Explore the Highlands and Search for Nessie

Today my good friend (and fellow Texan) Sara and I went on a tour of the Highlands, Glencoe, and Loch Ness. After revising for a week, we decided that we needed one last get away before exams started. 

We were in a tour group of 14 leaving Edinburgh at 8AM, which meant that we had to leave St. Andrews by 6AM. Our cab driver's GPS misguided him a bit: he ended up driving up an incredibly steep hill and had to back down in reverse when he realized that it was a dead end. However, rolling down the steep hill he lost control and hit a wall. He then couldn't find our destination, and when I pulled the map up on my phone to show him, he said, "I don't have my glasses on." Needless to say, we were thankful to get out of there. 

The tour bus was extremely comfortable, and the driver was much more competent than our cab driver. We drove for about an hour and a half West to a small town called Callandar. It was absolutely adorable, and we want to go back. We only had the chance to spend thirty minutes there (it was more of a restroom/food stop than anything), but the town was so cute. 

Next, we headed North to the Highlands. It was truly incredible. The greenery, mountains, and lochs (lakes) are absolutely breathtaking. The bus stopped at various points for us to take pictures. We saw where the recent Bond film "Skyfall" was shot, along with other beautiful scenery. 

On this drive, we made our way to the famous Loch Ness. Here we had lunch and went on a one hour boat tour of the loch (in search for Nessie). On the tour we were told many interesting facts about the loch (like how it has more water than any of the lochs in England and Wales combined). The water also looks black because of the peat in it, but is extremely pure and ready to drink. The loch is surrounded by massive mountains, and it's interesting to compare the depth of the water to the mountains: a lot of times the guide would say: "Look at the height of that mountain, add 20 yards, and that's how deep the water is at this point."

However, Loch Ness is probably most known for it's (alleged) monster Nessie that lurks in the water. The guide (clearly an avid fan of Nessie's) gave some compelling information, as I tried to keep an indifferent outlook. I questioned whether or not it was believed that this same monster has been alive for 9,000+ years. The guide informed me that it is believed these creatures are asexual and that there are eighteen "monsters" in Loch Ness. He also showed images that look shockingly like the drawing of Loch Ness Monster that appeared on the sonar less than a month ago! (And the 2.5 ton object was moving against the current, something a tree-what some speculate it to have been- would not have been able to do) Additionally, he explained that the remains of an animal gave a 99.6 percent DNA match to another animal called the Macroplata (one was even found in Lake Eerie) If you look up pictures of Macroplata, they again look eerily similar to the pictures of the Loch Ness Monster. However, while this information is interesting, I find it difficult to believe that with so many searchers and such improved technology the monster (or monsters if there are 18) has not been caught. Whether you believe in Nessie is up to you, but let these photos speak for themselves. 

After Loch Ness, we slowly made our way back to Edinburgh taking a few more photo opportunities along the way. Once back in Edinburgh we had some delicious Chinese food (the first time I've had Chinese food since a few weeks before I left Texas). I then successfully navigated the train station and brought us back to St. Andrews. It was quite a lovely day, and though it was busy, we spent a good amount of time in each place (though there are definitely places I want to revisit.) 

I love having moments where I look around at the beauty surrounding me and realize that I get to call this place home for the next three and a half years. 

Callander 

(it is believed that Nessie tried to climb out of the loch here, but it was too steep, so she fell back down) 

(we found her!)

Go To A Rugby Match

Yesterday I went to Edinburgh to watch my first live rugby match! Despite Scotland’s loss- it was a great time and unforgettable experience.

The bus arrived in Edinburgh around 12:15, so we had almost three hours to explore before the start of the match. I’d only been to Edinburgh once before, so it was nice to walk around and enjoy the brief moment of sunshine. My friend and I walked along different main roads, ate lunch, and managed to make it to the castle as well!

On the walk back to the stadium, everyone was revved up and ready for the start of the game. People on the streets stopped us to paint our faces and get us in the spirit. Cute children have also found a way to monopolize the bagpipe business- there were about three or four kids playing on the street along the way, and they were too adorable to ignore. It was incredible.

 I couldn’t wait to be in the stadium and watch the match- I’ve missed being home and going to the Texans game, so I was hoping that rugby would remind me of American football. When we entered the stadium, they were playing the stereotypical pump-up music but with bagpipes added in, which was awesome.

 They started the match with the singing of the national anthems (Scotland was playing South Africa) The crowd was so passionate. Scotland unfortunately lost the match 28-0, but despite this, I loved watching every minute. Luckily I was sitting with a friend that watches rugby, so he could fill me in when I had no idea what was happening.

