Meet Some Amazing People

       Each new week in Glasgow seems to have one of those nights that just take my breath away. From the nights where I really got to know some amazing people to the wild dancing at Scottish ceilidhs to partying until the morning to silent music, each night got me more and more excited to be in this spectacular city with some spectacular people. And last night was no different.

       At the end of my first class this week for Scottish Literature 1A, a group of people came in to quickly offer an invitation to join the Scottish Literature Society on campus. They seemed very welcoming and so I thought I would give it a try. Their first event was a pub crawl in the West End of Glasgow to some of the most popular pubs and bars for students. We all met outside the subway station and we all instantly connected, knowing it would be a great night.

       Our first pub was in the QMU at Jim’s Bar where a few of us bonded over Harry Potter, social awkwardness, and drinking games. As we were leaving though, we got to talking about television shows we watch and luckily, there were a few Breaking Bad fans that I talk to about the upcoming epic series finale. I was also told to watch Sherlock, which I will probably start doing soon because I guess it’s another one of those shows you can really binge-watch.

       The second pub was on Ashton Lane and was called VodkaWodka. Ashton Lane is definitely one of my favorite streets because at night, there are lights strung above the entire street; it is such a beautiful sight. That bar was really nice but it was incredibly crowded so we stayed for drinks and then moved on.

       We next went to the Hillhead Bookclub, a favorite of mine since coming to Glasgow because during the day, the food is amazing and during the night, the entire hipster atmosphere is just so alluring. There are even game rooms with ping-pong, chess, and 90’s video games; awesome, I know. I played a horrific game of ping-pong before heading off to our last location, Òran Mór.

       Òran Mór is known throughout Glasgow as one of the top pubs to visit for one specific reason: it’s a church. Well, now a converted church as it holds a stunning bar and underground nightclub. The entire vibe was very relaxing and it just made me admire the great city of Glasgow even more.

       I arranged this blog in a play-by-play format because that is strangely how this amazing night went. Each new pub that we went to, I got to know different people more and more. I met people from Scotland, England, France, Italy, and Spain, and for the first time, I was the only American. I was so incredible to get to know people from all diverse cultures and backgrounds, figuring out the differences we have all had in our lives. Yet despite all the cultural variances, we were all there, together. We shared common ground on literature, education, television, drinking games, you name it. Despite our various upbringings, we were all able to spend a night together and have a truly astounding time, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

       God I love studying abroad.

 

 

Live In The Moment

       Imagine a night that is so filled with excitement, energy, and pure bliss that it does not merely fly by, but soars through every open sky it can. It is a night to remember every day for the rest of your life.

       This past Wednesday, my friends and I attended an event at the QMU called Headphone Disco. Basic premise is that everyone gets a pair of headphones to listen to two separate DJs throughout the night. There is a switch on the headphones that allows the listeners to decide which DJ they want to personally hear, but if people were to take their headphones off, they would hear no music, no beat, no rhythm. They would solely see the crazy dancing styles of every audience member and hear the nonsensical singing of a group of people literally beating to their own drums.

       It was truly an amazing night; by far one of the best I’ve ever had. I was finally able to sing in public and no one could judge my horrifically awful voice because they were focused on their own music. I was also able to show off some of my “smooth” dancing moves. Insert hysterical laughter now.

       The best part about the whole event was the option of choosing between DJ A and DJ B. By the end of the night (which ended up being about 5 hours because it was that good), I had listened to each DJ for about half the night. Both energized the crowd and got people moving and each played great music, from current hits to pure classics in every genre. Everyone tuned into one DJ when Imagine Dragons’ “It’s Time” played and then back to the other for Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” High quality music all night long.

       Thinking back, I have a theory as to why this idea is such a genius one. As humans, we seek a level of privacy and solitude, finding a comfort in that. At the same time, we want to feel a part of something truly profound that connects us with others. This event allowed for both as each person was able to feel comfortable dancing and singing however they please without fear of judgment, something which I consider a huge achievement. We need nights like this one, where we can just sing like no one’s listening and dance like no one’s watching. All we need is to truly live in the moment.

 

 

Be A Newbie

       To speak bluntly, this week has been amazing.

        Does anyone remember those times when you were the newbie? Maybe it was the first day of college as a freshman and you stared out into the campus as your parents drove away with tears in their eyes. If so, you probably experienced two key phases. Phase One: Initial anxiety and reluctance with a small dose of fear at the prospect of beginning in an entirely new environment. Phase Two: Pure bliss and acceptance, knowing that where you are, in this moment in this place at this time, is exactly where you are supposed to be.

        God I love Phase Two.

