30/10/2010 All Hallow's Eve

Did anybody notice that I was a month off in the title of my blog. Instead of 10 I was typing 11. I've changed them all now so you can't prove me wrong.

Found another cemetery this one more famous named

First a little complaining... or better yet advice for the future Aberdeen students. If you are a person who has aneurysms when your food goes missing or your pans get used without being washed do not stay at Adam Smith, Fife, or Wavell. I don't know who it is that believes it's a sharing world in the kitchen but things are going missing in the kitchens. It's common. I love the room so that is a plus. They are my safe-haven. I'm used to sharing showers and toilets. I've never had to share a kitchen before or at least I've never taken advantage of it. It's required to have your own food in all of these houses. I don't mind sharing a kitchen. What is that bothers me is that the items I bought for me here are food, silverware, and other (what is provided is a hob, fridge, toaster, water pot, iron and iron board). Some person or persons is drinking my milk, stealing my Nutella, my bread, or using my cup and not washing it. I'm down to 2 spoons and I've no idea what happened to them.

News Stand/shop

boys universal vandalism. This goes with how people just don't grow up

  I wouldn't mind if the person asked or even cleaned up after themselves and put it back where they found it. I guess I live in a make-believe world where people act like adults and are fair to everyone else. At one point I got so fed up with all the dishes in the sink I washed everything. I don't mind doing it once but I better not have to do it again because the sink is full of dirty dishes for four days. Bah!

no idea but I like the spires

On another note... I needed to relax or do something with my hair since I was running my fingers through it and coming out with clumps of it. That's a pleasant sight (like I said, I'm sarcastic). One of the most relaxing feelings is when my hair is played with, washed, or my scalp massaged. So to my teachers out there, you can tell I'm stressed during your tests if that is exactly what I'm doing. What I did was visit a hair salon. I guess it was expensive but actually it was cheap compared to the rest of Aberdeen. Oh and here is how small the world is. The shop I chose because of it's prices and had a coat of pink paint on the outside, turned out to be a Lithuanian salon. YEP!

 Oh but it helped and I feel better after that.

  I bailed on Iveta and Lisa to go out to the bobbin tonight. Amanda and Lisa asked me a little later if I like to study. Apparently I use it a lot as an excuse though I'm actually mostly doing it. It also was that I told Amanda that I read a book till 3 in the morning but that was for fun reading.

  Because I do that bit of reading for Celtic I'm more prepared than listening in lecture. Because of the bit of reading I'm prepared to follow in class and actually have an opinion in IR. With French I'm also able to ask more important questions or go through the exercises faster because of the studying I do. Do I like to do homework? Yes when such instances that I mentioned happen. Otherwise not so much.

29/10/2010

It was Acoustic Night again. this is at a local pub for students. the drinks are semi cheap compared to others and the location is semi close for us at Hillhead.


 

                                                                              Yeah a real smile from lisa!



  I love the songs and the voices of the guys as well. The problem is, I've grown tired of their limited amount of songs. If they widen the selection, then yes maybe I could keep up with coming. They should so I'm hoping I will keep on having fun. I love when Irish pub or Scottish pub songs are played. Wish I could understand the words.

27/10/2010

  Have you ever been so deliriously happy that you have to laugh or smile so hard? It's an overwhelming feeling in your chest and your eyes feel like they will cry but for happiness. Have you ever felt this while you were dreaming? Last night (Tuesday night) I did. I just started to laugh. Of course it woke me up, which was too bad since I now can't remember what I was dreaming of in the first place. Ah, but it was marvelous.
  It's not that I haven't been laughing or feeling happy but this was that over-the-top feeling of happiness. I usually get it when I see a movie that I especially like, read a book that was well written, or when I can stroke something especially soft like my cat or a fleece blanket.

Second Attempt at decoration

Is this too much information?

26/10/2010 Random Thoughts

Oh this Sunday and Monday (24th and the 25th) was I ever productive. Don't you just love those days? I actually did all my required reading and was more or less prepared for the week. I forgot to mention that. The only reason I mention it now is because of how happy that I've kept that up. Well for the most part at least.

