Furman Study Away: Edinburgh 2013

We have spent 119 days, 2,856 hours, and 171,360 minutes in Edinburgh  and it seems like only yesterday we were all fumbling with our luggage, some heavier than others (Allie), through the chilly Edinburgh air, lead by our notorious leader Karen to our new home. Little did we know what was in store for us over the next few months. After a brief adjustment period, we all became acclimated to our new lives in Scotland’s capital. Looking back on the trip, there have been some significant memorable moments that we felt the need to share:

An Edinburgh Education

One of the things we will miss most upon arriving back in the States are our accommodations here in Edinburgh. Each flat has its own quirks and history that have captured our hearts. Naturally, we are biased to love our home in Ramsay Gardens, which is where our group congregated each week, and is as beautiful as it is rich in history. The poet and wig-maker, Allan Ramsay, initially built Ramsay Gardens in 1733.  The flats were then renovated in the 1890’s by Patrick Eddes. The four of us in Ramsay 2a also had the pleasure of sharing our lovely home with a less than lovely and very cunning mouse!

The moments from the trip that have stood out the most range from every day to extraordinary, from Glasgow to Skye. Our weekly movie nights were times where our bonds were tied tighter and our views of Scotland were broadened. We screened a variety of unforgettable and cultural films including: Trainspotting, Brigadoon, Gregory’s Girl, and Braveheart. As time went on, our group became more inseparable and many “international-family-dinner-nights” ensued. These get-togethers included our new friends Laura, Maggie, and Danielle, and always ended in raucous rounds of our favorite game: fishbowl- a combination of charades and Catchphrase. Although the games were always heated, they were surely not as brutal as the sports here in Scotland, as Matthew found out the hard way.

Our group also made many fond (and some not so fond) memories while on weekend trips out of Edinburgh. Our first day trip to Glasgow put into perspective just how cruel and cold Scottish weather can be. But our journey to Skye warmed us back up and left us with unforgettable images of mountainous landscapes as well as the stories told to us by our kilt-clad guide, Mac. Three days spent in a speeding mini-bus on the winding, one-way roads of the highlands with nothing but Scottish folk music to listen to is not something we will easlity forget.

One of the best things about this wild Scottish adventure has been the opportunity to learn in a way that is different than at Furman. Yes, we still had to take classes; some of us broadened our knowledge of film, while others refined our palates to the many varieties of wine.  And we all learned quite a bit about Scottish media from our interim patriarch, Dr. Armstrong.  Every week, we followed the current political hot topic of the Independence Referendum. In 2014, Scotland’s citizens will be voting in a referendum to decide if they want independence from England. We weighed our opinions and experiences throughout our encounters with locals. As a part of our curriculum, we have read portions of the book, “The Media in Scotland”, edited by Neil Blain and David Hutchison.  This book challenged our thinking around the cultural sphere in Edinburgh and how the media is continually molding this nation. As quoted in the book:

 “The media are not the only carriers of cultural identity, not by far, nor can they deliver their functions as guarantors of local democracy  or political transparency in a predictable manner. However, they are politically and culturally very important, and their local dimension is crucial. The Scottish voice is as likely to get lost in the clamor of the digital age as to be heard through new forms of specialized provision.“

pg 17

But, the majority of our learning occurred out of the classroom – at our internships and on the streets of Edinburgh and out amongst the wilderness. Our internships included working for members of Scottish Parliament, Energy Saving Scotland, Blackhall Primary School, Filmhouse, National Trust for Scotland, Children’s Parliament, and Bethany Christian Trust. Through these experiences, we began to understand how to work in a new country. Our internships allowed us to be actively involved in Edinburgh, instead of being spectators looking from afar.

Our confidence grew as we continued to learn valuable lessons from our everyday lives in the city. Using the trial-and-error method, we finally mastered the Lothian bus system, some quicker than others. Quick-tip: never try to go down the bus steps before the bus has come to a complete stop- thanks Jordan! Many of us had to learn a real-life lesson about the dangers of fraud when we had the Great Money Fiasco of 2013. When more than half the group had their card numbers stolen through a rigged ATM, they had to quickly adapt to a new and frustrating situation. Persistence is a quality ingrained in anyone living in Scotland for a long period of time. It is something you learn in order to survive the ever-frustrating and unpredictable weather. When it goes from sunny to rainy to hailing like there’s no tomorrow, you simply have to put up your hood and keep going, always remembering that the sun will be back soon…maybe.