 The match finished with just enough time for us to grab a hot chocolate before getting back on the bus. I had such a great time experiencing something new and getting out of the St. Andrews “Bubble” for a day. It was also a good distraction to have from missing my mom and brother- since they left after a wonderful few days of visiting :) It was an unforgettable day, and I hope to go to another in the future. 

Edinburgh Castle

Castle

American Candy World

Survive Raisin Weekend

My university is simply the coolest. With a school that's 600 years old comes a lot of interesting, albeit sometimes bizarre, traditions. This weekend in particular was Raisin Weekend. In order for Raisin to make sense, I must first back track. My university also has a tradition of Academic Families. When coming to uni, a lot of people asked me if I would miss out on sororities, and honestly I wasn't sure how to answer the question. How do you know if you're going to miss something you've never experienced? Well, I'm still not quite sure what I'm missing in terms of sororities, but I can definitely say that Academic Families are awesome, and I'm sorry for those that don't have one. 3rd year students adopt you into a family, and pretty soon you have a huge network of family members- mums, dads, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, special friends, weird person you don't want to acknowledge that you're actually related to: you know how it goes. Anyway, throughout your first two years at uni, they are a support network, and when you become a third year, it is your turn to adopt. 

The main reason for families though? Raisin Weekend. My weekend started off on Sunday morning with my dad giving me a task to complete. I then went to my mum's for a "Tea Party" where we ate lunch before starting our scavenger hunt. Most scavenger hunts send you scrambling around the town trying to propose to people, sing in public, etc. (I may have had to propose to a few guys and scream a few random things in the streets) Although I will say the most strange encounter I had was when a student (he had had a bit too much to drink) tried to kiss me on the street, and my academic siblings assumed I knew him- so I was left to fight him off with no help. 

After the scavenger hunt I went back to my mum's for games. Later, I went to my dad's for a continued celebration. That dad is typically a little less sympathetic than the mum (in terms of... quite frankly, more drinking games). Daddy also sent us on another scavenger hunt. "Kiss a stranger" seems to be a common task. As the night continued, I eventually left my dad's because I needed pizza- obviously. 

Monday morning the kids wake up and go to their mum's to get into a costume. I was dressed as an m&m (though I know a few people that were stuck in mankinis). Next, you go to your dad so he can give you your "raisin receipt" (essentially something you have to carry all the way to town. For our family, we were tied together and had to carry eggs, a chair, and a mop into town... it was a very long walk. Once in town, there is a giant foam fight in the quad. Seriously, I don't know what it is about my hair- literally everyone wanted to touch it and add to my collection of foam. It was so much fun though. 

I'm definitely tired and dreading this paper that I'm currently taking a break from writing ;) but with a few peers now on crutches or in some embarrassing photos online, I know that the weekend could have gone a lot differently :)

Basically- Raisin was awesome. So fun. 

Celebrate Halloween in Scotland

Many people have asked me, and yes- we did celebrate Halloween over here. Then again, there are a ton of Americans here, so we're spreading our traditions. People got very into it. One girl even wore a tiger onesie to class on Thursday. There were many different parties going on as well. On Halloween night, I dressed as a sports fan and went to cheer on our hall's netball team.On Friday night, our hall's committee hosted a Halloween party, so I got to set up for that. I put on my minion costume and helped decorate the bistro. The party was great fun. Midway through I was able to ditch my responsibility of ID-checker and enjoy the party a bit. It was a great start to a weekend of partying (This comment will make more sense when reading my Raisin blog post) 

Spend a Weekend in London

This past weekend I jetted off to London with one of my five flatmates! We flew down on Thursday night and returned late last night. Friday morning we woke up, and went to a delicious brunch at the Woseley. Their bread display looked delicious, but I had some of the best eggs benedict there. Next, we went to the London Eye. It was breathtaking. (Definitely buy tickets online. We had to wait 30 minutes with our online booking, but it could have been much worse) Then we did some sight seeing. We did the cliché (but oh so fantastic) afternoon tea at Harrod's. After, we did some shopping before going to see the Book of Mormon. It was fantastic. I saw it in June too, and it was just as hilarious the second time. We finished the evening with a delicious meal in Chinatown. 