These are really random notes from my journal during the day.

1) There is this sign on a building:



this is from the internet. the real sign was KEEP OUT

I don't know what this says about my mood but I was thinking, "only a danger? that's just a dare to some idiots." To go on, my friend and I bought a pop and she saw that on the cap is 'open with hand'. All I can think of is "which dumb smuck broke a tooth and then sued the company?"

2) Celtic professor is providing a biblio for all the essay work!? Hmmm... I'm not going to complain about that but shouldn't college students (granted its a first year course) be able to find their own scholarly information?

3) My blog title is correctly named. Everything around here has a thistle. There are thistles on the signs, tour buses, and souvenirs. If you want to be technical, the name is for a tourist point of view. However, I'm not going to get technical.

4) I did french homework on the River Don. I found a bench in a nice place. The day was beautiful and the water rushed so loud that it's like a vacuum of sound. It has been pointed out in the pamphlet for international students that they should find a comfortable niche for yourself. I belief it the best advice. I loved this spot and hopefully it won't be stolen on the beautiful days. There were a few too many people running past though so maybe next time I will try a cemetery.

5) I saw the most adorable dog and I wanted to pet it so much but I learned my lesson from the last two times. I just wanted to pet the dog for a few seconds and I can't seem to get rid of the strangers who just continue to talk about the dog, the weather, their family, and asking about me. I don't want to seem rude so I answer or I encourage them talking. Well as much as I want to pet their beautiful dogs I'll sustain. Perhaps for a little bit at least.

25/10/2010

So go ahead and check back to Stonehaven Post. I finally finished it. I am still behind since I've not filled you all in on what happened in St. Andrews. I apologize. I also had some notes that I was going to type up but I changed my mind. I feel like one post a day is going to be my absolute maximum. If that's the case you are all going to be getting these little limbo messages. There is one easy thing I can do and that is to attach the slide notes that came from my International Security. This was the best class ever. I learned a lot or maybe vera little but at least I had more of the English background coming out. The topic was on nationalism and how it's a political idea. What better then the United States Anthem being required for young children to sing in schools. That is the best example and it was used by the professor. This is the one who has snappy comments of Americans. For instance how he started with the example of the US Anthem it was @when we think of the United States of America, and we do sometimes think of America". Besided the point so here is the slide;
 

•British traditions

•Sense of ‘fair play’

•Supporting the underdog

•Sense of humour

•Respect of the law

•Lack of corruption in public offices

•Loyalty to the Crown?

•Religion?

•Christian/protestant....Church of England...Church of Scotland

•Strong institutions

•The government

•The armed forces

•The Crown

•The Church

•The Universities? Uni of Aberdeen has been around for 500 years

So that was it. I have little notes. It's something to think about. Can you answer any of these? Though some of these were just hilarious how he talked about them. Like the respect of law. Right! Oh and I've also attached a photo that a friend Audrey took of UnionSquare. The bus station, train station, shops and restaurants are all here. It's an amazing place if an hours walk away.

St. Andrews

 Like I said I'm already too long at the computer so I'm just going to post some pictures and the background will come later.

29/11/2010 Well that was last week already but I thought I would get on this. Yep on my Friday night before Halloween. More on that later though. As it was the St.Andrews trip was organized by the Inter Soc. This time there wasn't as many hitches. I don't understand why they would think this wouldn't be popular to see. Yes the castle was in ruins but so was the one at Loch Ness. Yes the city was smaller then Aberdeen but it had flavor and history.
 We split up again at the castle. Amadine and I were one group. Kelly and Delphine were the other. I wish I could say something but I will hold back in case people mentioned actually take the time to read this. I don't want to insult.
  There is not really much to say or, perhaps, I just don't want to say all that much. The photos really say a lot. At least the captions under them does. We had a lot of time at the castle. This ended up biting me in the *blep*. I mean I spent £20 on souvenirs. Well at least that is just that much less that I have to buy later. Then we spent 1 1/2 hours walking about St. Andrews. Our tour guide didn't get the concept of waiting for students to catch up so if you were not in front you missed what she had to say about the particular site that she was showing us. She also didn't talk loud. Though what I did hear, I noticed she had a dry sense of humor. I liked it.