Over the past four months, we have skipped rocks on Orkney and tasted haggis. We have chased sheep through the glens and imagined fairies on Skye and escaped from Glaswegian cemeteries. We have frequented the farmers’ market and pub-crawled and solved mysteries and become Bees. We have explored castles and joined the search for Nessie. We have consumed our weight in tea and spit out whiskey.  We have had the chance to change our fate and we have taken it. We have hiked every single step to the top of Arthur’s seat and looked down at the view of our beloved city.

We have lived 119 days 2,856 hours 171,360 minutes in Edinburgh and we have loved every second of it!

Now that you have gotten a taste of what our first day in Orkney was like, come along with us as we “cover thousands of years of history in one day” (Yes, this was an actual quote from our sweet tour guide, Sue). As we boarded the coach early Saturday morning, we weren’t quite sure what to expect, but knew we were in for a fun and informative adventure. While we actually did manage to cover a lot of historical years before dinnertime, WordPress may explode under the weight of all the stories we heard and information we learned. Keeping this in mind, we have decided to highlight our favorite spots of the day and list the rest for you to explore on your own!

Our first stop of the day took us to Maeshowe, a large cairn that was created around 2,700 BC. We had a little look around the gift shop before heading over to what appears from the outside to simply be a huge, grassy mound. Once at the entrance – which happened to be one of the tinniest doors we have ever seen – we learned about the settlers who lived in Orkney thousands of years ago and about the way the Winter Solstice sunset shines directly through the opening, lighting the back of the cairn once a year. This seemingly magical happening is just one of the many “coincidental” alignments in the village (there are many other places where rocks and monuments form perfect lines of vision!). Once we all made the squatted walk into the opening in the mound, our wonderful guide talked about the ritualistic burials and mysteries in Maeshowe.

After a few more stops, we took time to explore the Ring of Brodgar, a true circle made of 27 stones. Although no one knows for sure when the ring was made, ask any local and they will tell you it is older than Stonehenge, but who’s counting? Just like the date, the original structure and use of the megalith stone circle is up for debate. As with another stone circle we visited, the area may have been used for celebrations involving food, drink, and music. Today, people of Orkney use the site as a place to walk and bring their dogs on a pretty day.

Take any Art History class at Furman, and one of the coolest places you will learn about is Skara Brae, one of the oldest and most intact settlements in the world. Excavated in the 1920’s, the settlement features 8 homes linked by covered walkways, most likely to be able to travel from home to home in the cold weather. The homes showcase original furniture and other objects that suggest certain things about the lifestyle of its inhabitants. There are clear spaces for sleeping, a dresser for food or highlighting pots and pans, and cutouts in the floor for storing fresh food and water. Being close to the ocean, it is now the fear of protectors of Skara Brae that portions of it will continue to be lost to the sea. They are now taking measures to protect the area as well as excavating a new area close by.

Our final stop of the day was the Italian Chapel, a place that was very surprising to us. From the outside front, the 1943 chapel looks like it is made of beautiful materials, meant to be an ornate chapel. When we went inside, however, we realized it was simply an old army hut, given to Italian soldiers in World War II as a place of worship. All of the painting inside, achieving the look of actual fancy architecture, was done by a POW named Domenico Chiocchetti. Just as it was cherished during the war, people of Orkney cherish the chapel today and are doing everything they can to preserve its unique beauty.

We hope you enjoyed touring Orkney via our pictures and stories and we wish we could have detailed every unique place we visited. As they say, however, once you get a little taste it will leave you wanting more. So, if you ever get the chance, we suggest you get out there, see the stones, eat the ice cream, feel the history, and make memories of your own!

Please explore the list below to see the other places we visited:

Barnhouse Village

The Standing Stones o’ Stenness 

The Brough o’ Birsay

The Broch of Gurness

– Arynn and Essence

In Skara Brae, Rachel demonstrates how television might have worked…5,000 years before the BBC!

Ancient Entertainment?

Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, is a quaint, picturesque town seated in the center of the historic Orkney Islands. With its charming local shops, restaurants, and a postcard-perfect view of the town’s harbor, Kirkwall is the ideal destination for relaxation. One could spend a day leisurely strolling through the winding cobblestone streets of the city center, window shopping and enjoying a serving of the “world’s best” Orkney ice cream, but to depict Kirkwall only as a trendy vacation spot would be to ignore its significance altogether. Like most Scottish cities we have visited thus far, Kirkwall is much more than its modern surface allows. Beyond the decorated shop fronts and tourist attractions, Kirkwall is steeped in a rich, somewhat mysterious and superstitious history. Founded in 1035 by Earl Rognvad Brusason, the Viking town of Kirkwall derived its name from the Old Norse, ‘Kirkjuvagar,’ meaning ‘church- bay.’  Today Kirkwall stands as one of the best-preserved ancient Norse towns. For more information on the sites and attractions of Kirkwall, visit the town’s official website.

After walking briefly through the streets of the center of the town, we made our first stop at the famous St. Magnus Cathedral. The church stands in the center of the town, representing Kirkwall’s historic foundations amidst the modern renovations of the boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. It was built in 1137 as the final resting place for the remains of St. Magnus, who, legend holds, refused to join the violent raids that his father, the King of Norway, led in 1098. He was thereafter executed for his betrayal and thus given sainthood by the Church. Inside the cathedral is a painted depiction of St. Magnus’ life, as well as his remains. Lining the walls are various tombstones of town members of Kirkwall, most dating back to the seventeenth century. The décor of the church, both inside and outside, is simple, beautiful, and medieval. Primarily built out of red sandstone, St. Magnus Cathedral is bright and welcoming, especially with the addition of the yellow stone complimenting the front arches. The church is yet another example of the Scottish specialty of intertwining timeless beauty with historic antiquity.

One of the most interesting aspects of Kirkwall is its annual mass football (soccer) game called the “Ba.”  The Ba’ is played every year on Christmas and New Years day in the streets of Kirkwall with the goals at the ends of the town. The men of Kirkwall are sorted into two teams– the Uppies and the Doonies– and they spend the day pushing, shoving, and fighting for the win. A key part of the game is that there are no rules. Our soothing-voiced tour guide, Sue, told us that one year a man smuggled the ba into his car and drove it across the goal line. His tactics were met with objections as to the legality of motor vehicles in the ba game, but they were dismissed because only one rule triumphs– anything goes.

The game dates back to the mid-seventeenth century and the people of Kirkwall are quite determined to keep the tradition alive. The Ba’ is thrown up to the crowd at the Mercat Cross in the center of Kirkwall with the Uppies goal at the end of the street opposite the Catholic church and the Doonies’ goal is down in the harbor. After watching several YouTube videos of the “throw up” at the start of the match, it seems that the game can bit slow with upwards of one-hundred men squishing together in an attempt to seize the ball. It appears to be a bit like a rugby scrum, but it requires much less athleticism and a lot more wasted energy on pushing and shoving anyone who gets in your way.

As Sue continued to show us the town of just 7600 people, it was clear we stood out. Our group seemed to take up every restaurant, monument, and street we visited, and as proof of this, please check out the Kirkwall Webcams.  The main road we walked on did not even have sidewalks, so it was shared among pedestrians and cars. Sue mentioned everyone in Kirkwall waved to one another, and that small-town feel was evident. Another highlight of our tour occurred when Sue pointed out Kirkwall’s Big Tree. Throughout our weekend we were repeatedly told by various members of the close-knit Orkney community that few trees are on the islands; in fact, Kirkwall’s Big Tree on main street is often called the only tree in Orkney. Having survived over two hundred years after the town council bought it for just five pounds so a chemist wouldn’t chop it down in the late 1800s, the tree really is a marvel, rising from pavement but shadowed by thick buildings, an explanation as to how it has lasted so long. The sycamore tree stands, steel-enforced mind you, as a symbol of the town’s dedication to preservation of culture and history.

It is our second day in Skye, and we awake bright and early in our cozy hostel in Portree to grab breakfast before the day really begins. Taking some cereal and juice down to the harbor, a group of us gather for a sunrise breakfast by the water, while others opt to explore Portree looking for an open café. It doesn’t take long, considering the size of the town. Afterwards, we gather at the bus to begin our touring for the day.

Between stops our guide, Mac, entertained us with stories and tales of the various Highland clans while he drove. Some of his best stories of the day involved tales of the wee people; the fairies. My favorite went as follows;

Scotland is an ancient land with an even more ancient past. Many years ago there were two bagpipers heading to the local highland games dressed in their ceremonial kilts. They decided to leave a day early to visit the local pubs the night before the competition, but it was a long walk and neither had horses. As they walked on the path through the woods towards Perth a wee man appeared beside them. He asked them about where they were going, and after a little conversation, he asked if they would want to make a little money. He was having a party and needed some pipers to provide music.

