Trip to Skye, and the Great Beyond

It seems so crazy that I can have done so many things in only seven days. The magical week started ever so horrifying. My first paper was due, and I had to finish reading ‘The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner’ by none other than James Hogg. I also had to be sure and go to my anatomy lab for two hours throughout the week to prepare myself for an image exam on the thoracic, abdominal and pelvic cavities. But by the end of the week I was lucky enough to have survived school (didn’t think it would happen) and I got to go on a trip with the International Society to the Isle of Skye. For anybody who doesn’t know, Skye is in the highlands of Scotland (YAY) and it is about a five hour bus ride if you go straight there, which we didn’t.

Erin and I on our way to Skye

My trip to Skye started early Saturday morning and ended late Sunday evening. Well maybe not too early or late, simply very dark. The drive up to Skye included a stop at Loch Lomond, and on our way there we saw sheep, cows, and a pig. Our bus driver also taught us some everyday Scottish terminology such as: Glen=valley, Ben=mountain, Moore=a mountain over 3,000 feet, and an Inver=is the mouth of a river or loch. Some other exciting things on our bus ride included SNOW, there was snow at the very top of some of the Moores in Scotland which was very exciting. Now about the distance from Glasgow to Loch Lomond is where the signs of Scotland start to change. Not only are the directions and destinations in English, they are also in Scottish Gaelic. Which means that ‘Oban’ turned into ‘An t-Oban’ and many other towns had fun names as well. After Loch Lomond there were many stops in gorgeous areas just to take some pictures, and on our way to some of these places we passed Glencoe, which is the site of a huge massacre back from the times when Scotland was made up of clans.

On our way towards Skye!

Further on and much closer to Skye, though still a ways off, we passed the site where Hagrid’s Hut was filmed for Harry Potter. I was however fairly disappointed that we didn’t get to stop and see his hut, because I am in the land of Harry Potter, and must fully experience the Potter world (which means also seeing the movie when it comes out). Just before we made it to Skye we got to stop at Scotland’s most photographed castle, so, I dutifully took a photograph, and got on the bus because it was cold. Finally after hours of travelling by coach bus we made it to Skye, but first we had to cross a bridge. And for anybody out there who enjoys news, you may realize that the bridge we crossed was the same bridge that the nuclear submarine was stuck under (yay submarine) I didn’t get to see it though (sad) they must have released it, pretty much right before we got there . I realize that this shouldn’t be disappointing, because we wouldn’t want millions in technology to be stuck, but it would have been cool to see a submarine. We did however luckily drive by something rather hilarious right before the bridge, which was a sheep crossing sign, I had seen deer crossing, and people crossing signs, but now I think my life is almost fulfilled, I just need to see a Highland Cow crossing sign, and all will be well in the world.

Standing in the water in Skye

Now for anybody who doesn’t know, Skye is perhaps the most beautiful place on the planet. There are fantastic mountains, and water is everywhere. In fact while in Skye I stood in some Scottish water. I stayed in a Hostel (my first) in Portree or Port-righ as the Scottish say. I walked down to the waterside, and saw the world’s fattest seagulls. They live right outside a fish n’ chips shop, so all the fat goes straight to their necks, We also walked to the top of a hill (very exciting I know) and saw this turret, which we climbed and then played in a little park thing. We drove around the isle and saw some of the most fantastic views, including the end of a rainbow, which I never thought was possible, until I saw it. Turns out that at the end of a rainbow there is no pot of gold, simply pure beauty.

Frolicking on a hill in Skye

The next day we woke up and drove to Loch Ness, I didn’t see the Loch Ness monster (probably because she either never existed, or is dead).  Unfortunately I never really got to see the Loch because there are trees everywhere, I did however get to see the canal into the Loch, and a sailboat was going through it. After we passed the Loch, I got to see an elderly people crossing sign, not quite as cool as the sheep crossing, but still pretty funny. I also got to see Bambi, only this Bambi was old so it had big antlers. Pretty much it was just overall amazing. I would highly suggest visiting Skye and the Highlands in general when coming to Scotland.

Portree

A Week of Fun and Adventures

It’s always sad when you realize how much money you spend back in the states, but it is even worse here. I cannae (note my cute new Scottish language) imagine living here for how much it costs. Although I guess it would be fine if I were to actually be making money here, but it’s still so expensive. I guess I will just have to keep an eye on what I can and cannot buy. Although it can get difficult at the City Centre and on Ashton Lane (mostly because I love shoes, mixed drinks, and taking taxis home at night). But it will all end well, I am sure I only have 10 more weeks.

