3rd Times the Charm (Scotland Edition)

first time seeing Edinburgh Castle

I have been to Scotland three times in my life. The first time when I was 18 and a senior in high school. We took a picture with a big rock at the Scottish/English border then went to Edinburgh for one night and I took a picture with that little dog statue.

sunset over the University of Glasgow

The second time I was 21, a junior in college, and on any given day I swung from mildy depressed yet functional to couldn't-get-out-of-bed severely depressed. The daylight situation during winter in Scotland is NOT an enriching environment for those who have a fickle relationship with serotonin. The sun rose around 9am and sank again a little after 3pm and I learned that I can never go that far north during the winter ever again. It's soul crushing. It was hard to make close friends and the friendships that I did have were fickle (and I just realized I used fickle twice in one paragraph but don't feel like changing it- that's how being 21 is: fickle fickle fickle). It was a blur of a semester and I was happy for it to end so I could be free to roam Europe how I pleased.

the station was so tiny I had to wave the train down or it wouldn't stop here

The third time I was 22 and almost three months into my post-college eastern Europe trip. I made a "detour" to Scotland to meet up with two close friends that I made in Slovakia the summer before. We rented a car and drove around the North Coast 500 and hiked to bothys, abandoned sheepherder cabins that are communally upkept by those who visit. I then spent a week with different friends in their cozy house in the Highlands, doing nothing but drinking, reading, and relaxing after three months of hostels.

I like Scotland more and more each time I go, and have gone further north each time too. But Scotland isn't the one that's changed over my visits, it's me. The more I love myself the more capacity I have for loving other places. It's a good thing to realize.

Glasgow Week 5: ???

Is it week five already??  Are you sure?

I swear I posted Glasgow Week 4 just yesterday.

What have I even done this week?  My memory is horrible and I've been slacking on my journaling so actually I'm not even sure what happened this past week.

I slept way too late almost every day, I know that.

I did my first class presentation Monday and a second one on Tuesday.  The one on Monday was my first real grade in an actual University of Glasgow class so I was terrified.  It's a class full of seniors and they're all super-serious and the professor has a very intense Wikipedia page.  He seemed to like what I had to say though because I got a high grade, so hopefully that's an indication of how he grades essays.  I have three of those due next week, so my Glasgow Week 6 and 7 posts will most likely be titled "my fingers are numb from typing so much".

My goal for this week is to go to the Hunterian Museum.  It's literally INSIDE the university so I've walked by it countless times a week, I just haven't gone in.

---

How is your week going? Did you hear about the Senate vote on DeVos and how Sen. Warren was shut down? Are you also terrified about the state of America? Because same.

Glasgow Week 4: Edinburgh and the Horrible Hostel

Photo by Linnea Sandbakk on Unsplash

I usually posts these on Tuesdays, but today is special since I've been away from home for exactly a month!

Wednesday of last week was one of those nights that make me wish I wan an anonymous confessional blogger.  As much as I pride myself on being honest, there are just some things you can't write with your real name and face attached!

Friday I tried getting work done in the library.  Afterwards, me and two of my friends walked 47 minutes to get to Five Guys, but once we got there we realized it was SUPER expensive compared to other places. It was 8 pounds for one burger.  Which doesn't seem like a lot, but compare that to an entire meal at McDonald's for under 5 pounds.

We ended up at KFC.

On Saturday we woke up at the buttcrack of dawn and took the train to Edinburgh.  It was super rainy and cloudy so the walking tour was miserable.  After we had lunch we went to the Royal Scottish Academy and the Scottish National Gallery.  I actually met the artists of one of the paintings!  I was taking pictures of my favorite paintings (as you do), and I had to reach up really tall to get a good picture.  Immediately after a lady started talking to me about the painting so I was afraid of getting in trouble for taking pictures.

"Oh no!" she said. "Please take pictures.  I'm the artist.  It's nice to know that people like my work."
!!!!! She was just chilling in the gallery!  I then thanked her for sharing her talent.

A few minutes prior to that my friends were making fun of me for looking like a tourist, since I had this big backpack on and was taking lots of pictures.  But if I wasn't doing any of that, then I never would've met that painter! Just goes to show you that you have to do what you want and not care what other people think.

