My Surreal Life

How time is already flying by!!! Ok So here's the update since last week...

I met with my director of Studies last Thursday and finally got my schedule!! So here it is: Scottish History since 1914, British Society in the 20th Century, and International Marketing. I only have to take 3 classes :) Their classes are more intense than they are at home so I will get 5 hours credit for each. So far I am loving my classes!! It is so liberating to only be in class an hour or 2 a day! I have so much time--I'm not used to it! It is still not enough to get everything I want to done, though--I have lists and lists of places I want to visit in Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain and Europe!! The way the classes are set up are different as well. For my 2 history classes, I got a 60 page booklet with everything I need to know and several different reading lists!! They give you at least a hundred books to choose from and you read as many as you can. It's really cool though because you get to choose topics that interest you--some are straight history books written by historians, some are actual novels that shed light into issues covered in the course, and there are also lists of movies to watch!!--my favorite!! I think right now I am most excited to read and watch Trainspotting. I have heard so much about the book and movie and was going to read it and watch it anyways so now I'll be contributing to my studies as well! :)

I went yesterday to buy my books and I am obsessed with all the bookshops here. There are so many second hand bookshops with the neatest oldest books. One old book of bedside stories and poems had a precious note written in it from "Sam" to "his" love "Fiona" that was dated 1942. I almost bought it just for that. I actually think I am going to go back tomorrow and get it! So I found all the books I needed at the second hand shops and the bookstore chain here called Blackwell's which is almost as good as my favorite, Barnes & Noble. I have no idea how I am going to get all these books home, but they all look amazing on my bookshelf right now--makes my room look more homey. My favorite is one called That Summer by Andrew GREIG. I found this display of Andrew Greig's books (because Andrew Greig is a big deal, like every Greig) and was like freaking out, I wanted to tell the person next to me "that's my name, too!!" So I just had to get one of his books, even though it wasn't on the book list. And it looks really really good!

I have no class on Fridays so, being the superb student I am, I went to the library to figure out how to check out books since I obviously can't buy all 100 books I have to read even though I really want to. It was cool to go to the library and actual check books out--as many times as I've been to the SMU library, I've never once touched a book there. I've never taken a class that required books to be read from the library. So now I feel like an actual student looking for my books and researching. It did take a while to figure out what I was doing, but I am now a pro. It can be very intimidating in the library, and around campus, with all the native Scottish and British people walking around. It is so fun to hear accents all day, but I sometimes feel like I look like an obvious American which I don't want to appear like. So I am trying to make sure I dress appropriately and look like a native. It's funny, here girls don't really wear jeans. Almost all of them wear tights or leggings. They are all very trendy though so I am having the best time studying the fashion and getting good ideas. Anyways, I keep forgetting I pretty much just got here so I will eventually not feel intimidated by the experienced British/Scottish people!!

Friday night we ventured out of the old town and went out over on Georges Street in the New Town where some really nice clubs and bars are. We went to this bar called The Standing Room and it was so cool. The building looked like it used to be a bank or something, it was very elaborate, Georgian Style, of course, like all of New Town, with super high ceilings (and REALLY cute boys that I think belonged to Edinburgh Sports Teams) so it was definitely a success.

Saturday, My friends and I visited the castle!!! It was the most beautiful day, the best yet, the sun came out and we had the best views of the city. The whole time we were like "Oh my gosh just think of everyone that has been RIGHT here and all the important things that have happened right where we were standing!!" I'm sure we will be doing that a lot since pretty much every where we go will be like that haha. I love getting a feel for Scotland's history. I can't wait to come home and be a pro about everything that happened in England and Scotland. After we strolled down the royal mile and took pictures with Braveheart aka William Wallace (and got an autographed picture). We also bought some pictures from this really neat photographer that had all kinds of pictures of Scotland. He asked us if we had Scottish roots, and, again, going back to my name, I said, "My last name is Greig!" And he was like "Ahhh, Greig, The Greig's are from Southwest Scotland" and went into this whole thing about the Greig's-- it was really cool. I do like having a unique name at home, but it's really cool here to have people recognize it AND pronounce/spell it correctly!! It's just like I belong here!


My favorite picture of the city and Arthur's seat from the Castle!!


William Wallace/Braveheart & I ready to attack!!

Even in just the 2 weeks I've been here I think I have already become extremely less high maintenance AND more optimistic/happy about life!! Anyone who knows me knows that hiking is one of my top 5 LEAST favorite things. So on Sunday, we woke up to another gorgeous day and my friends wanted to climb Arthur's seat, a Mountainish Hill that overlooks the city. I thought about not going because I was already dressed in my burberry scarf and tory burch flats, but I said NO emily you need to put your "trainers" (Scottish lingo) on and just do it. So I did. And I did it so happily!! I had the best time ever! It was so amazing and the views were absolutely incredible!!!!! And I was so proud of myself!!! It also made me so proud of this beautiful place!! I mean, what other city can you just go climb a mountain in the middle of?? It was such a good time with my friends, too. I'm so lucky to have them!



Proof that I am actually hiking!


It was Bid Day back at SMU on Sunday so I HAD to (in my chi omega sweatshirt) throw it up at the highest point in Edinburgh!!



Amazing View!!

After the HIKE, I went to the National Museum of Scotland, which is right next to my flat :), with Sara and my flat mate Kristy, to look at an exhibit for my Scottish History Class. I love having homework to go to the museum! Anyone who says Scotland's 20th century history is boring is wrong!!! It's very interesting, in fact, especially to study the relationship between Scots and Brits and how each of them identifies themselves and how the world perceives them and the UK as a whole. I mean, most Americans, I don't think, know if Scotland is its own country or not. It is very fascinating, especially since Scotland just recently (1999) got its own parliament and is now more autonomous than it has been in the past 300 years, something modern Scots say they never dreamed would happen in their lifetime. So who knows what's to come!!

I know I said I would put pictures of my room up but I am still working on its cleanliness/organization so I will try my hardest to get it together for pictures. I want you all to see my Michael picture.

Things I'm Looking Forward To!:
-SHAP, England this weekend!!!--It's a tiny town of about a thousand in the lake district of England. I'm going there to stay with a family for the weekend!!! It is going to be an adventure, but luckily I have many friends that will be in Shap as well, and one who is even with the same family!
-LONDON on 29th January!! Just booked my train ticket/hotel reservation to London with my girlfriends!!! The first of many European travels.

Until next time--Cheers!