish fans kind of reminded me of cheap bleacher seats at Fenway on a Friday night. The fans were very rowdy, and slightly inappropriate, but it was great to mingle with local football fans.
Although living in a flat is really fun, there are quite a few things I will never take for granted again, including:
-Wal-mart (one stop shopping isn't an option here)
-Laundry machines in my building
-Dining hall food
-Dishwashers
-Fresh fruit
Now that I've settled in and know my way around the city fairly well, my homesickness is starting to wear off and I'm having the time of my life. Freshers' Week is over, classes start tomorrow, and I am so ready and excited. I definitely need some structure in my life!
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