Eurotrip/Life

I know it's bad to post your whole itinerary on the internet since thieves can break into your house while you're away and steal all your valuables but I have no valuables so have fun, thieves.

April 1-6: Last week of classes
April 5-7th: Paris, France
April 7-11: Rome, Italy
April 11-15: Florence, Italy
April 15-18: Dortmund, Germany
April 19-21: Isle of Skye, Scotland

I'm going to Paris, Rome, and Florence with my friend Yvonne. We're going to be in Florence at the same time as some other friends in our program though, so we'll likely meet up/plan things with them. The Isle of Skye trip is with my program, so they'll take all 50-60 of us up there.

April 29 - Celtic final
May 2 - Bio final
May 3? - 9th: Northern England
May 9-19: London + More England/Wales/Scotland
May 21: German final
May 26: home!

That's my life for the next two months.

My laptop is currently in the shop, broken (I have termed it The Great Milk Disaster of 2013), so that's not optimal. I'll try to update some while on my trip, though.

 

The Windy City

Every night, I hear it. That sound you can't quite describe, as it flits past your window. It manifests itself in the creaking of walls, the bending of trees and their branches, as the click-clack of footsteps rushing down the sidewalk, hurrying to escape its chilly grasp.

I do not want to go outside.

I'm currently sitting in my room, wrapped up in my 243%-cotton IFSA-Butler sweatshirt, trying to brainstorm ways of buying groceries that do not involve going outdoors. None come to mind. Even Coburn's doesn't deliver in this cold weather.* That "tea" is the first item on my grocery list should be a telling sign of how the weather is getting to me. I don't even really LIKE tea. But when in Rome...

Speaking of which, I will actually be in Rome in two weeks. I'll get to that in a later post though.

Yesterday I braved the weather to travel to Oban, an even colder and windier town than Edinburgh, lying on the western coast of Scotland. It was a day trip offered through the International Student Centre. Though we spent more time driving there and back (2.5 hours each way) than we did actually AT the sites, I'm very glad I went! I went on my own, which made it all the easier to make friends. I spent the day with Kayla, a Theology masters student from Ohio, and Ines, a biomedical PhD student from Portugal. Our first stop was the actual town of Oban. We decided to head up to McCaig's tower, a structure commissioned by banker John McCaig. He wanted it to be a monument to his family, but died before the tower could be completed. Only the outer walls were ever finished. It's still quite impressive.

Did I mention it was windy?

Looking out at Oban

Ines and myself

After the tower, we wandered down along the coast, searching for castle ruins. (Because when in Scotland, a ruined castle is hidden around every corner. Basically.) We saw it, but couldn't reach it in the short time before we needed to be back on the bus. Instead we stopped at a Cafe and had tea and biscuits. Now, as I mentioned, I'll drink tea, but it's not my favorite. However, after walking right next to the water and being buffeted by icy winds, this tea was absolutely delicious. Our next (and final) stop was Dunstaffnage Castle and chapel ruins. The castle seemed like any other, but as you walked past it out to the water, gorgeous views came into... view. One thing I found really interesting about the chapel is that it was built in the 13th century. It's hard to imagine that those stones have been there for 800 years. Hopefully they'll be around for another 800.

The Chapel

we had some photoshoot fun.

With the combination of getting up early for class Friday and getting up early for this trip, I slept for a record of 10 hours last night. There are also only two weeks of classes left. I still can't really comprehend that.

*they probably do.

The Art of Making Toast*

Step 1. Put a mug of milk in the microwave, because after all, no piece of toast should be enjoyed without a steaming cup of hot chocolate.

Step 2. Set the timer to three minutes. Be aware that your microwave counts up, and so must be stopped when it reads five-six minutes. Push start.

Step 3. Wait two minutes.

Step 3. Put two pieces of wheat** bread into the toaster. Be aware that your toaster does not toast without assistance.

Step 4. Place a blender*** into your dish-drying rack. This is vital.