Me walking through Kelivgrove Park

I started the week having pancakes (which look funny here in Scotland) and going to the Kelvingrove art gallery and museum down next to Kelvingrove Park. Firstly the pancakes, Erin and I bought the Bisquick mix (its equivalent) and went forth to conquer pancakes (and brownies). So we mix our batter and pour it into the frying pan, where we realize they make their pancakes look like crepes, they don’t look like fluffy batter pancakes that I get back home. However I think I like them here better, they were really good and it turned into a fairly successful breakfast. After said cooking extravaganza we walked down through campus and to the Kelvingrove art museum, and it was a beautiful fall day, there were leaves everywhere, and campus was cute in the fall. At the museum we saw all sorts of great things, and tried on some faces, and also got to see the Scottish Romantic Period in art (I am learning about the romantic period right now in Scottish Literature, I suggest reading Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley, but steer as far away from James Hogg’s Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, as it sucks) It was a very nice museum, with lots of things, it was a mix of nature/ science, art museum, and art gallery, but it comes highly suggested as a stop on any trip to Glasgow, it helps that it is free!

I tried on a nose in the museum

On other notes this week I discovered you really can walk all the way to the City Centre. Erin and I walked down, and then decided to see a movie out of nowhere on Thursday, we watched Grown Ups, and again enjoyed in their delicious candy selections at Cineworld and had some fantastic popcorn. It was a good way to end the week (even though I had classes on Friday). After our adventure to the City Centre we went back to Ashton Lane in the West End to go to an International Society meeting. It’s kind of nice to meet in a bar. They did provide food, however, half nine at night is a little late to be having dinner, thank goodness I had already eaten (however bad for me) at the movies. The meeting was fun, it wasn’t really a meeting in the normal sense, but I met some people from Sweden. It was overall very cool.

The bar where we had our International Society meeting

On Friday I had my first real field trip that I was actually required to go on here for my Ecology and Conservation class. We went to Possil Marsh which is a reserve within city borders, making it very different from most other reserves and wildlife refuges. It is classed by Scotland as an SSSI (don’t ask because I don’t remember) which means that you can’t really build there. The Marsh is managed by Scottish Wildlife Trust in Edinburgh, and we got to tour it and see lots of dead plants (because its winter). Mostly it was a little sad because it was so cold. The forecast was for partly sunny skies (how optimistic we are) and 13 degrees. So I thought great I will wear a jacket with a long sleeve shirt and a scarf! NO. I was wrong; it was very cold, and kind of wet, due to the fact that it is a marsh. But overall very enjoyable and I did learn things as well. Some facts I learned: Pike eat ducklings and baby swans, Water Vole live there, and they are a highly endangered species, Otter are moving into the area which is a sign of a good environment, and finally I learned that I don’t understand Scottish comedy, jokes, or anything like that. I know this because my teacher and tour guide would say something and everyone would laugh, except for me, the only American in the class...

Possil Marsh, the view to the farm

Overall a very good week, I am excited for next week as I will be going to the Isle of Skye, which is way up north and a good 5 hour coach ride, and then a ferry, then we will be there. I have to start writing my first real assignments here at the University of Glasgow, but it should be fun, I changed my word processor to English (U.K.) and have put my margins at about 4 cm (very big margins), I know not to use the letter ‘z’ and I also know how to cite a paper properly here, so it should be fun. Both work and play make for a very tired Jessica here in Scotland.

Our Scottish Pancakes

FALL-ing in love

Just a quick note (on this glorious fall season) from Glasgow. I have lived now for 20 years, so I have experienced my fair share of fall days (not as many as some), however none quite as fantastic as those here in Glasgow (I am sure there will be some that aren’t as fantastic but I don’t want to write about that). All of the days are the fall days we expect when we wake up in the morning. Like those fall days back home in Colorado, where the weather is crisp and there is just a slight mist in the air when you wake up. But those fall days disappear in a matter of hours, there is something here that keeps fall hanging around all day (and it is truly lovely). The leaves stay crunchy, and you can literally see all of the colours in a single leaf on any tree, from the green to the yellow (ahh!!) and finally the red. The wind is light enough to just rustle those leaves, and when you walk through the parks the leaves on the ground start floating around you like you are in a mystical wonderland. The sky stays cloudy, but it’s a light cloud that you know may or may not open to reveal the blue sky beyond you just have to sit and watch it. Finally the mornings really are misty, you walk outside and can feel the water on your skin, in the air, just floating everywhere, but it isn’t quite the rainy day (not yet). I know I may be writing this prematurely but I have never experienced a fall that is so perfect, it’s a fall I have only ever dreamed of, a fall where every day is exactly how I expect fall to be.

I wasn’t expecting to write to everybody today, but I just thought you needed to know that if you are a fall spring person (as I am) then you need to see the fantastic weather here in the fall (I don’t know about the spring). It’s been like breathing in a dream, and then you realize it’s the truth. I have a few pictures of today that don’t do anything to capture the essence of the weather or the day really, hopefully though you will get a chance to see a perfect fall.

A Field Trip!

WOW! So my sixth week in Scotland was fantastic, and I learned plenty of cool things. My week didn’t really start until Wednesday this week, at which point I was able to get two for one tickets to the movies with my orange coverage. Pretty much if you have an orange phone in Scotland you can text ‘FILM’ to 241 and they will send you a confirmation code. This code you can take to any movie theatre and get two for one tickets, which made the price for my friend Erin and I to see the movie 5.30 (pounds). We then had the awesome experience of making our own bag of candy rather than buying candy in boxes (so U.S.) it was definitely worth it. We saw ‘Wall Street: The Money Never Sleeps’ at a giant movie theatre complex down in the city centre of Glasgow. Wednesday night for movies is definitely a great way to spend the day.