                The two pipers agreed, a little money would help in their adventures in town. They followed the wee man into the woods. After a good walk, through trees like no other, and grass green like they had never seen, they came to a large boulder in the side of a cliff face. The wee man knocked on the stone with his cane, and to their shock a door magically appeared. The wee man encouraged them to come in, telling them there would be a bag of gold for  each man after the party. Hesitantly, they walked in, and down a dark damp staircase for what seemed like an hour. Suddenly, they were in a great banquet hall, brightly light by golden candles. And the floor shimmered of gold, and the ceiling of jewels.

                Rows and rows of wee people watched in silence as they prepared to play. The tunes then flowed from bagpipes they held, they played every song they knew, and some they didn’t. Drinks were flowing, everyone was dancing, and an unfathomable joy enveloped the room. Hours passed, but no one ever grew tired. The joy was too much. Time seemed to stand still. Then the wee man approached the pipers and said it was time to leave. So he handed them each a bag of gold, and showed them the door. It disappeared as they left.

                The pipers continued heading to town, not believing the night they just had. As they got closer something was not right. The road was no longer dirt, it was a hard black surface. Large metal monsters clamored about.  The buildings were taller and made with foreign substances. The people no longer were wearing kilts and speaking in gibberish. In panic, they ran to the old church, the only building they recognized. The elder priest knew the Gaelic, and the old ways, listening to the men he knew exactly what happened. He knew of the wee people and their ancient ways. It had been hundreds of years, not just a night. He asked them to place their hands on a Bible, so he could pray for them. As they did, they turned to dust, and disappeared.  

There were three especially memorable stops we made this day, the first being at the Table. The Table is one of three notable rock formations in an area called the Quiraing, derived from Gaelic, which in turn came from a Norse phrase meaning “Round Fold.” The Quiraing encases these three formations: the Table, the Needle, and the Prison, in a beautiful vista of hills and ridges. The views look out onto Staffin Bay, and are some of the most famous (and most beautiful) on Skye. The Table itself is a plateau top that has slid down to form a grassy plain or sorts, and accessing it required a quick scramble up some “scree,” the accumulation of broken rock usually found at the base of a hill or mountain. While some made these trek, others decided to explore the ridges further down, taking naps in the peat or clambering around on the hills and ridges the spread forward as far as the eye could see. Only 5 made it to the top with Mac, but it was well worth the spectacular view we beheld. The sun beat down brightly, warming our skin from the cool breezy wind that whipped around, making it a perfect day for such beautiful landscapes to be taken in.

The next stop was the Fairy Glen. This is an area of rolling, pointed hills; small, gurgling streams; and roaming, adventurous sheep. It is also exactly the kind of place one can imagine faeries dancing in the moonlight, working their magic and planning their mischief. The major feature here is Castle Ewen, a natural rock formation resembling  a tower at the peak of a ridge, presumably where these faeries would gather if they are real (never say never, eh?). Trent, being extra adventurous, rushed to the top of Castle Ewen, and then set about exploring the area in earnest, closely followed by the effervescent Stuart, who explained his energy by proclaiming he was in “nature mode.” Everyone enjoyed taking in the views of the loch below, and the rocks people (or faeries) had made into patterns visible from Castle Ewen.

We stopped for lunch in another quaint town on Skye, Uig. The village is located on the Trotternish peninsular, and nestled in the Uig Bay. We ate at a Bed and Breakfast that served a delicious lunch, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. It was just as beautiful as everywhere we’d been before, and everywhere to come. No matter what we have to say about Skye, I think everyone can agree we were blessed with great weather to truly enjoy its undeniable beauty!

We went to countless other sights worth mentioning, such as Kilt Rock, to the east of Ellishader, which features a 180 foot waterfall cascading over a cliff-face of multicolored layers of dolerite; or a cemetery for the Clan MacDonald, who historically owned much of Skye. When we returned to Portree, we went straight for dinner, hungry from a long day of adventures and legends. We ate a delightful local seafood restaurant called the Lower Deck, which I think it is safe to say left us all singing its praises and with thoroughly satisfied appetites. Five Stars!

