We left for Dulles International Airport around 1:45 pm on Sunday afternoon so that we could be on time for our 5:20 pm flight to Newark, NJ to grab our connecting flight straight to Edinburgh at 8:00 pm. Mom had checked the flight status before we left but, of course, the moment we got to the airport ticket counter to check in to our Continental flight, we were told it'd been cancelled. They then put us on the 7:20 pm flight to Newark and the 10:00 pm flight to Edinburgh. We went through security, had a lunch/dinner, and waited for the flight. Around 5ish we saw a sign that said the 7:20 flight was delayed but I wasn't sure whether it was delayed from a while ago and the new time was 7:20 or if it was now delayed later than 7:20. So we went and stood in line at the counter and the lady was like, "You need to get on this flight that's leaving right now." Apparently there was a much earlier flight to Newark that had been delayed forever and was finally leaving at 5:45 and there were three seats left. She gave them to us and we got on one of those super tiny planes where you have to walk along the runway and up stairs to get on it. We were worried our luggage wouldn't get transferred in time but I saw it being put on as we walked up. Such a relief!
Pretty much it was the worst flight ever. There was horrible turbulence and because the plane was so small (it had little propellers on the sides and fit like 20 people) it was being thrown all around like a rollercoaster ride. I was so scared! But I was sitting next to a flight attendant who was getting a free ride and across from our flight attendant and they talked the whole time and weren't worried so I think that calmed me a bit. But no wonder so many flights were cancelled! The weather in Newark was really bad and we had to keep circling around before landing, making it even worse because it just kept stretching it out. We thankfully landed in Newark safe and sound around 7:45 (really the flight should have taken an hour) and began to wait for our flight to Edinburgh. We talked to some really lovely, kind people while our flight was delayed again and again. We ended up taking off around midnight and got into Edinburgh around noon (with our original flight we would have gotten there at 7:45am). I was so proud of myself - I slept nearly the whole way! I've never been able to do that before! I guess 12 hours of pretty much just delays is enough to pass anyone out.
All our luggage got through in one piece and it was easy to get through immigration. We took a taxi to a flat in New Town where the manager of the flat we were renting lived. She ended up just hopping in the taxi with us and we drove to our flat in Tollcross. Aaand of course, she forgot her set of keys so we had to wait for someone else to come over and let us in. It's very well decorated and very modern! It's in a very nice, central area but on a side street so it's not too noisy. There is a little nursery school right across the street and it's so cute to watch the little children ride around on little cycles wearing bright yellow reflective vests on a track. And there's also a club called ignite and lava nearby. I imagine they are naughty places as there are outlines of women's bodies on the back of the building...I find it very interesting that it's randomly there next to a nursery and primary school!
Mom and I knew we had to stay up so we headed up to the main Princes Street and found the Virgin Mobile store to see if I could set up my mobile phone but I need a UK address before I can set one up. So, my next post will be all about my search for a flat, coming tomorrow! In the meantime, I brought my phone from Ireland so I think I'll just get pay as you go for that for emergencies (although my charger is dead - killed by Zeus NOMs) so I might have to just buy one.
Edinburgh seems really lovely! It's already poured on us, of course, and drizzled quite a few times. It's going to be really hard to get used to but it really doesn't diminish the loveliness of the city. The architecture is so amazing! This city has so much culture and history. I think the US has more natural beauty but Scotland has lovely aspects. I can't wait to explore!
Until we meet again!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Last Day In America
Wow. It's my last day in America for four months! I can't believe I won't be back until the middle/end of December! I already know things are going to look so different around here. There is a lot of construction going on with the Inter-County Connector and a lot of buildings in Olney and Burtonsville are being remodelled with new restaurants going in. I can't wait to see what it all looks like when I come home for Christmas!
My flight tomorrow isn't until the early evening but I'm pretty much all packed. I've got a lot of stuff (don't feel bad, Dianna - one year, one year, one year). It's a huge green LLBean Duffel bag, a large blue roller suitcase, a small-medium blue roller suitcase (this one might have to be exchanged for a larger roller suitcase of my dad's once I weigh everything and stuff those few last minute things in because right now I can tell everything is already pushing the 50 pound weight limit), my large backpack, and my computer bag.
I lost one of my flatmates this morning. Louise got a good deal by living with one of her friends. The moment I saw her email this morning, I knew what it was. I don't know why but I felt like I knew all along that she was going to leave. I can understand why she did it but it was really last minute so now Caoimh, Sophie, and I are scrambling to find three bedroom flats so they can make viewing appointments on Monday and cancel all the four bedroom flats we had booked. While we could have looked for one more person, being in the middle of this big transition I don't have the energy to interview anyone else and I'd rather share one bathroom with two other girls than three other girls because we couldn't find any four bedroom/2 bathrooms that were still available.
My next post will be from Edinburgh, Scotland. Can you believe it? We'll be in the middle of the festival so I'm sure there will be a lot going on. I can't wait to meet Sophie and Caoimh finally! Yay adventure!
My flight tomorrow isn't until the early evening but I'm pretty much all packed. I've got a lot of stuff (don't feel bad, Dianna - one year, one year, one year). It's a huge green LLBean Duffel bag, a large blue roller suitcase, a small-medium blue roller suitcase (this one might have to be exchanged for a larger roller suitcase of my dad's once I weigh everything and stuff those few last minute things in because right now I can tell everything is already pushing the 50 pound weight limit), my large backpack, and my computer bag.
I lost one of my flatmates this morning. Louise got a good deal by living with one of her friends. The moment I saw her email this morning, I knew what it was. I don't know why but I felt like I knew all along that she was going to leave. I can understand why she did it but it was really last minute so now Caoimh, Sophie, and I are scrambling to find three bedroom flats so they can make viewing appointments on Monday and cancel all the four bedroom flats we had booked. While we could have looked for one more person, being in the middle of this big transition I don't have the energy to interview anyone else and I'd rather share one bathroom with two other girls than three other girls because we couldn't find any four bedroom/2 bathrooms that were still available.
