Inside Dunblane Cathedral
Ok we are going to try this starting in the bottom left and going clockwise, Wisconsin, Minnisota, Georgia, Me, Germany, Hungary, Wyoming, and believe it or not Scotland, at the international society pub crawl
Ummm South Africa, Sweden, and China at IS pub crawl
France and 2 Scottish flatmates
Ok this is why I need a different system. There are at least 5 English people in this picture, a few that I dont know nationalities for, 1 France, and Wyoming. At the Fencing Clup pub crawl.
Starting in bottom left and going clockwise, Georgia, Wyoming, Kansas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, at the cafeteria in Thistles Shopping Center.
Ok Wyoming and I had just gotten done at the shopping center buying Wellies (Galloshes, rain boots, whatever) .... and so the sun came out for the first time in a week... France, Her, and I were so excited we took a picture of our shadows. But we do now have a general idea of orientation.
France and Wyoming on a wall at Stirling Castle
Ok, I think I am getting the hang at how this thing works and therefore have a much easier system for posting pictures, so you may actually se me do it more often. Anyways, there was a sight seeing tour for international students on Wednesday, that was a down and dirty, 3 hour several stop sort of deal, nothing real in depth. For things like the Dunblane Castle and Bannochburn battle field it may well be sufficient. For Stirling Castle, it was not.
Courses started Thursday. I already have a list of things I need to look up term wise. The international politics although it may be the simplest course I have, is going to be several hours a week on what kind of a president the US has, and what lovely international faux pas he has made. The soils course could be interesting, apparently England, Ireland, and Scotland all have seperate soil classification systems, and none of them match the American one. But after I asked some questions of her after class she started mentioning in the next lecture "and I think this is what it is in the American system" so she is obviously willing to work with me. I do have a minor course conflict. Any time i have a practical on Mondays it will conflict with my Politics course. However, the only other module I am approved for is worse, soooooo i was pretty much told to miss the lecture since "lectures are not compulsary at this Uni."
In sad news, the one flat mate who really spent time with me, Spain, has left Uni.... very long story, but regardless I trust 2 of my other flat mates less than I did to begin with, and my buddy who would have breakfast with me and share food and dishes with me is gone.
Thursday night was the International Society meeting followed by a pub crawl. It was fun. They once again handed us sheets to get signatures on. You know, the "find a person who has done this, or has this, or is this, or can do this" sort of paper. They gave us those at the meet and greet on Tuesday, I just kind of gave up on it. This time however, Wyoming and I were bound and determined to get it finished, and it paid off, we got little medals, she won 3rd place, and I won second... woohoo Wyoming!!!
Wednesday night was the first fencing practice. It was kind of fun to see that Lefties, as well as Sabrists are thought of the same way here as at home. They have intense warm ups, and practices. They set their box up every single practice. However, I finally decided I might have a prayer of holding my own when none of their returning fencers could remember what Balestra or Patinando were and I could. However, we have since covered some skills that I have never heard of. Friday I was late, and they had their newbies suit up right before I got there, so I did some basic blade work and that was about it. I didnt mind horribly since Wednesdays practice still had me swearing about the horrendous amount of stairs in this country. I have also already scored brownie points, because as a study abroad student, not only did I come to practice, but I brought Wyoming with me, and she has never fenced before, so I am still recruiting. FYI Wyoming fencers as of right now she intends to keep fencing once back in Wyoming, however, she is studying in Hawaii next semester.
Fridays practice was followed by their pub crawl (yes everything is followed by a pub crawl best as I can tell). This was fun, it was me and Wyoming's first chance at going out with a lot of natives. Most of whom, however, turned out to not be native, but were atleast British. And after hours of getting told how we ruin the English language, what they think of our president, the fact that we talk funny, the fact that we are American, (non of which do we disagree with)... they decided to start doing something about it. So at midnight we had fish and chips from a proper fish and chip shop .... an Italian carryout place.... however apparently the chain has some of the best fish and chips in Scotland. This was followed by being introduced to a British comedian, Lee Evans. This lasted until 3 or so in the morning. Which made getting up for the next day's adventures rather difficult.
Our planned 10 am adventure didn't even get us into town until 11 this morning. However, Wyoming and I now have Wellies. We have really seen Stirling Castle, we are starting to form our plans for the following weekends. Edinborough was going to be this coming weekend, but we have spent all week comparing everything to Mary Poppins, and we saw a flyer saying there is a performance of Mary Poppins in October, so we are putting off Edinborough until then. So, we plan to go to Glasgow next weekend. Would anyone like to join us?
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