Have A Great Friend

       You remember that scene in a movie when the main character is standing on a street corner in the rain after facing unseemly obstacles and is at their absolute lowest point, so the director, in order to add comic relief, has a car drive by and splash the character with a huge amount of water? Well if that had happened to me today, I would not at all be surprised.

       Today, I traveled with one of my friends, Rachael, to Aberdeen- a city of absolute beauty in Scotland, as told by various people I have met in Glasgow. The day was no doubt eventful and no doubt the worst trip I have taken, for both comical and physically painful reasons. Yet after it all, I found a silver lining that is never to be forgotten.

       Our day began in a frantic rush as we both missed our bus, forcing us to buy a more expensive ticket for the next bus and endure an oddly uncomfortable VIP-treatment bus ride for three straight hours. Once in Aberdeen, we were shocked by the, shall I say, grayness of the city. Buildings, signs, clothes- nearly everything embodied the pure color of gray. We ate by far the worst muffins ever, as my apple-cinnamon muffin tasted like a plain bagel that the baker realized needed to be a cinnamon muffin so they mixed in a cup of pure ground cinnamon to recover from their mistake.

       Our main goal for the day was to walk along the 2-mile stretch of beach, relaxing for one last time as we prepare for the last week of finals. The weather, however, did not agree with our well-intended plans. The wind blew around us with an endless fury and as the day went on, the sky opened up and let out a torrent of rain. As we walked along the beach, our pants became soaking wet and covered in sand. Best of all- when we had to walk in the direction of the wind, the sand would be swept up and attack our faces like a horde of bees heading for the mother-load of honey. My face has never been in so much pain; eight hours later, it still stings.

       We decided to get away from the beach as fast as possible, proving to be more difficult than one might assume as we had to trudge through the heavy, heavy winds. There was, however, a light at the end of the tunnel: Brew Dog, the oh-so-glorious pub and bar which have fallen in love with while in Glasgow. We found where it was in Aberdeen and headed to it in the hopes that a drink from our favorite craft beer will make the day better. After cleaning myself off, I stood at the bar, ready to order a drink as I have done numerous times in the past three months, when the bartender came over, took my order, and asked for identification. I showed her my license, but she declared that she needed a passport or I could not drink. My day was officially ruined.

       Referring back to the movie scene where the main character is splashed beyond belief, the director always adds in a final glimpse of hope, a symbol that enlightens the mood and tone of the whole story. For me, that came in the form of Rachael, one of the many friends I have met throughout my study abroad experience who have been with through it all. Once we realized the day had gone to ruins, Rachael put on her optimistic, comical persona to make the best of every situation.  We need people like this, friends who will be there for us and make us laugh in even the most disastrous of situations, friends who, when you are both shivering cold walking in the fierce wind and rain, will declare that they wish they could just pee themselves in order to feel some semblance of true warmth.

 

       I would like to now thank all the great friends I have made since being in Scotland and urge you, dedicated readers, to seek out these great companions while on your own journeys. Friends are with us through it all- through the times of stress and anxiety, times of curiosity and wonder, and times of utterly spontaneous excitement and amusement.