An Eclectic Set of Adventures

Things are really starting to settle in now that I've been living here for almost two months. I get asked for directions on the street at least once a week, and I'm starting to consider that a surefire sign that I do in fact live here and while I may not be from here I know that a big part of me does belong in this country. And of course, along with the settling in comes the frequent adjustments academically. I've mentioned it before, and it seems to be an over-arching theme.

One month!

I should have written this blog earlier, but as of 9 October, I've been living in Scotland for one month! It simultaneously feels like longer, and not long enough. Classes have picked up a little more, and I'm still stuck in the everlasting rut of the "PhD or job" internal debate, but am going to seek out answers with a few professors when I can. Lately, I haven't really been going anywhere too far or too terribly exciting.

The Highlands and higher learning.

It's been nearly a month now since I've moved here. I can't say that it's been really easy, but it hasn't been terribly hard either. There are moments of homesickness that mostly come around when I'm left by myself without anything to do or anyone to talk to and won't go away and, let's be honest, sort of ruin the night. But since I last wrote, I did have some adventures. Namely my first excursion up into the highlands. I've been keeping up to date with what the International Society does and what trips they offer, and joined up on a trip to the highlands to places like Inveraray, Glencoe, Fort William, and Harry Potter Bridge (Glenfinnan Viaduct) last Saturday, September 28. I've allowed myself one day each week to go explore someplace new or do something without worrying about how much work I'll have to do later. Last Saturday's trip was beautiful, to say the very least, and very uncharacteristically warm!

Our first stop was Inveraray, which has been made famous recently in British pop culture as the location for the filming of Downton Abbey's 2012 Christmas Special.

Inveraray Castle