Saturday we woke up early to go to Camden. I love Camden. It is so incredible, and you never know what you're going to see. There's lot of cool vendors selling souvenirs, and the food is surprisingly delicious. We had crepes by the water. We then went to Hyde Park and walked around for quite some time. After, it was time to shop again. We went to Portobello Market in Notting Hill, and it was so adorable! Saturday night we went to dinner with my flatmate's friends. We then met my godsister at a cute pub in Piccadilly Circus. 

Sunday morning we went to tower bridge. After, we met one or my friends from middle school for lunch. We then got some last minute shopping in before heading back up to Scotland. 

It was such a fun weekend! I feel like I need to sleep now, we were going nonstop the whole time. My feet are killing me, but I can proudly say that I navigated the tube like a pro. We never got lost, so I was quite impressed with myself (especially considering I get lost going anywhere in Houston)

I had a great experience and can't wait to do some more weekend traveling!  

London Eye

Me and Ben 

Tea at Harrod's 

Lunch at Camden

My first real fall

If only it were more windy 

Some important bridge? 

Get Involved

I wasn't quite sure how to title this blog post. I thought it would be best to give a general update on new things I'm doing around campus. Though I definitely hope to continue increasing my involvement, here is what I've started doing in the first month at uni: 

1. I am the Health and Safety Rep of the hall I'm staying in- (I live in a collection of apartment complexes that house about 1200 students). As health and safety rep, I will help organize our ball, I go to weekly committee meetings, and I have one other interesting responsibility. I was unaware of this, but I am the condom rep for my hall now. I had to go to training and everything- stay safe, guys! 

2. I am the newly elected Class Representative for my Film Class. I love film so much and am really looking forward to increasing my involvement within the department. 

3. Join the film committee. After an interview process a few weeks ago, I have now been admitted to the film committee at my uni. I can't wait to start filming events, editing, and getting back to what I love doing :) 

I've joined other societies as well and have started meeting more people through them. I look forward to finding new, interesting things to participate in during the upcoming months and years! 

Go to a Ball

First of all, I must apologize for my lack of recent blog updates. School has become increasingly busy as we've hit week 6 of class (and thus most of our midterm papers are due). 

However, with the increasing school work comes the increasingly hectic social schedule. It seems like every weekend there is a ball going on. Though I went to a ball one of the first weekends at school, a few weeks ago I attended the "Opening Ball," which made everything official. It was a great night! We got dressed up, and they gave away free champagne and ice cream. The night started with a jazz band playing old classics, moved on to another few bands, and then turned to a dj-ed dance party. It was a great night of dancing and fun!

See Hugh Grant

Things have been a bit hectic in St. Andrews. As classes move into full swing, so do the golfers (couldn't resist that pun) 

St. Andrews hosted the Dunhill this past weekend. For golfers, it's a dream come true. For everyone else, it means one thing: Hugh Grant is in town (or was). As people posted their pictures of him, my jealously increased substantially. Luckily, one of my friends called me Sunday and told me to meet him for lunch and then a Hugh Grant hunt.

We wandered around the golf course for twenty minutes (luckily he knew his way around) before finding Hugh. I was able to take a quick picture of him and sprint off to my own golf lesson. 

Unfortunately, I did not get to meet him, but it was pretty cool to be so close to such a beautiful actor :D

Start University

Today was my first day of classes! The school system here is awesome. You don't have to take any courses you don't want to take! Goodbye math, hasta luego, Science! Instead, you choose three classes ("modules") you are passionate about and focus on those. 

For me, those classes are: English, Spanish, and Film. 

You attend big lectures 2/3 times a week for those modules and are broken down into small groups that meet once a week in a "tutorial" period. 

My earliest lecture is an 11AM- doing college right ;) 

English is going to be a LOT of reading. We study a different book each week. 

Spanish was a bit too easy, so I'll either try to place into a different class or start a new language. (Semi-fluent speaker put into a "Spanish for Complete Beginners" course) 

I can't wait to start film studies. We study a different film each week. This week it's "Inglourious Basterds". 

I'm now officially a uni girl, watch out world! 

Survive "Freshers Week"?

Barely. I still have no voice and have to take three breathing treatments a day (embarrassing, I know... I'm a nerd). 

For my American readers, a "fresher at uni" would be a "freshman in college."

Freshers week essentially consists of party after party, pub crawl after pub crawl, basically any activity you can imagine where freshers can meet, mingle, drink? One activity included bubbles filled with neon paint popping on you while dancing, causing you to have spotted, glowing clothes. There was also a music festival one night with performers like The View and King Charles. I'm still sticking with my opinion that the ceilidh was one of the most fun activities (I've now joined every society the school has to offer that will allow me to ceilidh on a regular basis.) 