Step 5. Move your toaster into close proximity of said dish rack, so the edge of the dish rack holds down your toast.

Step 6. Remove mug from microwave. Ensure that milk is too hot to drink.

Step 7. Add a healthy**** amount of hot chocolate mix.

Step 8. Stir.

Step 9. Bring mug containing hot chocolate and spoon upstairs.*****

Step 10. Return to your toasting toast. Check toast.

Step 11. See that toast is not done, and continue toasting toast.

Step 12. Upon completion of perfectly browned toast, spread with your topping of choice.******

Step 13. Take toast upstairs.

Step 14. Stir hot chocolate. It is now at perfect drinking temperature.

Step 15. Enjoy.*******



*I have this art down to a science, since I am part-scientist.
**Or white, if you must.
***Other heavy objects may be substituted for a blender.
****By healthy, I mean distinctly not healthy but most definitely delicious.
*****This must be done first, since going upstairs is a three-door process that must be undertaken with one free hand at all times.
******In any instance, your desired topping is peanut butter. No exceptions.
*******I am procrastinating writing my paper.

Argyll shore loched ness.

or...Argyll sure looked nice, without the ridiculous puns. Sorry.

Really.

This past weekend was IFSA's trip to the Argyll Forest, where they had a myriad of outdoor activities planned. When we pulled up, I thought we had mistakenly driven to a mini-version of Hogwarts and would soon be learning spells.  While we didn't learn how to levitate feathers, we did experience the magic of a weekend spent with good friends and zero internet.

Hogwarts finally got with the times and upgraded to 16-passenger vans.

Out of the activities available, I chose hiking and kayaking. One was great, and one was a great mistake (albeit fun). I'll let you guess which was which. We left Friday afternoon, headed west through Glasgow, and drove onto an extremely turbulent ferry. This ferry probably could have sold tickets as a see-saw amusement park ride.

Over the ferry and through the woods, to Argyll Forest we go

Upon arrival at the Benmore Centre, we got assigned activity groups and dorm rooms, settled in, and were set loose upon a delicious dinner of fish and chips. It was great to see most of the IFSA-Edinburgh crew together again, and to meet some of the St. Andrews and Glasgow people. After dinner, I opted to go on the night hike, which was exactly as it sounds. Obviously I couldn't see much scenery, but I knew there would be time for that the next day. It was fun to get outside and stretch my legs after the 3.5 hour bus ride!

On Saturday, my first activity was hiking. My group headed for Puck's Glen, named after Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream, supposedly for the area's fairy-like appearance. It was indeed green. Oh so green. Thick, spongy, green moss lined the walls of rock that we hiked through

where the faeries are

myself and Ali

The hike was tiring, especially after the previous night's hike, but really nice. As I said earlier, it was great to be outside Edinburgh and in nature! My group's second activity, kayaking, was a bit more... interesting. The temperature had dropped probably 10 degrees over lunch time, and the wind picked up. We suited up in wetsuits, waterproof jackets, and life jackets before heading over to Loch Eck for our kayaking adventure. Within one minute of getting on the water, someone tipped over into the icy blue Loch. Needless to say, after that we clung to the shore as sheep cling to the side of a mountain. Another poor soul tipped into the unforgiving waters of Loch Eck about ten minutes later, and that's when we decided to call it a day. Our guide had brought hot juice, which we wrapped our hands around in an effort to imbue some warmth into our freezing fingers. I've found wool mittens were not the best gloves to bring when studying in wet, rainy Scotland. They weren't much use on this trip!

The group headed back to the centre and we were greeted to an enticing snack of tea/coffee and delicious pound cake. Yvonne asked the kitchen chef for the cake recipe, who then happily came to our table with recipe in hand and an explanation of how to make it. That's this weekend's project, along with my Celtic Civilization essay. Later that night, there was a screening of Braveheart. It was my first time seeing the movie, and I was very impressed! I can see why it was re-released in Scotland to promote the Scottish Independence referendum coming up in 2014. The next morning, we packed up and headed out. This time, instead of taking the ferry back, we drove up and around several Lochs to reach scenic Loch Lomond.