Packed and ready for a weekend Highlands tour, we arrived at the bus bright and early Friday morning.

Enter our tour guide: Mac. “Like the hamburger.”  Clad in traditional kilt and with dagger to protect us, Mac was the epitome of  a Scotsman.  Our guide was the best we could get; he gave us thorough history lessons with every sight we passed, and exposed us to his favorite Scottish tunes.  Want a taste of what we heard on the bus? Listen to this while you read our entry.

Rolling along in our cozy fifteen-passenger bus, Mac led us through the Scottish Highlands.  We first stopped in Perthshire at Dunkeld Cathedral, a ninth-century center for the Celtic Church.  St Columba, a seventh-century monk who was influential in bringing Christianity to the Highlands, visited Dunkeld during his travels through Scotland. Located on the beautiful River Tay, the cathedral is also home to the oldest tree in Scotland.

Travelling farther north, we received a Scottish history lesson before reaching the Culloden Battlefield.  Here the Highlanders made their last stand against the British government in the final Jacobite rebellion.  Prince Charles Stuart, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, gathered the Highland chiefs in protest of the Hanoverian King, George II.  The Highlanders derived their title “Jacobite” from the King for whom they fought. The Latin word “Jacobus” translates to James, for King James VII of Scotland. The Highlanders were utterly destroyed on this battlefield, forcing Prince Charlie into exile in France.

Cue our first miniature hike: Rogie Falls.  Mac led us to the hanging bridge over the falls for a beautiful photo-op.

We reached our destination, Isle of Skye, just in time for the sunset. Check out our first of many group photos, and stay tuned for details on the remainder of the adventure.

Now, we know what you readers at home are thinking about us. It seems from these previous blog posts that our lives here in Edinburgh are all play and no work. This is FAR from the truth! From Monday to Friday, we spend our time between classes at Napier University or working at our various internships. Although we gain valuable knowledge about ourselves and the Scottish culture, we look forward to the weekends when we have our own experiences with Scotland and its national treasures. Last weekend, we discovered everything from a flock of spotted Jacob’s sheep to a buried human body part to a hollywood cinema set!

On Saturday morning, we hopped on our stagecoach bus and ventured on our day-trip  to the Borders. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Scottish geography, The Borders refers to a collection of towns stretching 1,800 square miles in the Eastern part of the Southern Uplands of Scotland. Picturesque views of the countryside rapidly streamed past our bus windows as we climbed higher and higher into the more discreet towns of rural Scotland. The first stop we made along the winding roads was a beautiful overlook of the Scottish countryside (complete with some interestingly shaped hills) where Sir Walter Scott , the famous Scottish author and poet, would stop everyday on his horse to seek inspiration among the scenery.

We continued on through the plush, rolling hills to the gorgeous ruins of Dryburgh Abbey and Sir Walter Scott’s final resting place.  One of the most remarkable differences we have noticed between Scotland and the United States is their difference in age. Since Scotland has an extensive history,  every turn seems to take you to a relic with a story to tell.  As we wandered through the ruins of the Abbey, we followed the footsteps of the monks who lived there many years ago. We learned how life as a monk at Dryburgh was very strict: mass was done routinely six times a day and only one room was allotted for talking (this would have been a truly difficult restriction for our chatty Furman group!).

Our next stop on the journey was lunch in the quaint town of Melrose.  The Abbey of the town is well known for being the location of Robert the Bruce’s heart . Upon Bruce’s death, his heart was taken on a crusade by Good Sir James Douglas. When confronted by the Moors traveling through Spain, Douglas threw the heart before him and shouted :

“Lead on brave heart, I’ll follow thee!”- Sir James Douglas

Even though the battle did not end well, the heart was recovered and finally brought to Melrose Abbey.  Although Bruce was portrayed in the film Braveheart as being a coward alongside William Wallace, it seems like his heart ended up in the right place after all.

Before finishing off our journey, we made a quick stop at Abbotsford, the  residence of Sir Walter Scott, and then ended our day at Rosslyn Chapel.  Construction of the Chapel began in 1446 by William St. Clair. After a long period of abuse from both Oliver Cromwell’s and the harsh Scottish weather, the Chapel still stands!  Rosslyn is now Episcopalian and has a rich history including a dramatic story involving a murderous, vengeful mason who is said to be in the chapel, forever gazing down on the work of his apprentice. Although it boasts some stunning stonework, Rosslyn was not nearly as popular until its debut in The DaVinci Code. One of the greatest mysteries of Rosslyn is the contents of the vault that lies beneath it. Visitors have claimed  the Chapel hides the Holy Grail, Elvis, and some even say proof of extraterrestrial life is buried underneath. Each of us Furman students has our own hypothesis as to what the vault contains, but for now it still remains a mystery!