Oh there was a wedding going on at the church. Turns out there were two. The people I was with said they thought the second one more pretty. I thought that was entirely harsh. These were my thoughts "It's the woman's bloody wedding day! Say she looks nice and don't compare her to the thin blonde who gets married after her." Of course I didn't say it (or a nicer version) because I have found my opinion by one of the girls is not welcomed if it disagrees with hers. cut
  The tour visited the crumbling ruins of the St. Andrews Cathedral which would have been impressive if the religious nuts don't burn down everything because it doesn't belong to their own religion. Bah.
  We ended the tour on the green of St. Andrews golf course. That's the bridge photo on bottom. Should I have mentioned it before of what St. Andrews is mostly known for? Which would be either the golf pedigree and the university? Probably, but these interested me vera little. I'm not a golf fan and I'm already at a beautiful uni that has a long history.

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Another graveyard :P

  Now the planning went screwy. They gave us three hours to ourselves. I actually would have rather have gone back. Well maybe an hour since then that gave us enough time to get the St. Andrews ice cream. Well famous since I heard nearly everyone on the bus mentioning friends telling them to visit it. Hmmm. It's worth it.

After St. Andrews went back to my dorm. I actually read two articles on the bus. I'm so proud of myself for that. Nearly put me to sleep. Oh wait, I did at one point. After my nap I was wide awake and I hung out with the Scottish girls in my hall. Ah... I didn't much contribute to the conversation but I just love listening to the accents. Authentic accents that I came to Scotland to hear! To those who thought I came for an actual education, 'more fool you'.

Oh this is by far my best photo! it's the back wall of St. Andrews Castle

corner tower of St. Andres.

Amadine and I goofing off

I just liked the building

It was vera windy and cold but at least it was sunny

the shoals

tour guide of St. Andrews

the last main tower of the St. Andrews Cathedral

  

the inside of the cathedral ruins






 

Golfer fans? this is some kind of famous bridge on the St. Andrews greens. Jack Nicolson I think had a pic waving on it.

Teaser for the weekend

Acoustic night at the Bobbin with Lisa, Iveta, and the girl behind the camera Audre.

22/10/2010

"Muhaha," I laugh. Here again is going to be a tantalizing teaser for all you waiting to know what's happening with me. And this will end up being another long post. I thought on a lot to say in this blog and I wrote it all down. Mostly advice and observations (finally huh?) of going on around me. Then I must write of Thursday which is the attached photo. Right now I'm off to the Celtic Society Ceilidh and then most likely to a small pub for most of the night. Tomorrow at 8am (again) I'm off on another InterSoc trip, this time to St.Andrews. There is going to be another castle! I'll probably make that a separate post. Here is hoping it is just a little bit more organized though getting the tickets was a chore.

Well I'm off to dance the night away. I'm in a really good mood. Best wishes to everyone and hope your lives are just as exciting as mine is feeling.

24/10/2010

This will just cover Friday and the little tidbits since there was a whole big day on Saturday. Most likely I won't have time to get to all of it if. (I still haven't given an update on last Saturday and it might wait till Monday before I will)

Oh and Saturday at 1:30 am there was the seventh fire alarm. Getting crankier every time I have to get up for it.

  I will just start with some observation. This actual has nothing to do with Scottish people but on people themselves. There is this couple that I know are both from America that I continue to see. They take the bus together, they have the same classes together, and they might possibly be from the same place. I don't know if they are and I'm tempted to ask. At least I believe the guy might have hobby that doesn't involve the other. I say good for him because that is a whole lot of togetherness that is just crazy. Why would you want to go abroad to study with your boyfriend/girlfriend in the same city, uni, and courses? I can understand the city and perhaps the uni but the same dang courses? Bah. Now there could be a perfect explanation to all this. It could be that they met on the plane over, fell madly in love and decided to take everything together. Right, nix that one. A more reasonable I guess would be that they are from the same uni in the states and they met taking the same courses. When it came to study abroad then they just decide to go together.
  You might now be asking, "Sam, what are you doing being so judgemental and a busy-body?" I really wish I could explain this. On one side I find this slightly disgusting but on the other I find it almost adorable. Why I mention it though is because of their status as international students. I actually know nothing about them and I am trying very hard not to judge. I will not say that they spend all their time together since I'm not stalking them but it just seems like a big portion. My purpose for mentioning them is to question what happens when you go to the extreme. If you have a significant other that you spend all your time with in the states, you travel abroad to broaden your horizon with that significant other beside you, which you then spend all your time with in the other country, then how can you experience different aspects or meet different people with nothing holding you back?