Hilary, Yvonne, myself, Ali. It was cold.

If you can't notice from the picture, we got some snazzy new gear to wear as well. Possibly the most comfortable sweatshirt I have owned (well, maybe not the MOST, but close to). We then bade farewell to the other IFSA groups and headed back to Edinburgh, and back to the piles of homework awaiting us for these last few weeks of the semester.

Twenty Five Days

If memory serves me correctly, the middle of March is when things get serious at Gustavus. (also February, and April, and May, and early March, and...okay, it's always seriously busy there.) Midterms happen sometime this month at Gustavus, and then it's one crazy ride through April and May to finals.

Knowing this makes it all the more difficult to comprehend that I have only five weeks of actual classes left here in Edinburgh. Twenty-five days of class. The last day is Friday April 5th, and it's followed by a two-week spring break, a one-week "reading week" (whereas Gustavus gives us a day!), and then about a month long exam period. This is crazy, because I only have three exams. I'm used to Gustavus' system, where it's not uncommon to have a large test on material the week before a big final exam! With this setup, I could be done with my semester as early as May 3rd, or as late as May 25th, depending on when the tests are scheduled. No one knows when tests will be until they feed all the data into a computer which then spits out a university-wide schedule, in late March.

Innovative Baking Week was a mild success (the week of February 18-22, when I didn't have class). I did a lot of "touristy" things, such as visit the National Museum of Scotland, the Writer's Museum, Arthur's Seat (kind of), and the Edinburgh Zoo!

Edinburgh from above: the view from Holyrood Park/near Arthur's seat

I was there. Posing awkwardly. At least it isn't a selfie, right?

The Zoo is the only place in the UK where you can see pandas, so you have to book tickets in advance JUST for the pandas, separate from normal Zoo admission. We lucked out — one of the pandas was actually moving around when we visited, opposed to their normal state of sleep.

they do look cute when they sleep though.

We also saw plenty of my favorite animals — the monkeys! They were simply adorable, as monkeys are. Except for when you keep them as pets and they attack your face. That is not advised.

little monkey says hello

I'll stop boring you with monkey pictures. but I have many more...

Sorry, but one more monkey related thing: I saw the cutest baby monkey you will ever see (maybe):

One interesting animal we saw was the Amur Leopard, of which there are only 35 left. The leopard below it is called the Clouded Leopard, so named for its dark spots (which aren't really visible in that picture, but they exist!) Overall the zoo was quite interesting and fun, even though we went on probably the coldest day possible.

being a leopard is a tiring life

clouded leopard says hello

As for the baking part of Innovative Baking Week, only cinnamon rolls were made, but their deliciousness made up for the lack of other baking. The recipe is called Milwaukee Butter Horns. My grandparents on my mom's side are from Milwaukee, and I *think* the recipe is my grandmas (maybe? let me know, grandma.) I've just made brownies today too— my mom's tried and tested recipe. Making those feels like I'm home!

they were gone in three days. 

Yesterday I went to the pub quiz with Yvonne, Brooke, and two of her friends. Normally we pull a decent last place, or second-to-last if we're lucky enough to have a Scottish local with us. As it happens,  the quizmaster announced that there would be a prize for second-to-last that night: a white chocolate easter egg! (Huge easter eggs are a big deal here.) This became our new goal. I'm pretty sure they included it just for us, since we have been faithfully attending — and faithfully losing — for weeks. Thankfully, the quizmaster was on our side. The quiz is typically 5-6 rounds, and you bring up your little answer sheet after each round to have it graded. Yvonne and I brought them up each time, usually asking for help (i.e. answers) before turning them in. When we brought our last sheet up, the quizmaster reassured us that he wouldn't even grade it — he would just give us whatever score we needed to win the chocolate egg. And win we did.

The quizmaster said he doesn't like to smile. But he's a secret softy on the inside.