Welcome to Scotland

Wow...I honestly don't know where to begin. Might as well start where it makes the most sense: at the beginning.

I've flown quite a bit. Always with a family member, never alone. This was my first attempt at flying on my own, and of course I had to choose a flight half way around the world. It wasn't bad at all though. The airports at Houston and Newark were pretty easy to navigate, and customs in Edinburgh took less than 20 minutes. I was lucky to meet a fellow Stirling student on the plane to Scotland, whose name is Phil. He reminds me of Kurt, actually. Seems there are quite a few clones of his in the world.

From Edinburgh I rode a double decker bus to the train station, then took a train to Stirling, where I then took a cab to the school. Let me tell you about Edinburgh. It is not like a city at all, at least not in the sense I'm used to. Instead of skyscrapers and high rise condos, this place was filled with row upon row of charming old buildings, many like little cottages. Stone walls, slate roofs, and beautiful little gardens out front. Roses thrive here. As I rode the train through the countryside between towns I could look out the window and see wild strawberry plants and grazing cows, sheep, and ponies. Occasionally in the distance I'd glimpse an old castle or chateau. On the horizon is the constant presence of the Highland mountains. The grass is a deep green, and wildflowers are abundant. I've seen whole fields turned yellow by them.

The people have been a pleasant surprise to me. I was expecting folk like I'd encountered in other parts of Europe; people who were blunt, impatient with foreigners, and unconcerned about being friendly. That is not the story here. I have been smiled at, greeted in the street, and offered assistance whenever I needed it. So many times I have seen people going about their business with little smiles on their faces, even people with stressful jobs, like security guards and bus drivers. Speaking of, the bus drivers here are a whole different breed from the ones I'm used to. They are friendly and helpful, and don't make you feel rushed. I guess the ones in Austin are just too used to dealing with crazy people, so they're bitter.

I am currently residing in a student flat in one of the residence halls of Stirling campus. It's old, but comfortable. I share two toilets, two showers, and a kitchen with about 4 other students. They are all pretty cool, and two of them are our student advisers. I was woken up this morning by the calls of these birds that hang around campus. I haven't figured out what they are yet. They look a little like puffins. There were also two ducks outside my window when I looked out. This area is filled with wildlife. Our school has its own loch, so there are lots of ducks, seagulls, and other water loving creatures. Big bunnies are also very frequent. I still haven't explored the whole campus, including the castle.

I'm so glad I chose to come to this country.

So far the images I have taken were with my new canon point-and-shoot. They aren't as rich as the photos I take with my SLR, but they'll do. I'll try to get some with that in the future. FYI, all the photos you will see now are my own. Up until the last post they have been a mix of google images and pictures I took. Enjoy!

P.S. I am eating porridge right now :)

Quick snapshot of Will, one of the Stirling staff members. Don't you love that 3 piece suit?

Interior of a nearby cathedral

Exterior of cathedral