On my way to my field trip!!!

Then my week became so much better when I joined the level one archaeology field trip to Kilmartin Glen. That location was awesome, there were some great historical sites, dating to the Neolithic period (at least that is my understanding due to lectures). We looked at Cairns and standing stones, and many stone plaques that were in the most beautiful little graveyard. We then got to climb to the top of a hill known as Dunadd (the fort of the river add) there were the most amazing views from the top of the hill, and I could see all the way to the seaside!!! After we did that we went to Achnabreck where there were many stone carvings on the ground, all sorts of cup and ring carvings (I don’t know what they are, due to the fact that I am not taking Archaeology).

A Cairn in Kilmartin Glen

At the end of the week, even though there aren’t a lot things I did, but it was totally worth it to go on a field trip for a class that I am not even part of. There are so many things to experience and see here in Scotland, so much history, and now I have the chance to experience it. An adventure to Kilmartin Glen is just what everybody needs to do. That and it’s one of the most beautiful experiences on the planet. Still so much to do, and so little time to do it, can’t wait for my next adventure to The Isle of Skye.

Me on the top of Dunadd in Argyle and Bute

My Parents came!!!

The joys of my parents coming to visit!!! My parents arrived on Wednesday and just left early Monday morning. It was good to see them, especially because they are very good at making me delicious meals, or buying them for me, and also buying me gifts and taking me to Edinburgh. I was excited that they got to enjoy this great city, as I love it here so much! That and it was good to have a wee piece of home here in Scotland with me, and we had unco fun together (as far as I can tell from my vast reading here Unco means lots in Scots).

They arrived Wednesday afternoon, and decided to take a tour of my campus here first, so I showed them most of what I could (and then we saw some things that I had no idea existed), and then they were a wee bit hungry so they took me out to dinner at the Ubiquitous Chip on Ashton Lane. I decided to have the Haggis neeps and tatties, Mom had the highland salmon and Dad had the pork belly. It was all quite delicious (it comes highly recommended from me) and for desert I had a poached pear with some sort of delicious ice cream. Overall it was a great experience for their first night in Glasgow, and then they needed to sleep in their fantastic flat, and I had class on Thursday so I had to sleep in my dorm. After class my parents wanted to see the Glasgow City Centre, where all the fantastic shopping can be found. So we took an adventure on the Orange Clockwork (our city subway) down to Buchanan Street where we visited some high end shops, and some others. Afterwards they made me a delicious ravioli dinner (as they finally realized that I starve here from the amount of walking I do each day) which I think I shall be repeating often for the rest of my stay here. All in all it was another successful day for them in Scotland.

Turns out that moms and dads make plans for when their daughter is in classes, so they decided to head to Oban while I had to go to my Scottish Literature Seminar (so sad I didn’t get to go too). I really like the seminars that they do here, it’s very calm and quiet, and we get to discuss anything that is going on in class which is very nice rather than just getting lectured at. After my classes and studying were over I met my parents again, and they took me to Ketchup (also on Ashton Lane) for dinner. They were rather surprised by the deliciousness and all of the burger options at the restaurant and also how amazing the chips are there, which was good. I spent the night at their flat in a bed not made out of stone! Early (ish) Saturday morning we left for Edinburgh, we got the train tickets as three for two (yay cheap), which was very helpful, and then enjoyed a day in Edinburgh which is truly a beautiful city. Again there was much shopping to be done (yay) and eating as well (we enjoyed lunch at the restaurant Tiles). We arrived back in Glasgow to have tea at Cup on Byers Road (which was as usual, delicious) and we all enjoyed our own pot of tea, and a scone. Afterwards we played a game of scrabble in their flat, but ran out of letters so some words were made up (mom...), and Pint was spelled in Ye Olde English (Pynte).

I left my parents Sunday after another fine dinner of ravioli (I am so lucky to have them). I am so happy they got to visit me, and we definitely had a lot of fun (or at least I did, I hope they did too). Hopefully they will want to visit this city again in the future, just because it is absolutely fantastic.

My weeks at school have been great so far, and I get to start my field trips this week, including ones to the Anatomy Museum, Possil Marsh, and more museums. It should be good and they won’t have to pull my arm to get me to do the assignments there. Lucky for me I finished the book ‘Waverley’ by Sir Walter Scott, however on an unlucky point, it means I have to read ‘Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner’ by James Hogg (who should have come up with a shorter name for his novel). Although a good thing is that all this reading has opened my eyes to some different spellings and pronunciations by these crazy Scots. I have been continuing on my pronunciation dictionary, and also some usage, like a single inverted comma (‘) to be used around a quote, not any of those silly double inverted commas (“) that we yanks use. It will also be time for me to start writing papers, which should be interesting and good. I am just having too much fun here in Scotland! No pictures this week, as my parents took all the pictures (they are such useful creatures). Love you tons mom and dad, hope you enjoyed your mini-cation, and can’t wait to see you at Christmas time! xoxo-Jessica