2pm came around so it was time to check into our hostel.  The location was great and the reviews were decent, so I was excited.  My first hostel experience, after all.

Sadly, it wasn't a great first experience.  I'm not extremely picky, but I do like my sleeping arrangements to be mildly clean and safe.  The dynamics of this hostel (Princes Street Backpackers) was really off.  All the girls were young college students (like me), but all the men were in their 30's or older and a few gave off predatory vibes. (Always trust your instincts, they don't lie, okay?)  As far as the cleanliness goes, I only have to tell you one thing.  There was a dead animal in the wall of one of the bathrooms.
Let's move on to more pleasant things.  Like Arthur's Seat!

I've been dying to hike Arthur's Seat for years.  It was a missed opportunity back when I was 18 and since then I've become more obsessed with it.  It even plays a minor role in the movie One Day with Anne Hathaway, which I watch way too often to be considered normal.

Sunday felt like the first day we had seen the sun in awhile.  Even though climbing a big hill is tiring, being able to stretch my legs like that felt so good.  I'm definitely going back again because there's not one defined path to hike.

I went to the Writer's Museum while my friends took a nap on Saturday.  It was tiny but had a lot of history and memorabilia from Scottish writers.  It was a rather niche museum, so if you're not really into writing and authors it'll probably be boring.  (I enjoyed it, of course!)  The museum also has surprisingly strong wifi and a place to sit and read, so this is a nice place to escape from the rain and cold without being charged for a coffee.

Tip: from Glasgow to Edinburgh, the bus may be cheaper BUT if you have a group of 3 then you can get a group train ticket that will costs the same amount as a bus.

This entire week has been pretty gloomy since I've had a cold the ENTIRE TIME.  As of this moment I thankfully no longer have a sore throat (I had to reschedule a presentation on Monday because I couldn't talk), but my nose is still stuffy.  I take my multivitamin every day I should be immune to all things.

---

Let me know about your past week!

Glasgow Week 3: St. Andrews and the Women's March

Three weeks already!  It feels like my time here is flying by and there is still so much left to do!

---

Gallery of Modern Art

On Wednesday I went to the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) and was mildly disappointed, since only three exhibits were open.  I'll definitely need to go back once the fourth exhibit is finished.

Kelvingrove Museum

Thursday I went to the Kelvingrove again and walked around the ground floor.  I accidentally snuck into the only exhibit that you're supposed to pay for.  I just walked into this gift shop and started walking around but the gift shop just kept on going and suddenly I'm walking through the entire exhibit for free.  Oops.  Sometimes it pays to be a clueless American.

a bird got in my coastline shot

On Friday I woke up way too early to take a bus ride to St. Andrews with some friends.  It's a cute town but I don't think it has enough to do to there to warrant an overnight trip.  One day is enough (unless you're into golfing).  I'll try to go back when the weather is warmer and the sun sets later.  I ignored the fact that the inauguration was happening while I tried to track down all the Prince William and Kate Middleton hotspots (no shame).  I don't feel bad about not watching the inauguration.  It's going to be a long 3 years and 11 months and 3 weeks until Trump is out of office, I'll have plenty of time to consume media then.

sadly I don't have a picture of the haggis

Saturday was spent sleeping and chilling and getting ready for a Burn's night party.  My entire group was way too under-dressed but there was free wine and haggis and I danced with cute Scottish guys and ended the night at McDonald's.  As you do.

Sunday is all about homework (and procrastinating by writing blog posts).  My most reading-intense class is on Monday, so instead of gradually doing work throughout the week I think I'm going to cram everything in on Sunday.  At least I get to try out a new coffee shop each week!

you KNOW Carrie would've been there

I do feel bad about missing the Women's March, though.  If I wasn't studying abroad then I would 100% have been at the march in D.C., since it's not too far from where I live.  I know living in Glasgow for five months is a once in a lifetime chance and I shouldn't take it for granted, but I have this nagging feeling that I'm missing out on history.  I won't be able to tell my (adopted) kids that their mother was a part of the biggest presidential protest in history.  

I'm sure there will be plenty of protests to take part in when I get home.  You bet your ass I'll be at those.

