Last of Bonnie Scotland

See! I am getting better! It has hardly even been a week. Albeit I didn't hardly have a week left. Exams are over, for better or for worse. Hours ago I wrote an essay that would have made the Wyoming and Colorado range nerds proud, although I am not entirely certain it is what they expected to hear over here, and as my soils professor informed me when I asked if American terminology and spelling was ok "it kind of defeats the idea of anonymous grading, but it is acceptable."

Yes, you heard me anonymous grading.... meaning my name has gone on not a single thing since I have been here. Although the majority of my class, let alone the teachers in the environmental science department have figured out that I am the only student in that year's courses with a student number beginning in 17... the rest are 14 and 15... I know this because grades get posted and before I even talk to anyone I hear "hey I saw you got X grade on that report" Politics stays a bit more anonymous since there are other international students in that course.

Note: The above was written on Wednesday, and then I got sidetracked.... the rest has been completed today.

I have also figured out what the teachers do during exam grading, which although funny, is rather disheartening. I have witnessed half the environmental science department professors, come running out of their office, exam in hand, to share really dumb things we wrote with other proffessors.

Both of the sports clubs I have been a part of since coming here had their last hoorah/Christmas party for the semester this last weekend. Lots of fun on all accounts, good food, good drink.... and then good byes. Two nights of mass group goodbyes were a little rough. And then running into all those people the rest the week made it worse because then you ended up saying like 5 goodbyes to some people, when the first one was hard enough. Also, the Christmas parties were just the start of a week long "hope to see you again" mentality. Sunday we were out with a friend from Germany, and then went to her house for final goodbyes and crepes on Tuesday. Wednesday was the last good byes for all of my environmental science classmates.

Tuesday was probably the best adventure I have been on in a while. Rather than studying, Wyoming, Minnesota, and I went to Campbell Castle which is outside of Dollar. Contrary to normal Wyoming and I adventures we actually knew exactly what busses we were supposed to get on. So, we get on the bus from the University to Tillicoultry, to find out the connecting bus only comes once every 3 hours or so.... and it would not be there for another hour and a half. En route to visitor information to find out if there was another way there, we see a sign that says Dollar is 3 miles away... walking is technically possible. So, when visitor information was singularly unhelpful as usual, we decide we are going to walk. Catch is, this is Scotland it is absolutly pouring rain. So, we have our 3 mile walk to Dollar, and then the castle is a half hours walk from Dollar.. There are 3 ways to get to the castle, follow the road like a car would, walk along a ridge, or straight up the glen (canyon) .... of course we choose straight up the canyon. :) Anyways, we get to the castle at which point we see construction parked infront of the entrance, but we have come so far we decided we would push past till someone told us to stop. The man working at the castle that day was both pleased and shocked. Because he "didn't expect anyone to come today, let alone to walk from Dollar, let alone walk up the glen.... let alone walk from TILLICOULTRY???" He was impressed enough that since the castle is kind of poorly lit on cloudy rainy days, he gave us the miner style head lamps to walk around the castle with, it was great. However, by the time we got back to Dollar to catch the bus back to Stirling, I think we would have been dryer had we just jumped in the river.... was kind of fitting sort of adventure for Wyoming and my last week in Scotland.

Thursday I went to Roslyn Chapel with Wyoming, followed by a cocktail party with a random assortment of mountaineers, sen no kai, and class mates. And when I say cocktail party I mean the gal hosting it had a collection of spirits that would rival many bars, and ability to make such an extensive list of cocktails it would definately rival most pubs. Yesterday was the last night for a bunch of us Americans. Which consisted of dinner and a movie followed by drinks and secret sharing at Kansas's house.

Today is my last full day in Scotland, I am still somewhat in denial that I am leaving. As is Minnesotta, who has described her plans for today as "stalking you 2 (Wyoming and I) until you have to leave." Which would probably terrify most normal people, but since Wyoming and I cant exactly be classed as normal at this point it seems to work for us.

Packing is going poorly as usual. Since I am in denial its really hard to pack, because I'm not going anywhere, and if I'm not going anywhere then I dont have to pack... right? That and trying to fit all the stuff I have aquired back into 2 suitcases is not working so particularly well, especially with weight restrictions... boo.. Alaska, Wyoming, and I start our trek home by leaving for the Edinburgh airport tonight at 7:45. And providing the weather in the states clears up long enough Wyoming and I should be home by 9pm Mountain time, Sunday!!! And yes I am still trying to send postcards, but that might be what keeps me occupied in the airport overnight.

Anyways, this is the last posting that will be done from Scotland. I will get back on and put up more pictures sometime after I get home. See you all soon!!