Day 24: It's Been Three Weeks...

It’s day 24. I’ve been here for over three weeks.

I’ve gone to four lectures, and a tutorial in my prof’s office. I’ve ordered books online and signed up for a library card at the public library. I’ve been cast as Fleta (a principal fairy) in the Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s Iolanthe, and have been trained for tech at the Barron theatre. I’ve made tons of new friends and gained an academic family. I’ve experienced gorgeous St. Andrew’s, and travelled across Scotland. All in all, it’s been a fantastic three weeks.

To be cliché: it feels weird that it’s only been three weeks. While sometimes it seems like I just got here, more often I feel like I’ve been here for much longer. My life is so bound up with this town—it’s hard to imagine not taking just ten minutes to walk everywhere, not mentally converting pounds to dollars, not constantly explaining how I’m a fourth-year-abroad-from-Canada.

Life hasn’t quite settled into a routine yet, but I expect it will soon. It’s funny to look back (wow, looking back already, and it’s only three weeks!) to Fresher’s week, when I thought that life would quiet down once term started. Yeah, right. This past week has still been busy, with no sign of stopping.

Monday- Travel back from the other side of Scotland, callback audition for Iolanthe, attend Christian Music and Drama meeting, hang out with friends and sing along to YouTube vids

Tuesday- Class, call mum, Christian Union main meeting, worship night at a friend’s house

Wednesday- Class, skyping Alex, Fresher’s Plays meeting, Tech training, dinner with my academic family, Iolanthe rehearsal, pub night with Gilbert and Sullivan society

Thursday- Christian Union prayer meeting, study at the library, groceries/laundry, Jazz dance class, Bible study

Friday- Fresher’s plays meeting, Exchange student potluck, Toastie bar helping

Saturday- Iolanthe rehearsal, birthday party, dinner with the other side of my academic family, party at a friend’s flat

I don’t expect many of you actually read through that super carefully, and that’s okay, since it’s just a rather random sample of things that may happen in my life. (Frankly, that was mainly for my mom). All those things are also the reason why I really haven’t done a lot of reading for my classes yet… My lack of studying hasn’t been a problem so far, but I really do need to start working on some essays due in a few weeks. It’s just so much more fun to walk around singing from Iolanthe….

And now: Pictures!

The path down to Castle Sands (this happens to be right across from the English building)

Castle Sands (well, the rocks... the sand's kinda off to the side...)

Seaglass! And rocks! And shells! Oh my!

That tidepool ain't gonna get any bluer.

The castle, from the attacker's point of view

The shoreline was completely covered with small pebbles-- when the waves lapped in the sound of the stones rolling
over each other was like music.

Castle-- and clouds. Because if there's one thing Scotland does well, it's clouds

Gate leading out of St. Mary's Quad 

Holy Trinity church-- I'm pretty sure this is where John Knox preached

Random arch I need to walk through on my way to pretty much everywhere.
You know you're from North America when you wonder why the arch isn't bigger so they
could have two lanes of traffic underneath... *facepalm*

My new favourite seaglass find!

Some of the seaglass I've collected. There's just so much green, and even blue!

St. Salvador's Quad (affectionately known as "Sally's")

Nothing looks imposing like a row of arches

Or a tower.

Gardens. :)

Pointy turrets 

And a gate!

Other side of the tower

Apparently Patrick Hamilton (one of the first reformation martyrs) was burned at the stake one this spot.
Now, it's student legend that anyone who steps on this inscription in the pavement will fail their final exams.

To end my slideshow: St. Andrew's most entertaining street sign.