This morning we awoke to typical St. Andrews weather....cold, wet, and raining. We have really been spoiled this past week with warm(er), dry weather and plenty of sunshine. I knew that we could only live in the honeymoon period for so long. Of course, the weather this morning seemed to be very fitting for all that is going on in the US at the moment - depressing to say the least. It has been very interesting to observe from afar what is going on in the US, I must say. I think we get a much more unbiased view. Wall Street is definitely the talk of St. Andrews this week, though, as all of Europe is just holding their breath until their markets fall as well. It's been interesting to converse with people from different parts of the world about it, for sure.
This weekend was great! Friday morning I woke up and went for a run to enjoy the beautiful weather (in the mid-60s and sunny). I ran on the West Sands beach that runs beside Old Course and the North Sea. The West Sands are actually quite famous, for those of you who have seen the movie Chariots of Fire. It was filmed right here in St. Andrews. I cannot even put into words how beautiful the scenery was that morning. With the town of St. Andrews as your backdrop, running doesn't seem quite so bad. I even went back later that day to take pictures it was such a pretty sight. Hopefully I will be able to figure out how to post these pictures soon on the blog (if anyone knows, please share your wisdom!). Friday was a great day, just another day of pure joy and smiling inside! I am so thankful and feel so blessed to have had such an awesome opportunity. To live amongst people from so many different nations and experience a life and culture I had never dreamed of has been wonderful. I feel very spoiled...
Classes officially started yesterday, and things are going well so far. Walking is not taken lightly around here though - I think I walk more than 8 miles a day on average. Friday I calculated that I believe I walked almost 20 miles just in one day. It's been great though and really nice to be outside and enjoying the pretty weather. I'm sure I'll feel quite differently once the cold really sets in.
Our residence has really bonded over the past week and we tend to do things in big groups (of course, how I like them!). It's been great to get to know people. I definitely feel like I've known most of these people for more than just one week! Everyone is a lot of fun and very friendly. All I can say is that life is good. The only complaint I have is that I have struggled all weekend and the beginning of this week to not lose my voice, but I'm afraid I've lost the fight once again. Hopefully I will be better in a few days.
The Dunhill Links Championship is this weekend and the golf course is already busy with celebrities. We are hoping to catch a few rounds of it towards the end of the week. I'll be sure to fill you in on who I meet (if any!)!
They say in St. Andrews you can never predict the weather, and that's so true. One minute it could be gorgeous and the next raining, or vice versa. As I am writing this the sun is coming out and it looks like it will be a beautiful afternoon. When it's nice outside, we try to enjoy every second of it, because we know it won't be like this often! I'm off to take a walk with some friends and enjoy the sunshine. I miss you all and hope to hear from you soon!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Freshers Week
Hi All,
I finally have a few moments to sit down and fill you in on what has been going on over here in Scotland. It's been an absolutely beautiful week as far as weather is concerned - only one really dreary day. The week has gone very well, and I am having a blast!
Monday morning I finally got a chance to really meet people living in my residence. Everyone in Deans Court eats together for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and surprisingly the food is very decent), so it has not been difficult to meet people. I am living with people from places like South Africa, Germany, France, Norway, Canada, Thailand, etc. It's so interesting to get to know them and compare lifestyles and cultures. From what we have been told by others in town, we are really lucky to be living in Deans Court. It's the only all postgraduate student housing, and apparently in the past it has become the hang out spot for most postgraduates.
Orientation (they call is Freshers Week) started on Monday, and it has been great meeting so many new people. There are about 250 postgraduates in the business school from all over the world. If I am not mistaken, there are over 106 countries represented here. I have met so many extremely nice people. Some of the people I have met and spent some time with this week are from Germany, Malta, Switzerland, and France. We've been quite busy with meetings every day at the business school. (It seems like we are the only people in St. Andrews that actually has meetings and events that we have to go to this week.) It's been nice grabbing coffee with people during our breaks between sessions and just getting to know them.
In Europe, most people graduate with an undergraduate degree in 3 years, so there are some people in my program that are only 21. That seems crazy to me, and I feel like some who are here doing postgraduate work have done so much more in their 22 or 23 years of life than I have. Today has been a great day. After lunch, the sun decided to come out and it was absolutely beautiful outside - about 62 degrees. A bunch of people from Deans Court spent the afternoon on the beach hanging out while one of our hall mates played his guitar. It was so beautiful and peaceful, one of those days that just makes you smile inside!
