Exactly two weeks ago, I was on a plane to London. I had no idea of the people I would meet here, the adventures I would go on... And it just keeps getting better!
So I left off on Tuesday night. Later that night, I went to a friend's house for a wonderful dinner! Myself, Miren, who cooked the dinner, and Laura, another friend of ours, ate along with Miren's two flatmates from Germany and Britain. It was a great girl's night in.
On Wednesday I was able to sleep in, which was definitely helpful for getting over my cold. After finally waking up (yes, it was after 12pm; no, this would not happen if I was back at school at Cornell), I went for a run in a nearby park called The Meadows. The park wasn't huge, but there were a lot of other joggers, bikers and walkers which was nice motivation for me. It's been cold here- sweater-jacket-another jacket-gloves-scarf kind of cold here, but when I went for my run I was able to shed my jacket and just ran in a short sleeve shirt! That was probably the only time my arms will see the light of day for the next few months. As you can see, I'm very optimistic about this weather...
After wolfing down a most excellent lunch- nutella, peanut butter, and apples on toasted bread, I showered and got dressed and went back out into the cold to head to a meeting. Since I had some time to kill, I stopped in a secondhand book store and picked out Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson- it's all about his travels through the United Kingdom, so I figured it would be an appropriate read. Afterwards, I went to a meeting for Cornell, Brown, and Penn students studying abroad in Scotland this semester. We were warned of the usual things, but I did learn that I should try a fried Mars bar here; I thought it was only the Americans who fried everything?
Afterwards, I did some grocery shopping, then picked up tickets for an event later on this week. That night, I was able to skype with Owen for the first time in a week or so, which was a nice surprise!
Thursday I had class in the morning- Oceanography. For my next class, Environmental Pollution, we went on a field trip! It was to the Center for Ecology and Hydrology, where we had the chance to listen to a lecture about reactive nitrogen and its impacts on the earth, and then broke out into smaller groups and visited individual labs and learned about some of the equipment out there for measuring gasses in the atmosphere. All in all, it was a nice change from the typical lecture-style class period. Interestingly, I've never had a field trip in my two and a half years at Cornell.
After the field trip, I swung by my flat to eat another one of those nutella, pb, and apple sandwiches (I've become quite addicted) and then headed to a salsa lesson along with some friends! I've salsa danced before, so I knew the basic steps that we went over but it was good practice. At one point, they asked for all boys and girls to pair up; it was just like an awkward middle school dance. But we sorted ourselves out eventually and practiced the moves as pairs. Can I just say to the boys of Edinburgh in the salsa class- move less like a robot, more like a human... They really were trying and that's why I feel bad saying this, but they had absolutely no rhythm. I was just like that when I started too though, so also to them- you will get better!
That night, I cooked a Mexican dinner for myself, Laura, and Miren! Tacos with meat, cheese, lettuce, peppers and salsa! It was probably the most effort I've put in a meal since I've gotten here, and it really was rewarding to cook for others- it makes me more motivated to learn to cook good, quality dishes. I know tacos are simple, but for me it was a step in the right direction.
Friday (today) I had Oceanography class in the morning, then took the bus back to the city center and grabbed a quick lunch. Short story- at restaurants here they ask if you are "staying in" or "taking away." In other words, for here or to go. If you say you're staying in, they charge you extra! For washing your dish I guess? I really don't understand it. But either way, when I ordered my bagel today and was asked the question, I blurted out take away to save the few extra pence. Then I quickly realized I couldn't stay and eat if I had just said I was taking it away... so I spent the next 10 minutes wandering around looking for a place to eat. My only solid option was a stairwell in an academic building. Lesson learned.
In my next blog entry, you will hear about my adventures in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, but for now it's 1:30am and I have to be up in 5 hours, so I am getting to bed- cheers!
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