  Moving on, my tutor in International Security, has been making some snappy remarks about Americans that makes me almost believe he disapproves of them. To be fair he comes up with many remarks for all countries' stupidity. It's just that there are so many more American examples of stupidity then anything else. I try not to take it personal since many of the examples are true.
  My other professor in International Security scares me as well but in a different way. She is impersonal and more business like to the point of being abrupt. When I had to have my early-leave agreement signed, she almost seemed angry.

  Last random thought and this one I wrote down. Here it is; Hold your judgement and don't think of me as crazy. I noticed when I went to Lithuania how certain scents make me miss certain people. Since that is in my private journal and never saw the light of a blog, I thought I would say it here. It's not a random thought. I was walking past a worker (20/10/2010) who was leaf-blowing the pavement and the smell of the machine (gas?) had me missing my dad. He is the one who I end up missing the most as I'm constantly surrounded by certain smells of machines, fresh paint, or cig smoke. All of these smells feel good to me because I associate them with him. For my mom, it's hard to say there is a trigger smell other then wood smoke or the smell from hospitals. My Grams is laundry soap and hospitals as well. My brother I just miss all the time and there is no trigger I can think of other than axe spray.
  Now that I've gotten you thinking I'm "off my rocker", I want to reassure you that I'm not as homesick as that says. I don't cry over missing them or worry about them too much. It was only after I had been in Lithuania for seven months that I had an experience of walking into my host parents new house they were building and I just walked out to cry because I missed my dad so much. That even gets me to think (again? I might have said this before) is why I'm just fine to get through three months.

Now on to what happened Friday night. The ceilidh was a great success for the Celtic Society. The music, the dancing, the crowd, and the bar were all in fine form. I only regret that I couldn't find anyone to accompany me to the dance. Granted I only asked one person but I felt for sure that she would come. She had something more important so I went alone. There was no way I was going to miss my first ceilidh and I didn't want to go on the one that would be on Sunday (InterSoc will put it on). I liked to watch and it was just great in that state. However I didn't like the idea that I was just watching so when I was asked to join in, I did. Here is where it got a little messy. Now the dances I had been watching looked complicated but they looked do-able. It would figure that the first ceilidh dance I participate in, I would end up being picked up with another girl and be spun for twelve seconds. It was two guys to pick up two girls. They managed to pick us up two times before the third they lost their strength and since my eyes were closed, I fell on the floor. It was a gentle drop, and in actuality it was more of a slide. I was laughing the entire time during the dance but it was from embarrassment mostly. I might have said too much as I was just so embarrassed that I couldn't shut up and it was mostly repeating myself.
  This is now hard to comment because it turns out people are actually reading this (me, sarcastic? never) and I know at least what a few will say if I say this wrong. Please understand. My entire life I've been big or at least of what I remember. When people have picked me up it has ended badly or me being embarrassed and that is why I don't like to be picked up. I tried my hardest though to not let it get to me and I still participated when I found out the routine of the dance.
  However, my enjoyment of the night was dampened. After I was getting "pitied" introductions and invitations because I was also alone (I always seem to be a loner but a loner in a crowd is a pathetic sight). I took that as a "I've got to get out." I made my excuses which actually turned out to be lies and just ended up going home since my friends didn't go to the pub at all.
  I'm sorry that I didn't have a good enough time that I can tell you it was a dream. I seem to ruin my own fun by own thoughts and ideas that I should just get over. But isn't that what I did when I joined in the dance in the first place?
  Despite the last half hour before I left I was near collapsing with tears, it was fun and I really think it was well worth it.

