Busy, busy, busy!

Well it's been a little while since I posted an entry. I've been so busy with the semester almost complete. It's hard to believe so much time has gone by. It just seems like yesterday I arrived in Scotland. Well I'm happy to report that I've written 1 out of 3, 4,000 word essays, so there won't be any new entries for a little while.

I've been also attending Rotary events. I went to another ceilidh that was held in Linlithgow. It was so much fun. I think I only sat out for a couple of dances. I'm trying to learn the steps so that I can teach everyone back home. Perhaps a Rotary charity ceilidh in Corpus is an idea? Here's video of another scholar Alice and her dance partner, Antonio in action!

I also gave a speech at the Kilsyth Rotary Club. It was raining horribly and my train was half an hour late, but luckily I made it on time. I never believed the rumor that it rains sideways in Scotland until it happened on that day! Good Scottish weather I guess. At least I got to wear my wellies afterwards! The speech itself went well and they had a lot of questions about Texas. My favorite was about 'it is true things are bigger in Texas?' There were only 14 Rotarians in attendance because of the weather and another concurrent district meeting. There were a lively bunch!

Well I'm sorry that's all the time I can spare. I need to get back to my papers. This week I'm planning on having 11 people over at my tiny flat for Thanksgiving. It will be my first one cooking a turkey so I hope it all ends well! Should be interesting, if not disastrous. I'll report back and I hope all have a happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for Rotary!

"Remember, remember the 5th of November..."

"Remember, remember the 5th of November.
Gunpowder, treason, and plot.
I see no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot!"

The 5th of November was Guy Fawkes Day. Although this is more widely celebrated down south, there was mass merry-making through out Edinburgh. In the 1600's several plotters, including a chap named Guy Fawkes, decided they had enough of King Charles II's rule and planned to blow up the Parliament building in London to announce their displeasure. (The king was known as the Merry King, so I wonder why these gents were so disgruntled!) However, just before Guy Fawkes could ignite the tons of dynamite set up to blow Parliament, he was caught, and well...you can guest the rest. Yes, like William Wallace and other "traitors" to the Crown, he was hung, drawn, and quartered. In celebration of the Parliament not being blown up, there are fireworks, some professional and some amateur, large creepy puppets, drummers, and just general mass merry-making. It is sort of like the Fourth of July. The fireworks were amazing and I'll post some pictures when I get a chance. So "remember, remember the 5th of November!" It's one of my new favourite holidays!!

Fun Birthday Weekend

With 3 finals and 12 page essays due in about a month, I am suddenly feeling more and more pressure. School is intense but great! I just got my paper back and I made a 65! Before anyone thinks how could I do that, a 70 is a distinction or an A. I'm not that far off. I'm glad to have the feedback too. I am learning so much! Of course I had to take last weekend off and celebrate my 28th birthday! (I can't believe I'm 28!) I actually went to 2 parties on the 30th. The first was thrown by a fellow MSc student in his fabulous flat. The party really didn't get started before I had to leave to meet some friends at a hookah bar.

All the scholars, minus one, were there and we enjoyed the relaxing hookah pipe and some delicious chocolate cake. It was very mellow! I must say that even though it looks like we may be smoking something else, it's TOBACCO! Fruit-flavored tobacco to be exact. Unfortunately we had to sit on the terrace outside and it was freezing cold! Luckily they had blankets on hand so in the pictures it looks like we are in some strange cult. The food was amazing too! I will definitely be going back to that place. If you're wondering about Bryan sitting next to me, no he is not sleepy. He just doesn't take good photos. If you hadn't had a chance to try the hookah I would highly recommend it. It doesn't taste like tobacco, nor do you smell like an ash tray afterwards either. As I say, hooray for hookah!

Unfortunately, there was no alcohol served at that place. ("No alcohol?" You say!) I found it weird that in Scotland such a place exists, so we headed to a pub and had a wee drink or two. It was a lot of fun. Next week is another scholar's birthday so we'll be going out for hers too. I know, it's a tough life right?...

Halloween was fun too. Since I procrastinated I dressed up as a cowboy (cowgirl I guess) and headed over to a friends for a late dinner party. By the time we decided to go out it was already 12:30 am and the pubs were closing, but we ventured out anyway to see what we could find. Once we reached the Royal Mile street, it was like a scene from a movie. I saw ghostbusters, chickens, men in drag who strangely looked better in red tights and a sequined dress than I would have (not that I'd ever tried), pirates, and zombies. It was a mass but mild hysteria from those who had too much to drink. I will never forget the image of a banana getting sick in the middle of the road. What does a banana throw up anyway? A banana split? I'm glad Bryan was there to be my buffer between the crazy drunks and just the crazies. It was all in good fun though. Unfortunately, I missed the Pagan (not sure if that's what they call themselves) festival of the solstice though. It's a parade where they celebrate the onset of winter. I'll be sure to catch the Beltane Festival in March to celebrate the onset of Spring.

Well I can hear my paper calling my name and I can't put it off any longer. This weekend should be fun. I'm going to another ceilidh so hopefully I will learn the Scottish dances.