I am so, so proud of my country and all the other countries that support our resistance.  Trump lost by almost 3 million votes, not even counting the votes that went to third parties.  He and his supporters are in the minority.  We have to remember that.

Glasgow Week 1: the roller coaster dip

Photo by Minjoo Son on Unsplash

Since I do everything in the most extreme and dramatic manner, I immediately skipped the honeymoon, culture shock, and the comeback phases and went straight into unresolved issues.

Plot twist: your personality doesn't completely change just because you're in a new country.

For some reason I expected to be a lot cooler and more self-assured.  That obviously didn't happen just because the timezone changed.

It's going to take time for me to adjust.  I don't like doing things alone; partially because I'm an extrovert, partially because doing new things is actually terrifying.  Which means everything is difficult since EVERYTHING is new.

You'd think I would have seen that coming, but naw.

I'll get better, though.  Eventually.  I'll be forced to become confident because I have to or I'm going to miss out.

I know my class schedule now, so hopefully I'll feel less anxious.  I was added late to one of my classes to I missed the first session, but I'm meeting with the professor tomorrow to talk things over.  It's a 30 unit class here, which means it transfers over as 7 USA credits.  Which means I HAVE to pass or I'll be wasting 7 credits that I'll have to make up my senior year.  Which is possible, but I don't want that to happen.

Goal for tomorrow: after professor meetings, walk to city center by myself to do some shopping, catch up on some podcasts while I'm walking.

As you can tell from the photo above, Glasgow is a beautiful city.  I just need to make myself get out and see it.

Arrival in Glasgow

I've been awake for a total of 31 hours and counting, and that's not even counting the time change.  That 31 hours has included two flights, walking through Glasgow trying to find a place that sells sheets, and socializing with a lot of people that I barely know or just met today.

I've gotten to the point of exhaustion to where my face feels like a live wire.

I have unpacked but have not actually put anything away, which means the floor of my tiny room is covered with things.

In order to keep myself from falling asleep at 4pm, a friend and I walked through Kelvingrove Park and up to the university to try and start getting our bearings.  The gate off of University Ave was open so we just walked in.

the Cloisters are still in the holiday spirit

Glasgow is so eerie at night, but in the best way

I can't wait to see this view in the daytime

I still can't believe that I'm here.  I've been thinking about studying in Glasgow for almost exactly two years and I am finally here.  I know I'll have not-so-good days in the future, but I'll just have to remind myself how lucky I am to be here.

Header Photo by Ivan Dimitroff on Unsplash

My Glasgow Bucket List

Buchanan Street

Listen, I love bucket lists.  They give me clear goals and a list to refer to when I complain about being bored.
I'll have five months in Glasgow, beginning of January to the end of May, and I want to make those months count.  I'll divide this list between activities that are specifically Glasgow-related and things that are in the rest of Scotland.

Glasgow

1. visit Ashton Lane
2. Kelvingrove Art Gallery
3. Gallery of Modern Art
4. Botanic Gardens
5. Glasgow Cathedral
6.  Voltaire & Rousseau bookstore
7. Necropolis
8. Good Press Gallery
9. Burrell Collection
10. Hunterian Museum
11. eat lots of Indian food
12. Mitchell Library
13. St Aloysius Church
14. Glasgow City Chambers Tour (apparently it's free)
15. consume haggis
16. football (soccer) game
17. St Mungo's Museum of Religious Life & Art

Scotland

1. Arthur's Seat
2. Whaligoe Steps
3. Loch Ness
4. pet sheep
5. St. Andrews
6. West Highland Way (it's 96 miles long so... maybe)
7. there's a lot of hiking to be done

Lonely Planet has a pretty comprehensive list of things on their site.

and beyond...

1. see the Harry Potter play in London (I may or may not have bought tickets back in October 2015...)
2. Persephone Books in London
3. go to Ireland
4. go to Wales. Hay-on-Wye sounds cool.

I think it's settled, I definitely need more than five months in Scotland.  I would prefer five years at a minimum; who wants to offer me a job after I graduate in 2018 please and thank you.

---

pin it!

What do you suggest I do/go/see while I'm in Glasgow/Scotland/the UK?

Header Photo by Jason Briscoe on Unsplash