We would like to end this blog post with a special thanks to Dr. Armstrong. For the past month, he has had every group of Furman students over to his flat for a home-cooked meal. This week, he cooked chili for our flat and it was delicious! We believe Dr. Armstrong could have a new career as a Scottish chef! So, thanks Dr. Armstrong, for making us feel like one big family!

Cheers!

Rachel and Jordan 🙂

Walking around the city of Edinburgh on Sunday February 24th, the streets were bustling with tension and excitement as Scottish and Irish rugby fans intermingled on the way to the much anticipated 6 Nations Rugby match. Everywhere you looked, fans decked in green or blue waited in line for buses and poured into pubs to get a good seat for the rivalry that was about to take place. Why was there so much excitement and what exactly is a 6 Nations Rugby match, you ask? Continue reading and learn for yourself as we take you along on our journey to Murrayfield Stadium where we watched two nations collide.

When we got off the bus at Murrayfield Stadium, the scene was one that let you know immediately this was going to be an exciting day of rugby watching, people watching, and most importantly, eating great stadium food (the burgers and curly fries were a hit!). Murrayfield Stadium, originally built in 1925 and most recently renovated in 1994, holds 67,130 fans and hosts all international rugby matches as well as football games and concerts. The name Murrayfield Stadium, which it was given due to area in which it stands, is well known to rugby fans and the people of Edinburgh alike. As we climbed the stairs to our seats in the upper deck, we noticed the interesting design of the outer edge of the stadium as well as the fact that the stadium was full to capacity.

While neither of us are huge rugby fans and know little about the sport, we had heard talk around the city that this match between Scotland and Ireland was one that always drew a rowdy crowd of loyal supporters. One of the reasons this match in particular was so popular was the fact that it was a part of the 6 Nations Rugby tournament. What nations make up this 6 Nations Rugby tournament, you say? The nations involved are Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales, Italy, and France. Annually, the countries face off in different match ups with a winner at the end of the tournament. Each country gets the opportunity to play every other country, with the advantage of playing on their home field switching every other year. How lucky we are to have been here for Scotland’s turn at playing at Murrayfield Stadium! Every year, a Championship Trophy is given to the team who successfully beats the most number of teams from the five other countries based on a points system. Currently Wales holds the trophy for winning the 2012 6 Nations tournament. Another interesting point is a different form of victory called the Triple Crown Trophy. Only Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales are allowed to participate in this special competition. A country is awarded the Triple Crown Trophy if they are able to defeat all three of the other countries in the matches they play. Wales also currently holds the Triple Crown Trophy from defeating Scotland, Ireland, and England in 2012 (wow, they must have been eating their Wheaties!).

One other well-known award given is the Centenary Quaich, the trophy given annually to the winner of the Scotland v. Ireland match.  While the blue and green teams have squared off in over 120 matches, this particular trophy has only been awarded since 1989. Good news for us, our temporary home, Scotland, has beat Ireland on more occasions, including this past Sunday in the 6 Nations tournament! Picture this, you are sitting in a stadium that much resembles a globe with its blue and green fans. Scotland has proudly sung their national anthem and Ireland has answered with their nation’s song. A small amount of points have been scored, and when they are, Ireland keeps the lead for some time (this was expected as Ireland was picked to win the match). Much to our surprise and to the surprise of our fellow fans present that day, Scotland made a come back that kept even us rugby amateurs on the edge of our seats.

It is safe to say that winning this match and joining in with fellow Scots as they jumped, cheered, and clapped, has been one of our proudest Scottish moments thus far! While it is always great when the unexpected team comes back for a win, it is even better when the team represents a country that has grown to mean so much to all of us. In true Scottish fashion, we also enjoyed heading out to a crowded pub after the match to celebrate the win. Now that you have been on the journey to victory with us, join in and cheer, Let’s Hear it for Scotland!

Remember to keep up with the blog for more adventures. We can’t wait to take you along on our next journey!

Essence and Arynn