Stamp of the ceilidh

19/10/2010

  So there was something I did learn. I forgot to mention it. I forgot even how or who actually asked it, since I didn't. If you ever see "L"'s on cars or motorbikes then you are looking at a first learner. They are required to have this sticker on their vehicles for an entire year after getting there first license. The reason I forgot to mention it was because I really didn't find this all news-breaking. Now however I keep seeing them and I though today was a good enough day to say it.

  I believe the honeymoon is over. I am more tired and I am retreating from people more often. I still go out and I still make sure that I go to events once in awhile but it has become that I make myself. Oh don't get me wrong as soon as I get out I have a good time. I just am comfortable with it ending after a short time. I've been blaming my homework but I realize that I just am more comfortable with being by myself. Do I take the time to think more on important issues? Not likely though I do try a bit. 

  Today in french tutorial I was so close to tears. I didn't but we were going over his expectations for how a good French to English translation should be. I wasn't looking at the French. I was looking at the English. I wasn't seeing anything wrong with the grammer. What I was looking at looked like proper English but apparently there were a few problems between the translation and the original French that it wasn't parallel. How on Earth am I to get a good score on my upcoming assessment then? French is getting me completely frustrated. It's my own fault I don't put enough into learning vocabulary or listening to other examples of French. So I get frustrated when I don't know the answer. It's a feeling of being lost.

  The only class that I feel like I actually know something is what I have never even studied before. My Celtic course is what I am now enjoying better then International Security or French. I still can't stand the teacher and I've gotten now in the habit of sucking on lemons to stay awake during his actual lecture. It does the trick at least. I think what it is though is all the reading he suggests that I've been keeping up with so even though I'm thoroughly not listening to him I know what is going on already.

Oh right I knew I had a point for this blog. It was to give advice to the future students that come to Aberdeen. In the near future at least. A Society that should have so much promise and is just mostly hyp is that of the International Society. They do have great events and celebrations but right now they are so disorganized. It's important that you have to be prepared for that. One has to be able to accept a change in plans in any environment I guess. I've done it all the time since leaving high school. (digressing though) I tried to buy a ticket this Monday at 10 am to go to St.Andrews. There were people waiting for at least an hour before me but really it came down to who is the fastest to the door. They didn't set up a queue. Also after waiting an hour, it turns out they only arranged for fifty seats. There was at least seventy other students (me included) who were put on a waiting list. That's fine. Today I got an e-mail saying I should pick up my ticket Thursday, which I definitely will and then this Saturday I go to St. Andrews. As of yet I don't actually know where that is. It was another trip so I signed up. This is the same group that failed at organizing the trip  to Loch Ness. I still had a blast at that so I'm not worried overly too much.

Cheers!

18/10/2010

A few days ago, my friend Iveta said that she could spot an American on the street. On one hand I wanted to ask how she could tell so then I could alter myself so I could not be spotted by others. On the other hand isn't this another form of racial profiling. Should I encourage a thought that one should look at others on the street and guess what country they come from?

I still asked and she gave me two points only. One was that we have a certain walk. 'Huhn'. I guess I could change that but I don't know if I do the walk. I was too afraid to ask that point. I really don't want to be told 'you walk like an American'. Whatever that should mean? Also she said that Americans wear sunglasses. At this point I had been walking with mine on so it was another 'huhn' moment. If you don't know what that means, I only am saying that as a head slap or grunt. Take your pick. Now here is the crux of my problem. I could try to abandon my sunglasses in favor of being more european or I can keep them on as it is more comfortable for me. I really should just lie and say I have been prescribed (is that the word?) to have sensitive eyes. I would believe it since I get headaches when I stay in the bright sun with no sunglasses for too long. Guess then I am going to be spotted as an American. It's not as bad as it could be, right?

