"I have some bad news..."

I stood, hands shaking, in the Visa registration line after being up for nearly 24 hours on Monday afternoon (it would total nearly 36 hours by the end of the day), battling my way through several airports, and somehow managing to find the right building on campus all on my own just mere hours after landing. I did not want to believe what this very kind Scottish woman was telling me. There was no way. "Because you came through Dublin, and this happens every year to someone, we've put a notice up on the webpage and you've received a letter about it too, they didn't validate your Visa. It means you technically aren't allowed to study until you get this stamped."

I must've made a distressed face because she continued on, her tone more apologetic. "It means you have to leave the country and come back thru again."

"I ... what?"

"Most students nip over to Paris." Another woman chimed in, "Yeah, your best bet would be to go to Paris and come back through so you can get the Visa stamped. Until then, you can't be fully registered and you can't enroll."

Apparently, arriving through Dublin customs means I do not go through customs in Glasgow, which means I did not get my UK Visa stamp, as the Republic of Ireland is not a part of the UK. I explained hurriedly that I just arrived a mere few hours ago and could not possibly have the money to buy a flight to Paris to leave and come back. Nor did I know anything! I didn't know what flights to book, how to get to the airport (I took the free Welcome shuttle to get to my flat)... it was impossible! I was so tired and annoyed that I gave up, and though tried to remain composed, sort of decompressed in defeat. I told them I did not have my loans yet, and they asked if Carol (the woman who deals with US Financial Aid) had asked for them from the US Department of Education yet. No, it was explained, the loans cannot be released until I'm fully registered and I can't get fully registered until...

I groaned. But because Glaswegians are incredibly kind, someone working at the registration table took my passport over to Student Services to talk with someone about my issue. I knew there couldn't be just me having this problem, I saw several other students join my itinerary in Boston and went through Dublin to Glasgow. Soon, he came back with a smile. "So, the good news is you don't have to leave!" I waited for the catch. Surely there has to be consequences? "Just keep all evidence of your flights, tickets, purchase records, everything - to prove you legally came here through Dublin. And you should be okay. Talk with Student Services to make sure but you should be just fine."

It was handled. I was skeptical, but I emailed International Student Support and additionally saw Student Services myself and became convinced that everything will be okay. And I'm still convinced. They fully registered me, and sent off for my loans. So, that settled, I walked back to my flat. And got lost. Almost immediately. I walked by my street about six times before I got rained on and finally got back. Afterwards, I got to know my two flatmates who are here a little better, and a group of us international students went up to Uni to see the campus and explore just as the sun was going down.

The result was awesome.

Afterwards, we went back and I stayed up until around 1:00 talking to folks back home, and Skyped my mom. Tomorrow would be a new challenge to face. Tuesday morning rolled around and a flatmate and I went and walked the whole way to City Centre (about a 2.2 mile walk each direction) to get to where all the shops were and get British sim cards for our phones. Upon arriving at 3, a service provider in the UK, they tried putting a UK sim in my phone. He said it wasn't activated and I instantly was a little tiny bit furious. Verizon said it was unlocked; I called them and talked to them three times before I left to make sure.

So sadly, we walked back and I managed to get ahold of my mom to see what was going on. And then, I realized, I forgot to pick up Orientation tickets! Alas, my tickets were now gone to someone else and I had to get different ones, which means no more St Andrews trip.

But at least I got to go back to the Cloisters (last photo above and photo below)

The Cloisters are my favourite part of the Uni's campus; I could seriously stay in them and the surrounding quads for ages and ages. But, we got back to the flat and then decided to go to a local pub for dinner. The three of us found one just around the corner called The 78 where I had legit chips (french fries for those not familiar with the UK vocab) and I even found a beer that I could withstand without wincing and dying of bitterness at every sip. I don't drink much, but it was a very good investment. I additionally managed to figure out how to fill out a bank letter to get a bank account with my chosen bank (Bank of Scotland!). Thus, Tuesday ended with flatmate bonding and on a good note.

Then, Wednesday. We went on a Walking Tour of campus. I forgot my rain-jacket which was a huge mistake. It rained the entire tour. I bought a purple Uni hoodie in the shop and came outside wearing it prepared so I could have a hood to protect me, but it had stopped raining. Silly Scottish weather. Afterwards, I went back out to City Centre. This time, taking a bus! Carolina, my flatmate, figured it out before so we took the bus and it was much easier on my poor feet. I got my sim, figured it out, and voila - brand new activated UK mobile service! Take that, Verizon! Also, on the walk to the Apple store to reset my phone, I found something special...

Could it be the Tardis?! Nah, it's just a Police Box, but it sure is close! After we got back from walking around City Centre again, we decided to explore a secondhand bookshop close to the Uni (thanks Dr. Isherwood!). I got two books for about £3.95; one is written by Dr. Ewan Campbell, who is a professor that teaches for my program, and the other is a 1955 Penguin copy of a book called "Roman Britain".

And then today! Thursday: I went to the post-graduate information session/panel and found out many useful things such as information about the Student Learning Service which can help post-grads with writing, reading, critical thinking, anything academic that you need help with. Also, a writing centre. All good things to know! We were also told that one year goes by really fast, so do what you can do and do it well. Make friends, though too, apparently. And delve right in, don't waste time. Also, I should probably figure out if I want to do a PhD like... now. One hurdle after another! It made me really excited to meet my department next week during programme orientation, though. Those that I have talked to are fantastically nice and I can't wait to become the "specialist" I was told in the info session that we all are. I have so much to learn and I'm so excited. I also got my bank letter and have to make an appointment with the Bank of Scotland to set up my account, and the final thing to do is fill out my paperwork to register with the NHS. Yay, free healthcare, medicine, and prescriptions!

We also had a bus tour today, which was fantastic as it showed us parts of the city we had not yet walked to, and definitely which parts I would like to walk back to, like the Glasgow Cathedral, George Square, Riverside Museum...

I was also told some fascinating tidbits and shown magnificent things (i.e. Robert Carlyle and Ewan McGreggor have properties on Byres Road, a road just off the Uni, and could frequently be seen popping up there but less so now because they're busy actors; additionally, I was shown the acting/drama/arts school where Robbie Coltrane and David Tennant were trained!) and it made me realize just how lucky I am and just how much I love living here.

Tomorrow's adventure is an all day trip to Culzean Castle and Country Park. What a fulfilling almost four days here in Scotland!