Just a quick post from Edinburgh! The snow has [almost] melted, and I have had the chance to explore the city a bit more. But a lot of my time has also been occupied by classes that started on Monday. Coming from Puget Sound, where I’m used to small classes and readily-available professors, it’s been a bit more difficult to adjust to 350-person classes, and professors that have to use a microphone to be heard by everyone. I think my upper-level Chemistry class will be smaller, though; that doesn’t start until next Monday. Class also meets much less often, so there is a lot more individual study that has to happen outside of class. I’m actually in lecture about 10 hours per week (as opposed to twice that much in Tacoma), so that will be something else to get used to. I have to re-learn how to manage my time!
Part of that time, though, as I mentioned, has been spent exploring the city. Here are some of my favorite discoveries so far:
* I went to The Elephant House, which is where J.K. Rowling wrote most of the first Harry Potter book. It’s really just an awesome coffee/tea shop that also serves lunch. I had some Earl Grey tea and a yummy pastry:
* I discovered another grocery store: Tesco. It was much nicer – but also more expensive – than the original one I went to.
* I went to a great pub called Bobby’s Bar for dinner. I had fish and chips, and then my friends and I shared this amazing chocolate cake for dessert:
* In case you think all I’ve done is eat, I also figured out the shuttle to King’s Campus (where all the science buildings are). It’s a cute little ride, and the campus itself feels much more like Tacoma… it’s just academic buildings without other businesses/stores/restaurants.
* I have also joined a couple of clubs (they call them societies) on campus, which has introduced me to a lot of new people already!
I don’t have class tomorrow or Friday, so the possibilities this weekend are endless! I think some friends and I are going to go to the Edinburgh Castle on Friday, we might go on a bus tour on Saturday, and I would like to explore some of the Royal Mile’s shops. I need a good pair of boots (or as they call them, Wellies)!
For current Puget Sound students… I hope your own travels back to Tacoma are going safely, and that you are all excited for the new semester to begin! And for prospective students reading this… Best of luck with your college application/search process; I remember being very busy this time of year!