“So this is America. They must be out of their minds." Ringo Starr

Everyone knows I love the Beatles, therefore who better to echo what I am feeling? Admittedly, the sentiment is slightly reversed, but still very much what I am feeling. After one week of classes I am learning that there are many differences in how things are done over here. Now before you say to yourselves, "Oh it can't be that hard, they speak English" or "She must be scared out of her mind" I want to point out that neither of these are correct. I am nervous, but then again I am always nervous and I just have to pick up my stride over here. I realized today that I am not british and should not be so concerned with blending in, but just be me. Therefore, with this revelation in my mind I put my earphones in, cranked Vampire Weekend, and walked along my merry way smiling at almost everyone I saw. I am realizing that despite the fact that I don't have an accent I am from the south. We smile and say hi to people. We open doors and let others pass before us; I would just like to mention now that I have done that multiple times over here out of habit and have received strange looks every time.

Classes are good, but very overwhelming. I am not really used to being lectured to without breaks for questions or comments. I am definitely not used to the huge reading lists I am meant to prepare for weekly. Even more frightening is the fact that I am not used to the Middle Scot language. For those of you who have read Middle English imagine that on crack. Here is an example: "Slayne with pusoune, rycht to the ded: /And quhen he saw thair was na rede, /Hys eyn with his hand closit he, /For to dey with mar honeste." I will let you, dear readers, figure that out. My professor said to read it aloud, but I think that only works if you have an accent.

I can't remember if I have written about this before, but Scottish culture is very much a pub culture. The stores close at around 6 and after that people start going out. Living in this dorm somewhat reminds me of Georgetown on Friday night, but every night. Shockingly, last night the fire alarm went off around 3 in the morning and it appeared that almost everyone had been fast asleep. I guess I should be doubly prepared for tonight. I did have my first pub experience last night, but didn't get anything. Drinks here are ridiculously expensive. Personally, I am trying to save that money for travel.

There really isn't a lot more for me to say at this point. Tomorrow I hope to climb Arthurs seat - a dormant volcano that lies right behind my dorm. Sorry about the light pole right there in the middle.

To end I would like to state that it is warmer here than in Kentucky, by like ten degrees. Before I left people kept commenting on how cold it would be and to that I would just like to say "Hah!". 

-Peace