Freshers week also had a comedy night and brought members of S Club 7 on campus to perform. 

I spent my friday night of "freshers" attending a yacht party and ball. Unfortunately, I did not get to make it to the event where they released thousands of balloons on the crowd. 

I was also able to attend the fireworks that celebrated the 600th year of our school. It was an incredible display, and I've never been that close to fireworks. It was absolutely breathtaking. 

Hillary Clinton was also in St. Andrews this past weekend... casual. 

Freshers week was an incredible time. There were far too many activities going on for me to recap them here, but I hope this post gives you a little insight into what it's like to be a fresher over here. 

Ceilidh

I know I've only been here a little over a week, but going to a ceilidh was the most fun I've had yet. (Pronounced kay-lee for y'all Texans out there going, "What's a sell-id?") Not that I'm much of a cowgirl back in Houston, but the ceilidh was one of my favorite things because it reminded me of home and it was just fun- simple as that. Again, for my Texans- it's Scottish line dancing. You're in a big, open space, and the band members briefly give you instructions on how the following dance goes. (Of course, the Scottish grow up learning these dances and know them perfectly.) Everyone starts dancing as soon as the music begins, and you twirl about the floor trying to keep your balance and stay with the music. I think I had a smile on my face the entire two hours (yes- it's a workout!) I can't wait to go to these more often, they're simply the best. If you're interested, google/youtube "Gay Gordons," "Strip the Willow," "Dashing White Sergeant," or "Flying Scotsman" because those were my favorite :)

Be a Big Girl

Today is probably the most adult I've had to be in my life. I woke up feeling extremely ill, had to call the doctor, get a cab to pick me up, go to the community hospital, wait patiently, and then follow the doctor's instructions. Turns out, I should maybe switch majors to medicine. I waited for fifty minutes and finally went into the office for literally less than sixty seconds. He asked what I was taking/doing for my current cold/flu-like symptoms, and when I told him he said, "Great! Just keep doing that." Gee, thanks. 

At home I can usually take myself to the doctor, but I missed having my mommy here to hold my hand and bring me soup. Sometimes being an adult is no fun. 

Legally Drink with My Parents

After a cold, rainy evening in Scotland, we headed to the hotel bar. It was a bit odd when my parents looked at me and asked if I wanted anything. They’re very accepting of this atmosphere/drinking age. I think it’s because they know that even though I’m their youngest kid, I’m probably the most mature. ;)

Eat "The World's Best Fish and Chips"

Rumored to be the world’s greatest fish and chips, we headed to Anstruther for a delicious lunch complete with mushy peas. The restaurant overlooked the pier and water, so it had a beautiful view. I’ve had some delicious fish and chips before, so I’m not sure if this was my favorite, but it was definitely yummy!

Go to Dundee

Though one of the first things the Scott sitting next to me on the plane said was, “Don’t go to Dundee,” today we went to Dundee. I’m not exactly sure why he advised against it: the drive there was beautiful and the shopping was extremely nice. (My dad got a bit nervous when the car dropped us outside of Primark, but I managed to go through the store without buying unnecessary items.)

We did see two interesting things in Dundee: a screaming man on the street looking for a friend and a bagpipe street performer.

I didn’t spend enough time there to get a decent opinion, but the shopping scene supplied what we needed (bedding, hairdryers, and hangers), and it’s now another place in the world I’ve been to.

Move To Scotland

We’ve finally done it. 36 hours later, and we’re checked into our hotel room about to fall asleep. The summer that seemed endless, the date that seemed so far off in the distance has come and gone.

The journey here was pretty tiring. My dad claims that he saw a rodent on the plane: whether he was serious or hallucinating, we may never know. Of course my mom is angry that the first Scottish boy to give me his phone number did so before our flight even landed in Scotland. She should be proud. (And can you really blame me when a cute Scottish boy sits next to you on a cramped plane for seven hours?)

Traveling through the airport with our amount of luggage was embarrassing. The number of bags we have shall remain unknown to my readers.

My parents are obnoxiously overwhelmed with the culture. They keep pointing out kilts. My dad tried to get on the passenger side of the vehicle and hopped in the driver seat (they drive on the other side of the road.) They can’t understand a single word anyone says: it’s an accent, NOT another language! I love them, but I’m definitely more in my element here than they are.