So while I am not finishing any of my past posts today I thought I would give that little tidbit for everyone. Now on to my work. 'huhn' :P

Oh and I found out one of the singers I like is from around Glasgow. I am now on a Amy Mcdonald (that should have given it away right?) binge and I am listening to all her music. I wanted to go to her concert here in Aberdeen but the tickets were sold out and I can't get anyone to go with me to see her in another city. Bah. Check out her newest song if you get the chance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi557TMssE8&p=5CF5F24F96506CD2&index=1&feature=BF

Stonehaven



Bay walk in Stonehaven. There was a Dog Show
so we were seeing dogs all day

  Saturday, I went with Iveta and Lisa to Stonehaven. What a beautiful city! It was definately some exercise to get to the main attractions which were the war memorial and Dunnotar castle. It only cost me £3.40 with my railcard. We didn't pay to go inside the actual castle but I did buy the £2 postcards. It was all beautiful and the weather deemed to be nice and sunny. I wish I could get you a full recap and I will. However that will have to come on a later date. Otherwise I would check back on the last two posts since I have added more to them.

26/10/2010



Right this is getting ridiculus. I was taking way too long on getting this out for everyone. I do not have much more to add. I mean most of the story can be said in the first paragraph and you can see in the pictures. What I have to add is not much.



War Memorial

  Like I said it was a 15 minute ride from Aberdeen to Stonheaven on the train. I really do enjoy the train. So far this is my second time on it. When we got to Stonehaven it seemed we were going on my sence of direction as well as ideas. Now how on earth did that happen? I really just followed the signs so thankfully we didn't get lost. It was 1 1/2 miles to the harbor while it was 3 miles to Dunnotar Castle. We wanted to have our packed lunches so we decided on the harbor first. We passed through the main town and we walked down a delightful boardwalk. There were a lot of people with their dogs thanks to the dog show that was happening. Also there was a pebble artist, stone artist, or beach artist. I have no idea what you call him. He was some kind of artist that used rocks to form shapes on the beach. They were quite good and apparently he has gotten some credit in some paper for it. I didn't take a picture of them though.

  We actually thought that the boardwalk we were on was at the harbor. Or at least I thought so. It turns out we had to go around a few bends to see that. Now that was a quaint little harbor. I quite liked it though I was quite peeved by the dang bathrooms where one stall had no door, there were no toilet seats, and then the one toilet didn't flush. Two older ladies had to start a queue but that was fine since they were quite funny. I wonder now if they didn't have a wee draft with their lunch as well.



Dunnotar Castle



  We asked for directions from an older man which it seems he wasn't from the area but he was kind enough to help us find the path to the War Memorial and the castle. He also was funny and we started up the hill laughing. Oh we were laughing most of the time since it was really just all fun with the three of us. However back up a second. I said we walked up the hill. Well here is the thing. That didn't feel like a hill. It was more like a bloody mountain! I apologize for my mouth. The view was worth the hike. First we stopped at the memorial. It was solumn but looked built for time. I couldn't be solumn because like I said earlier I was having too much fun. I have a picture of me goofing off on the steps but I thought that it would be better to post one without me being silly. It was all fun because Iveta and Lisa also liked what I did and we took the chance to all do the same thing.

  Walking over to the castle was a treat. I doubt you can tell that was somewhat sarcastic. The pathway is so near the edge it was like walking over. Just to say I have a fear of hights but it wasn't as bad as Ivetas. Felt bad for her but it was over fast. Lisa was practically galloping through the ups and downs of it. She also has a fear of heights but the terrain was reminding her of home and horse riding so her actions weren't hampered by the six story drop on our left side.



Is it ever steep!