        This week is known as Fresher’s Week at the University of Glasgow, similar to any freshman orientation at college but with one simple twist: non-stop activities and enjoyment. There have been parties every night at both student unions on campus, allowing my friends and I to decide which one we wanted to go to. In addition, there were fairs and activities for every club, academic program, and sport on campus as well as local clubs, pubs, and shops promoting themselves with discounts and free food. I have never experienced so many possibilities for free things in my entire life; I love it.

       Starting Monday night, my group of friends and I made it our mission to get the most of our £40 Fresher’s Pass, which allowed us access to everything that went on throughout the week. We first attended a concert hosted by the Glasgow University Union (GUU) that began with two small bands and headlined with a UK award-winning band titled We Were Promised Jetpacks. They were sort of an indie rock band but were really good performers. My favorite song by them was called “Quiet Little Voices.” They ended around 10pm and in the city of Glasgow, that’s early; so we all came back to mine and Joe’s flat and played Cards Against Humanity until about 1am. It was a hilariously great night.

        The other student union (which I personally prefer over the GUU) is called the Queen Margaret Union. Every week, they host a trivia night with prizes for the top three teams. Thinking we were going to do horrible after looking at some of the sample questions, my team actually did fairly well and though we did not win, we discovered some pretty interesting facts and met some Glaswegians along the way. We stayed in the QMU until about 2am that night, but y’all are going to have to come back because the rest of the night is going to be an entire blog post on its own. Just wait.

        One of the last things I did this week was sign up for the University of Glasgow Hares and Hounds. It is the running club here on campus where anyone can just come Monday through Thursday to just go for a run with some pretty cool people and get a different look at the city. I did a 5 mile run on Thursday and we went along the river that cuts through Kelvingrove Park. I had never been down there and it was such a beautiful sight; hopefully sometime soon I can go back there to get pictures.

        The last few nights have been mostly relaxing and hanging out. I’m getting to know some people really well and seeing some of the things we all want to do while we are abroad together. Hopefully the next few weekends are going to consist of traveling around the UK. Apparently I’m just an anxious little person because while I am thousands of miles away from home, I still want to keep moving and see more. That’s the best part about being a newbie- you allow your mind free reign over every opportunity that is out there.

 

 

Learn New Life Skills

       I can recall during one of my writing classes at Siena when we learned about how women’s colleges years and years ago taught Life Skills courses, instructing students on how to cook, clean, and even manage kids. These classes seemed strange to me as I questioned the true purpose of them. I would assume that any necessary life skills would either be taught by parents or just learned instinctively. Well, you know what happens when you assume.

       I have yet to discuss my living situation and the various changes in lifestyle that I have had to face since arriving in Scotland. So let’s have at it. I live in a five-person flat consisting of five single bedrooms for each of us. At the moment, I have three other flat mates: one from the US, one from Scotland, and one whom I have yet to meet due to our busy orientation schedules and therefore his origin is unknown. Our rooms are all connected by a hallway which links up to two closets, a shared bathroom and shower, and a communal kitchen/lounge. I have linked a video that gives a very rough outline of the flat, though mine is a little bigger than the video makes it out to be: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfSaz-6rG4g

        Probably the most challenging “life skill” that I have had to adapt to is balancing my budget between getting food, preparing for the semester, and, well, shopping for my own selfish personal benefit. My residence hall is in perfect location, however, because it is only a five minute walk to two grocery stores as well as a fresh produce and butcher’s shop. I have been the produce store a few times now and the food is unbelievably delicious. Plus there’s a student discount! It is difficult though to adapt to this style of dining when compared to the pigging-out I would do at Saga three times a day back at Siena. Oh well.

        Many of my friends back home (you know who you are) would be very jealous of what I am about to describe. I took the subway today down to Buchanan Street which is right in the City Centre and one of the main shopping areas in Glasgow. I have never seen so many stores in my entire life. This place puts the half-mile long Crossgates Mall by my house to shame. There are stores lined up for what appears to be miles, and all of which sell various goods from clothing to mountaineering gear to shoes to furniture. Each store off this street typically had at least 2-3 floors of merchandise and they all led up to what is called the Buchanan Galleries; this is basically your typical mall but with three floors of shopping and a fourth floor of dining. It was amazing. I could see myself going there very, very often.

        Lastly, I have finally figured out my class schedule for the semester which will consist of three classes: Exploring Scottish Culture, Scottish Literature 1A, and Irish and Scottish Literature in the 18^th and 19^th Centuries. They all look really interesting to me except for the part where I had to order twelve books for all the classes and each new book that I get in the mail sets a new record for either “Smallest Font” or “Most Amount of Words Cramped into One Page.” The best part about my schedule is that I have no Friday classes so I will be able to easily travel on the weekends. Additionally, one week in October is Reading Week at the university so there are no classes then either. I think I am going to attempt to plan a long trip during that week.

