It's too soon to start thinking about goodbye!

This week I have had to say goodbye to two of my closest friends in St Andrews and it got me thinking to how soon it is when I go home.  I'm very excited to go home and see family and friends, eat BBQ, good beef and Mexican, but I'm going to miss Scotland and so many special people on this side of the pond.  This year truly was about "building international friendships."

On to what I've been doing these past few weeks:  Toward the end of July I met my dear friend Lenia in her hometown of Hannover, Germany and I loved Germany!  It was the perfect break from dissertation writing.  We had dinner with her friends after she picked me up from the airport, the next day we went around the city--We saw Prince Ernst August's of Hannover's home--He is the husband to Princess Caroline of Monaco (actually I think she is about to divorce him!) The next day, we went to a German wedding that lasted until 6 the next morning, the next day we shopped and then I had to return to Scotland. 

Scotland is as lovely as it always is-the only downside is I've been stuck in my room writing my dissertation and we've had some lovely weather.

Last week, I went to my final Rotary meeting with my Cupar club and I must say I will miss all of them-they are such wonderful people.  This Thursday, my friend Mandy and I are having dinner at my host Peter and his wife Anne's home.


Love and hugs!
Amanda

A Lovely Day in Edinburgh

Today, I had to go to Edinburgh to meet my adviser and discuss my dissertation--the weather was beautiful!  I brought a rain jacket and a sweatshirt (yes, even in the middle of July) but today all I needed was my Shades.  I took the opportunity to eat at McDonalds-thank goodness for globalization! I visited John Lewis, my favorite store over here--think Dillards.   Then I went and laid out in the Princess Gardens right under the famous castle-that is what EVERYONE is Britain does when there is a bit of sunshine in the sky--abandon whatever you are doing and go lay outside!  After that I decided to walk the opposite directions from where all the tourists flock and I ended up at Calton Hill.  Now when people visit Edinburgh this is on the list of places to go, but I had actually hadn't heard of it so in case you haven't either here is a blurb from wikipedia!

The hill was used from ancient times as a place of execution. Most famously Major Weir the self-confessed Edinburgh warlock, was executed here. The hill was originally part of the Barony of Calton which was abolished in 1856. King James II of Scotland allowed the residents of Edinburgh to use the North West slope of the hill for "tilts and tournaments"in 1456.

It also (this is me now, not wikipedia) overlooks Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the Queen in Scotland.

Enjoy the pictures!

The Royal Highland Show!

 Collin, the President of one of the St Andrews clubs took me and two other scholars to the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh and it was so much fun!It was a cattle, horse, and sheep show with delicious food, fun shopping (everything was of course outrageously priced--but fun to look!) and lots of crafts.

 The above picture was a demonstration in training sheep and cattle dogs--the dog demonstrating was 100% blind-but did perfectly!

 The very smart working dog (that was blind)

 

Life in Scotland is good!

Though a little ironic, I had such a nice time celebrating the 4th here in the motherland.  After a rather productive day at the library working on my dissertation, some Americans, Canadians (Almost Americans!) , and French (seemed appropriate to include them) and naturally no Brits celebrated Independence Day with a BBQ.    The weather was gorgeous and definitely the coolest 4th Celebration I've ever had.  We played Ultimate Frisbee, Volley Ball (without a net!) and then ended the evening right before midnight by taking a walk down to the Pier where the wind was whipping all around us giving us a chance to hear the Pier sing.  So even without all the spectacular fireworks, it was a very memorable 4th with all my foreign friends congratulating us Americans on our day of Independence!

Classes over! Time to write the dissertation and play!

I can't believe how fast this year has gone by.  I remember sitting in my first class here, a little unsure of everything and as I write this, not only have I finished my classes, I've already sat the exams!  My final big project is a 15,000 word dissertation.  More details on that to come later. So this summer I plan to work hard and play hard!

We've had some rather dreary weather lately--I am just waiting for it to warm up a tad so I can go play on the beach!  I'm planning on doing more traveling too--An Irish Adventure is definitely in the works--I'm hoping to also catch a Berlin-Prague-Vienna holiday.  Oh!  and I plan to go through England down to London in the beginning of July to catch the Harry Potter Red Carpet Event!  And of course more Edinburgh time.

And then as a treat and celebration once I submit my dissertation--I'm going to head to Barcelona, Spain then onto the beaches of Greece!  So excited!

I've spoken at more Rotary Clubs and each time I leave I just think how much I love this organization--the people are all so warm and welcoming.  An attorney here has offered to take me and my friend Mandy into Edinburgh to visit Parliament and such.  And another Rotarian, Colin who has already taken us to Stirling to visit William Wallace, the Highlands to see the beauty and visit Loch Ness to find Nessie, and taken us out to his farm-has offered to take us to Edinburgh to the Royal Highland Show later in June.


Needless to say, I'm enjoying and loving my time here.  Though I have recently had to say goodbye to a close friend who moved back home-I can say without doubt that I've absolutely made wonderful life long friends here.

With love from Scotland, xoxo

Amanda

Happy Royal Wedding Day! Congrats Wills and Kate!

___________________________________________________________
Apparently Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie thought this was Fancy Dress attire!