Lisa took this as well for me since I didn't want to dig out my camera



  Like I said in the pic description the steps to the castle were vera steep. That, and there was a lot of them. We weren't expecting to pay to get in so we didn't. That's all right it was nice to just get up close to it and the postcards are awesome. After the castle I wanted to get down by the shore to see what made the rocks black and hopefully find one for Bekka, my best friend's sister. Turns out the black stones are cemented together by nature so that was nixed. Lisa really got into looking for one that was movable and climbed out to sea as far as she could. Iveta and I waited on shore. We then headed back up the impossibly steep and impossibly many steps and back down the mountain-not-a-hill to the harbor where we had a small dinner. It was a little pricy and the cheapest item happened to be mac and cheese with chips and then chicken fingers with chips. Since I dislike any forms of mac and cheese I bought the chicken fingers. I wanted to buy the soup but I talked myself out of it. that was actually cheaper and most likely that would have been better since the chicken fingers were way too much food after nearly 6 miles of walking. We paid more for dinner then we did the entire trip. Dang. It was a nice restaurant. Just wish my friends were brave enough to try haggis again with me (I didn't order it because they weren't).



  After this it was just the walk back to the station and back to Aberdeen. We had thought to go out to club afterwards but all day Iveta was sick and I just was to tuckered out so I went to bed.





this is very slippery so glad I didn't fall. That's Iveta



Lisa Took this. I took a different one with me in it. It's my facebook profile



Iveta and Lisa helping me look for a rock for Bekka





Lisa and I having a little fun



10/15/2010

Check out the Nessie post. I added a little more. I also explain why I am not going to be posting anything else but I changed my mind for one second. I wrote this down so it doesn't take any thinking which is good for my friend who is falling asleep as she talks to me.

Monday I was given free pass to complain about Aberdeen uni and the program that is in place for exchange students from the states. I couldn't complain though. Yes there were a few suggestions I had but how Albion prepares its students as well as how Aberdeen accepts their students, I had nothing to complain about. Now that I think of it though there is one thing about Aberdeen acceptance and it's a minor thing, there are a lot of pamphlets and most of it was sent to me more than once. Told you it was minor. At times though I felt overloaded with information. The idea for the big handbook that we received at orientation was just fine.

I told Debra if I ever think of a complaint or idea I would post it here on my blog. I plan to. She also asked me how I was adapting to the cars driving on the other side of the road. I realized I haven't talked of this yet. I will later though. It's a douzy trying to understand those feelings.

Oh and Albion in ancient times meant "people from Albion".

10/17/2010 Addition

So I am following up on the driving-on-the-other-side adaption. Now yes sometimes it gets to me that they aren't on the same side as at home. On crossing the street I already look both ways. I have always looked both ways. If there is a car coming I don't cross. If there isn't one I cross. It doesn't matter which side they are coming from. So that is why I think that the fact they are driving on the other side of the road doesn't bother me as much. Since I am not driving then that also means it won't be a problem. When they are parked that is a different problem. I always get a surprise when I walk on the right side of a car and there is a person behind the wheel. That's basically it. I jump everytime when that happens (not literally but darn close). Otherwise I believe it isn't that big of an adaption as people say it is. Just a little time and I think I passed that. Maybe!

10/13/2010

Still don't have time to finish my last post I am sorry for that. I have fallen behind in my reading for class. At least for my expectations for myself. I know you all will say school work is more important so I'll just say that I promise that friday I will have some more time. If I don't catch up by then, well, that means I am a hopeless cause. It also isn't all homework and I am just really busy. I'm still slightly sick but I get used to that every winter so nothing has really changed.

Bests!

10/17/2010 addition

Forgot to mention there was a 6th fire alarm. This time it was at 7.30. I would have been awake at this time like I was two days earlier but no I was trying to sleep in till 9 am. This also wasn't some random punk. This was the actual Hillhead having a real fire drill. Seriously! Haven't we been waken enough times in the morning? Couldn't they have planned a 6 pm or something like they did in the building next to us? Buggers.

Loch Ness!!!!

10/09/2010

That's right just got back from Loch Ness. Unfortunately, I don't have time today to write everything about it so my usual is to give you a tantalizing first view and then I will add to the pics later. They are posted on Facebook to those who want to see more who have it at least...