I still do not have a cell phone over here yet, and that is really my only complaint. However, I cannot get a cell phone until I have a bank card (which takes about a week to receive after you open an account), so I am still waiting on that. It really hasn't been too terrible, just inconvenient at times. No complaints, though, really.
The town is setting up for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship which will be played next week and you can tell that tourists are starting to come in for it already. Some of us are hoping to see part of the tournament.
As you can see, I am really enjoying myself and settling in well. I feel like I have known the people I have met this week for more than just a few days, and really feels like Deans Court has a great community. Everyone loves to pick on my southern accent, but it's all in good fun. Really, though, they love it. A girl from Atlanta and I had a British guy come up to us the other day and ask us to always speak southern when we talk to him, because he just thinks it's so sweet. Haha! Of course we are sweet!! Needless to say, it's been a fantastic week!
I finally have a few moments to sit down and fill you in on what has been going on over here in Scotland. It's been an absolutely beautiful week as far as weather is concerned - only one really dreary day. The week has gone very well, and I am having a blast!
Monday morning I finally got a chance to really meet people living in my residence. Everyone in Deans Court eats together for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and surprisingly the food is very decent), so it has not been difficult to meet people. I am living with people from places like South Africa, Germany, France, Norway, Canada, Thailand, etc. It's so interesting to get to know them and compare lifestyles and cultures. From what we have been told by others in town, we are really lucky to be living in Deans Court. It's the only all postgraduate student housing, and apparently in the past it has become the hang out spot for most postgraduates.
Orientation (they call is Freshers Week) started on Monday, and it has been great meeting so many new people. There are about 250 postgraduates in the business school from all over the world. If I am not mistaken, there are over 106 countries represented here. I have met so many extremely nice people. Some of the people I have met and spent some time with this week are from Germany, Malta, Switzerland, and France. We've been quite busy with meetings every day at the business school. (It seems like we are the only people in St. Andrews that actually has meetings and events that we have to go to this week.) It's been nice grabbing coffee with people during our breaks between sessions and just getting to know them.
In Europe, most people graduate with an undergraduate degree in 3 years, so there are some people in my program that are only 21. That seems crazy to me, and I feel like some who are here doing postgraduate work have done so much more in their 22 or 23 years of life than I have. Today has been a great day. After lunch, the sun decided to come out and it was absolutely beautiful outside - about 62 degrees. A bunch of people from Deans Court spent the afternoon on the beach hanging out while one of our hall mates played his guitar. It was so beautiful and peaceful, one of those days that just makes you smile inside!
I still do not have a cell phone over here yet, and that is really my only complaint. However, I cannot get a cell phone until I have a bank card (which takes about a week to receive after you open an account), so I am still waiting on that. It really hasn't been too terrible, just inconvenient at times. No complaints, though, really.
The town is setting up for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship which will be played next week and you can tell that tourists are starting to come in for it already. Some of us are hoping to see part of the tournament.
As you can see, I am really enjoying myself and settling in well. I feel like I have known the people I have met this week for more than just a few days, and really feels like Deans Court has a great community. Everyone loves to pick on my southern accent, but it's all in good fun. Really, though, they love it. A girl from Atlanta and I had a British guy come up to us the other day and ask us to always speak southern when we talk to him, because he just thinks it's so sweet. Haha! Of course we are sweet!! Needless to say, it's been a fantastic week!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Hi There!
Hi There! I have created this blog so that you can keep up with my experience and travels over the next year. Please save the blog address: http://kelseyinstandrews.blogspot.com in your favorites so that you can catch up anytime you would like. This way, I won't clog your inbox with tons of emails that you don't have time to read. Read my posts at your own leisure.
Also, please know that you can call me anytime through a local US number. It would be like you were dialling someone in Raleigh. The number is 919 809 6760. Please call, as I want to keep in touch with you all! I hope you enjoy following me through my adventures in Scotland and beyond, as well as learning about the Scottish culture.
Also, please know that you can call me anytime through a local US number. It would be like you were dialling someone in Raleigh. The number is 919 809 6760. Please call, as I want to keep in touch with you all! I hope you enjoy following me through my adventures in Scotland and beyond, as well as learning about the Scottish culture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