Before the big move, I’d spent an immense total of twelve hours in Scotland. I’d never seen the campus except for the few glimpses that Google Images can provide. It’s all I could’ve imagined and more. It’s so beautiful. You can look at pictures, but they don’t come close to the beauty in person. I hope some of my images can give you a glimpse of what it really is like, but you’ll have to visit to see what I mean J

The day quickly flew by as we tried to set up a bank account, get a UK phone, buy a guitar and bike- you know, college essentials. It’s a very small town, but it’s going to be an amazing place to explore over the coming years. If you tell anyone that you’re going to be a fresher at uni, they reassure you that St. Andrews is “an incredible school, very safe town, and has an extremely fun night life.” I definitely feel more comfortable and settled, but ask me how I’m feeling on Saturday after I carry all of my bags to the fourth floor of the flat building.

I’m off to rid myself of airport stank and go to bed for a 7AM wakeup call, (1AMfor all my friends in Houston.) I apologize if this post is incoherent or grammatically incorrect, hopefully my next post will be written after I’ve had a bit more rest. For now, that’s all I have to say. My unexpected adventure is off to an interesting start! 

Recap of the Past

I think it's safe to say that the past eighteen years of my life have been anything but uneventful. As I started looking through different bucket lists to get ideas of things I want to do in my life, I came across several suggestions that I've already completed. Rather than fill this blog with moments of my past, I've decided to dedicate this post to briefly explaining my experiences before starting my new adventures.

Go Parasailing 
Not exactly the joy ride I was expecting, I went parasailing the summer after my 8th grade year while in Hawaii. My cousin and I nervously signed the liability wavers and began our adventure. Though the takeoff from the boat brings on extreme anxiety, after the adrenaline rush rubs off, you can finally look around at the beautiful surroundings. It is really breathtaking to be able to see so much beauty. Every where you turn your head, there is something new and interesting to look at. Right when you get comfortable and feel calm, it's time to land. While my cousin gracefully landed on the back of the boat, my uncoordinated self had a bit more trouble. All in all, it was an interesting experience but unlike what I had expected.

Ride a Mechanical Bull 
When I came across this suggestion while researching my ultimate bucket list, I had to laugh- so I thought I'd include it. As a proud Texan, riding a mechanical bull does not seem that rare. Yes, it's true that I hate when people stereotype Texans asking if we ride our horses and/or tractors to school (in fact, I'm actually extremely allergic to horses.) However, with this being said, I have attended several parties that have a mechanical bull available for anyone who wants to ride. At a recent graduation party, I seized the opportunity to ride... several times. People encouraged me to... I guess it's an amusing thought: someone with poor coordination trying to balance on a contraption that flings you around. (Un)fortunately, I lived up to expectations and flew off every time.

Go to Paris 
Throughout my life, I've been incredibly blessed with opportunities to travel the world. After my 6th grade year my family went on a Mediterranean cruise. We went to Croatia, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, and Monaco (each place was amazing, but being on a cruise limited our time- so I'd really like to go back to several of these locations.) I also participated in Summer study abroad programs in Costa Rica, Italy, and Barcelona/Paris (If you're every in Barcelona, go see Park Güell- easily makes my list of Top 5 Coolest Things I've Ever Seen). I've loved traveling and am looking forward to having the chance to do this more in the future. Though I've seen some beautiful places, I've always said that Paris is my favorite place in the world. Always. Even though I had never been there before last June. My parents would always try to correct me when I said that it was my favorite place, but I was stubborn in my decision. The idea of Paris, everything I had seen and heard about Pairs, made me certain that I would love it. I was also determined to charm the Parisians. Last summer I had the opportunity to go with a group of students from high school to Paris on an Arts Abroad trip. And as luck would have it, my birthday took place during the trip. so I got to walk the steps of the Eiffel Tower on my birthday- a day I will not soon forget. Though I hope to see many more sites in my future, Paris will always hold a special place in my heart.

Lose Weight/Get Healthy 

Though talking about this embarrasses me, my mom encouraged me to include this in my post. Last summer, I decided it was time to make a lifestyle change and began working out and eating healthier (though I do have my weaknesses.) I have lost over fifty pounds, which I guess is noticeable when looking at photos. Like I said, talking about this sometimes makes me uncomfortable, so I'm keeping this part short. If you'd like more information, contact me. 

High Tea at Harrod's 

When I went to London with one of my best friends this past summer, we decided to partake in the obligatory high tea experience. Honestly, there's not much to say. The finger sandwiches were delicious. The scones were fantastic (especially with clotted cream!) It was a very enjoyable time (minus a few employees that were not too interested in helping us out.)

From here on out my blog posts will be current, but I thought it would be interesting to include these experiences.