10/15/2010

And here it is.... not. I said I would but I went shopping with Iveta and didn't get back till 8 pm. I've been up since 8 am. Yeah that is not bad and I should get used to long hour days when I work for a living but here is the thing, I am not working yet :P Here is the bottom line, I will expand only a little bit now. It was a beautiful day! It was a three hour trip in the bus. Just fine for me. We went to a castle (will have the name of it later) It was a interesting (reminder to myself: stairs and joke with the Belgian). Took a half hour boat ride on the Loch and then saw Nessie. Took a picture with her. Found her again and took another picture. I then had a 2 hour hike that had me crossing a river in three places one-way and the way back but the view was spectacular on the tiny little beach (reminder to myself: 150 people in the street). We spent so long on the hike that we could not go to Cullodon (spell right later), the battle ground. We headed back then. So that is the outline. I will give you more details... Sunday (I am going to Stonehaven tomorrow). I promise I will get my butt in gear.

10/17/2010

  Nearly a week after actually giving you the photos, I have sat down expressly to give you the accounts of my time in Loch Ness. I apologize for that. The trip itself began at the ungodly hour of 8am. All right I can wake up that early. I make it a practice to wake up that early. It doesn't mean I have to like it. You won't know though because I can be smiley and talkative. I'm just full of contradictions. Of course I do get cranky when I am waken up before I plan to. Like when the fire alarm rings an hour before the time I was expecting to be up. That's five times now. I'm keeping track.

Urquahart Castle

cut I talked more with Amandie or Delphine (both from Belgium). I have yet to be brave enough to try and speak french with them. cut I tried to get some required reading done on the bus (obviously though I tried it wasn't enough for the rest of the week).

  It was the usual rainy weather in Aberdeen but when we went farther into the highlands the weather got a lot better. By the time we got to Loch Ness it was a beautiful sunny day, as seen in my photos. The castle are the remains of Urquhart castle. I didn't get any information on it. That should be your homework. All right, that should be mine but I have enough of it so no luck coming from my end. See that tower though? well the stairs were impossibly narrow and it was crazy winding up to the top. What is up with the Scots and the winding staircase? That's a rhetorical question since I already know it but I am just blowing off some steam from having to climb those steps. I really dislike them.

  I hinted that I would tell you the joke I shared with Amandie. I changed my mind. That should be left between friends though we had a lot of laughs at it in two different languages. It had to do with her camera not working and then deciding to work at battery was charged. Can you see my sick sense of humor here? I'll let you guess what I said with those hints.

  Like I said I found Nessie twice more. To be truthful though I don't understand the obsession with saying you took a picture with Nessie. Sorry everyone. To me the castle, the beautiful loch, and the folklore was just enough for me to be very happy. If I had to say why I dislike the before said obsession is because it is more or less too touristy. I really do have a dislike of being touristy though technically that's exactly what I am (I said before I am full of contradictions). Nevertheless I took pictures of both Nessie monuments.

  We were rushed out of the parking lot only to wait in another (Bad planning on their front). In the first parking lot there was an actual gift shop. We waited for the other buses to come and then with 150 students we walked down the main street to get to a hiking spot. Can you see the problem with this? What would have been smarter was the first bus to go on before the other two buses since then at least it would have only been 30 students at a time instead of the large parade we had. Of course traffic was stopped as people didn't want to be those left behind and they crossed with the crowd. Mass Mentality at it's finest. There was a nice cemetery that I would have loved to explore. As it was we had to cross a river because the bridge was washed out and we didn't want to turn back. Then like I said we had to cross it twice more. I even have a picture of Amandie crossing the most sturdy of the bridges. The view at the end was well worth it though I thought the beach would be a lot wider after all that work but it was still an adventure. I enjoyed it though I think it was pointless to go on this hike. There was a funny moment as a girl tried to cross at one point on the rope swing and succeeded in falling in the water. Of course I laughed. She was okay so it was all right.

  After all this I was tired so I fell asleep on the bus on the way back. My nose also was congested so that was all fun. We actually got home late as our bus driver loved to tell us. I had fun though and it was well worth it. After my nap I was well rested enough to go out to a pub with the many of the girls in our hall. Maybe this is why I am falling behind in my studies? Oh well I've caught up enough that I felt okay with taking the time to post this blog.

I am having a blast!

Me on the little beach at the end of the hike

Amandie on the one actual bridge to cross