I am still alive!

Ok once again, I ignored this thing for probably longer than I should have. This time for slightly different reasons than last time, but I ignored it none the less. The camping trip for Guy Fawkes night was fun, although I did not actually end up getting to camp, as the mountaineering club was more out of sleeping bags than they thought. But still it was a lovely trip up a mountain in the dark, fireworks and fun, then sliding back down a mountain in the dark.

The following Thursday (6th) was the Fencing Fancy Dress party. Meaning we got dressed up (as close to formal as we could), went and saw the new Bond movie :), and then ended the night by going to a pub (of course) and then to one the fencer's flats. Yes I was in a skirt, yes, there are pictures.... somewhere :)

Next point of interest would be Saturday, when International Society went to St. Andrews. It was absolutely freezing that day. The bus we were on had something malfunctioning with the defroster, and Wyoming and I were sitting close enough to the front that I knew the whole trip that the man could hardly see out the windshield.... not a good feeling. Anyways, we got to see the St. Andrews Castle, the Cathedral ruins, and lots of the college buildings, as well as the ocean and the harbor, it was really cold, but fun. We ended the day at the William Wallace pub with Maria and another of her friends from Germany, as well as a few other international students.

Nothing else of any real note happened until Thursday. I of course had classes and clubs and pubs in there, but at this point all of that is fairly routine at this point hehehe. Anyways Thursday was the international society whisky tasting. They gave us samples of 5 different Scottish Whiskys and told us information about the distilleries and the whiskys themselves. This may give me ideas on what to get my faja for a souvenir.

Thursday night started the reason that I haven't written in so long. That reason being food poisoning/they really don't know/mystery death stomach thing. This ended up being an absolutely HORRID week. This is the kind of illness that you hope that if you ever get it again that it just kills you and gets it over with. Was hardly eating or drinking anything for 5 days, and what I was getting down wasn't staying in my system long. Before everything was over with I had been to the ER, the campus clinic 3 times, the hospital proper for 48 hours, and the campus medical clinic again. This marks the first time I have ever been to a hospital because I was sick, as well as the first time I have been admitted to a hospital as far as I am aware. But anyways I have to say that the National Health System is fairly well amazing. Because after all of the stuff I mentioned above... 24 hrs on an IV, 4 rounds of blood work, (total of 8 holes in my arms between blood work, IV, and failed blood work attempts) and tests on nearly everything they can run tests on, I was out a whole 10 pounds for 2 prescriptions they had given me in the midst of it all.

Anyways, I am alive surprisingly enough. Not too much worse for the wear. About 10 kilo's (20 pounds) lighter on the semester (Don't know exactly how much was the rest the semester and how much was last week, but 10 kilo's regardless). I have a much greater understanding of the National Health Service, and a greater appreciation for staying out of hospitals. I also believe that I will have a fear of stomach aches for the rest of my life. Other than that... mostly still kind of puny and pathetic, and sleeping way too much, but it is a VAST improvement over last week.

I was fortunate enough to have very understanding professors, since I technically had an essay and a project report due, however, they got moved to this coming week instead :) Also on the school work note, I have thus far received a 2C (B) on my soils project report, a 2B (B+) on my Politics midterm.... and then my shining achievement, and i think the one bright spot in my horrid week mentioned above.... My environmental policy and planning project report, we got a 1C (A) on the group part and I got a 1B (better A) on the individual part.... giving me a 1B over all... in a system that RARELY gives 1As (A+) ... I was very excited, and the instructor seemed pleased even if a little shocked.

Anyways, last night I went to a (late) flat warming party for some of my classmates/karate-mates....required 2 naps thru the course of the day in order to be able to pull it off (I wasn't joking when I said I was still puny and pathetic)... it was a lot of fun. Everyone was glad to see I was still alive, it made me feel loved :)

Other than a practical that I need to make up from last week classes are pretty well done.... i have 3 project reports/essays to hand in still, and then 3 exams, and then I guess I am done .... kind of frightening. Right before I got sick, there was a definite change in my way of thinking that took me a while to catch on to, but I went from "I cant believe I am in Scotland" to "I need to do this when I get back home." ... Kind of sobering change in thinking. But, all good things must come to an end at some point, and in less than a month I will be back in the cowboy state. This means that if any of you out there are desperately wanting something as a souvenir, tell me now or forever hold your peace. And no, don't just assume that I know you want something, or that I know what you want... I have realized time and time again walking thru souvenir shops, that I have no idea what anyone wants. So please, tell me!!! Anyways, pictures will come later when I have enough pictures again to be worth posting.... other then that I will try to keep up with this a little better for the last few weeks that I am here! Take care!