        I keep thinking about those Life Skills classes and I actually find myself a wee jealous. I still think a lot of those skills come to people naturally, but there are so many opportunities for people nowadays where those classes could come in handy. Whether you are studying abroad or starting a new job in a different city, it’s helpful to have a guiding hand to get you there safe and sound. And so while I may not have taken courses in school that taught me how to not waste 3000 pounds on everything interesting I lay my eyes on, I had friends and family supporting me along the way. I believe those Life Skills courses evolved within our society; they became a form of second nature for all of us to teach one another. With this thought, I would like to dedicate my third tip to all those people who have supported me on my journey to this moment. Thank you for helping me to fulfill a life-long dream of mine, whether it was by giving me advice before I left, encouraging me to explore foreign areas of the world, or simply displaying a proud smile as I left for the airport. To all of you, thank you.

Side Note: For anyone that would like to see my pictures, please follow the link below. I believe it should update every time I post new photos. So far, these are of the university campus, Kelvingrove Park, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Loch Lomond, and Dumbarton Castle.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10201909152835645.1073741828.1388736035&type=1&l=c4d78cfe1e

Embrace The Changes

       For those of you who may know me, you will most likely agree with the simple fact that I, well, walk like a cheetah. It’s not my fault; I simply have a genetic mutation that gives me unbelievably long legs. Consequently, I have longer strides and walk at a pace that appears to be 90MPH. Good news: EVERYONE IN SCOTLAND WALKS LIKE A CHEETAH.

       Due to this spectacular revelation, I would like to devote my second tip to the cultural changes I have witnessed over my first two days in Scotland. No matter where you may travel there will no doubt be some slight differences in the way people act, talk, and behave. For example, when I traveled to Spain and Portugal during my senior year of high school, I was slightly shocked that they spoke an entirely different language. Whoa. Shocker!

       Cultural differences are to be expected whether you are traveling to another part of your home country or an entirely foreign land. The accent, or brogue, that Scots have is one huge adaptation, yet during our orientation program, they actually embraced it, making fun of how other people cannot understand them. We watched this hysterical video about it that I was able to find: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAz_UvnUeuU. Please enjoy.

       While I was out the other night with some friends for drinks, we each said what we liked about Glasgow so far. Many of the comments referred to the close walking distance of everything and how, despite being a city, it is not incredibly crowded or overwhelming. People are very welcoming here, and because the international program at the university is so large, many vendors are accustomed to curious little minds like myself as we stroll around aimlessly.

       Back to the point, when it was my turn to say what I liked best, I said how the dining style at the pubs and restaurants that we had been to thus far were more concerned with the overall experience of the customer’s time. Let me elaborate. The first dinner I had was with two other study abroad students from the US at this small pub called Distill. After strolling around a popular street for about a half hour, we decided on this place because of its decent prices and interesting menu. We each ordered food and drinks, but the waiters were not in a rush to get us our food. It seems that many people here love the experience of dining, those small yet beautiful moments where we connect with those around us and truly have a pleasurable experience. I have gotten to know so many people since I have arrived in Scotland, and it largely occurs around the comforts of a small dining table.

       Change is to be expected wherever you go in life. We face it at every corner when we start a new job, attend a new school, or welcome a new and unique person in our lives. These changes, in my opinion, should be admired and adored because they welcome us to a newer part of our own world. We are often blinded by our own tunnel vision, only seeing what we want in order to create some sort of self-defined normalcy in our lives; but if we allow ourselves to be open and vulnerable to the many differences in the world, we could witness something truly spectacular. You may even find that out there, in the not-so-small world, there are other cheetahs just like yourself.

Explore The Places You Could Only Imagine Exploring

     Take the world by storm. Venture into areas your childhood mind could only dream about. That’s what I’m doing.

 

     On this new and profound experience to the University of Glasgow in Scotland, I plan on fulfilling one of my most heart-felt dreams- to go out into the world and experience it for everything it has to offer. I have always desired to study abroad during college and I am unbelievably ecstatic that I have this opportunity.

 

     Now onto business- this blog serves as a guide, specifically the college student’s guide to studying abroad. Do not fear, however. If you do not fit the genre of “college student” or the specific journey of “studying abroad,” this guide can still serve some purpose. First and foremost, it is hopefully somewhat of an entertainment as I detail my experiences and adventures in extravagant literary fashion. Secondly, I have high hopes that this guides points out what anyone should do while they are on a journey, whether it be a spring-break vacation to a beautiful beach-side cottage or a family wedding to an amazing foreign land.

 

     Long story short, I wish to share my experiences with you while giving you tips on how to enjoy the most of your own adventure. And so as I am about to board my plane in good 'ole Newark airport and cross the little pond that is the Atlantic Ocean, I would like to reveal my first tip: explore the places you could only imagine exploring. There are a million and one places to see out there, and a million and one opportunities to do so.

     As the infamous Dr. Seuss once said, “Oh, the places you’ll go!”