Month: January 2013
First Two Weeks: Adjustments and Adventures
Two weeks ago fourteen students of varied majors, accompanied by their fearless leader Dr. John Armstrong, arrived in Edinburgh tired but ready to take on the city. After a brief tour and sleep to satisfy our jet lag, we settled into our flats for the first night of our four month study abroad. Collectively, we are dispersed throughout the city center. Some of us live in the historic Old Town, which is home to museums and traditional pubs. Across Princes Street, a main thoroughfare, the rest of the students live in New Town which is packed with youth residences, shops, and clubs. Even though we occasionally bemoan the cold, we are already enchanted with the beautiful architecture, the kind people, and the joys of city life.
During our first weekend and our first snow flurries, we visited Edinburgh Castle. Greeted by the breathtaking snow-covered mountains and the sound of highland bagpipes, we bought our tickets and began our self-guided tour. The crown jewels, the most popular exhibit at the castle, fascinated all of us. The story of how they were lost for over a century and later recovered was quite surprising. Please use the link to learn more about the castle. The most moving and emotional exhibit at the castle was the Scottish National War Memorial. We were all humbled by the tribute to Scottish soldiers and nurses over the past centuries, particularly those that participated in the Great War. Many of us plan to return for a guided tour.
In a quintessential European experience, our entire group braved the cold last Saturday to support the Hibernians, a local football team. The Easter Road stadium holds 20,000 people, and despite the snow and overcast weather, it was over three-fourths full of impassioned fans. Not a passive audience, many gentleman present showed their not-so-gentle side when the players missed opportunities. The traditional football rivalries loosely parallel the Catholic–Protestant identities that exist in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Hibs, as they are fondly known, were founded by Irish Catholic immigrants.
We are happily adjusting to the challenges of life in a new city! Thank you for reading!
~
Margaret, Rebecca, & Shannice
Please check back weekly for future updates on our adventures!