My next post will be from Edinburgh, Scotland. Can you believe it? We'll be in the middle of the festival so I'm sure there will be a lot going on. I can't wait to meet Sophie and Caoimh finally! Yay adventure!
Monday, August 16, 2010
If it was a week from today, I'd be there
OMG one week left! I can't believe it! In fact, if it was a week from today, I'd be there already. This week, I've got lots of last minute things to do and lots of last minute people to see.
Throughout the week I'm going to try and spend as much time with my kitteh, Zeus, as possible. I'm going to miss him so much! He likes to get in trouble (aka go outside and start brawls with the wild cats across the street) so I'm hoping he's good while I'm gone. I mean, how can you not miss this cute face and his PINK nose??
MONDAY:
Throughout the week I'm going to try and spend as much time with my kitteh, Zeus, as possible. I'm going to miss him so much! He likes to get in trouble (aka go outside and start brawls with the wild cats across the street) so I'm hoping he's good while I'm gone. I mean, how can you not miss this cute face and his PINK nose??
- Finish cleaning up after the party, which was great! There was a huge turnout and I got to see a lot of people before I leave. I, unfortunately, didn't get to take a lot of pictures because I just didn't think about it.
- Begin packing - rationalize taking an entire suitcase full of shoes and purses.
- Watch Valentine's Day
- See my friends, Brittany and Myrissa
- Stop by work for lunch with Meg and go to Borders
- Do another round of packing
- Finish my initial packing
- Go to the mall
- Go out to dinner in Baltimore with Meg and Meredith from work
- Call banks/credit card companies to tell them I'm going out of the country
- Change my GEICO policy
- Dinner in Rockville with my high school friends, Colleen and Allison
- Project Runway
- finish packing again
- Try to convince someone to see The Switch with me?
- last minute stuff.
- Fly away!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
T- Two Weeks!
It's just t minus two weeks until I leave for Edinburgh! I've been working hard and have finally found a group of girls (I hope) to go flat hunting with and then leave with for the year! They are:
I hope we all get along! I've been talking to Caoimh since around May and Sophie and Louise in just the last few weeks but they all sound so nice! But who knows what will happen when we all come together. My hope is that we can all spend time together occasionally for nights in and out, share a supper or two, and just have someone to talk to. I'm pretty sure we're all nearly in the same boat not knowing anyone pretty much. Although, luckily I will now know someone in the UK! My cousin Julie and her husband are moving to England in October so I can't wait for that! I have already reserved Thankgiving with them :)
It's been getting pretty stressful here already. Being an American going abroad, I feel like there's so much stuff I need to get ready. Stuff that I wouldn't need to do if I was just going to graduate school somewhere in the US. I officially had my last day at work yesterday (YAY!) so now I have time to focus on everything. This week I plan to:
- Caoimh - she's 23 and getting her LLM in International Law; originally from Cork, Ireland
- Sophie - she's 22 and getting her PhD in Chemistry; originally from around Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Louise - she's 26 and getting her MSc in Global Health and Public Policy; originally from Cambridge, England
I hope we all get along! I've been talking to Caoimh since around May and Sophie and Louise in just the last few weeks but they all sound so nice! But who knows what will happen when we all come together. My hope is that we can all spend time together occasionally for nights in and out, share a supper or two, and just have someone to talk to. I'm pretty sure we're all nearly in the same boat not knowing anyone pretty much. Although, luckily I will now know someone in the UK! My cousin Julie and her husband are moving to England in October so I can't wait for that! I have already reserved Thankgiving with them :)
It's been getting pretty stressful here already. Being an American going abroad, I feel like there's so much stuff I need to get ready. Stuff that I wouldn't need to do if I was just going to graduate school somewhere in the US. I officially had my last day at work yesterday (YAY!) so now I have time to focus on everything. This week I plan to:
- Organize all my Scotland papers
- Change my auto-insurance
- Cancel my health insurance. Since I'm going back to school full-time, I get to mooch off my parents insurance again. Thanks Obama!
- Head to the bank to do some paperwork stuff
- Get car washed and buy a car cover
- Go to the eye doctor
- Get my hair done
- Go to the gym every day (please, please actually do this!)
- Clean, clean, clean the house (see below for reason why)
Saturday, March 6, 2010
European Studies
Since my last post, a few things have happened on the Edinburgh stand. I decided to apply for the MSc in European Studies, a program I never realized they offered. I got very excited about the program and was expecting to have to wait three months to hear back from them like I did for the MSc Gender History and MSc Social and Cultural History. My rejection came within a week and when I asked why, they said my degree was more relevant to Creative Writing, my GPA was below their minimum admittance, and my personal statement did not reflect enough personal interest or knowledge in the program.
I was really upset when I got this news, a lot more than I thought I would be. Before I found out why, I thought it must be some kind of mistake because it's the first year the program is running and I thought they'd want an eager applicant like myself. The program director even encouraged me to apply! I knew I couldn't give up without a fight. I wrote back, letting them know the program director told me my undergraduate degree was relevant and that although I had a 3.36 in my undergrad, I've had a 4.0 in my graduate studies thus far. I rewrote my personal statement because I realized I didn't put forth as much enthusiasm as I should have. I think I was so excited about the program and wrote the personal statement so fast, I didn't think about it - I just wanted to get my application in ASAP.
Well, they reconsidered my application and now I have a conditional offer to the MSc European Studies program! Yay! I must successfully pass my postgraduate certificate I'm currently finishing up this semester with a satisfactory GPA. I'm not sure what that GPA would be, but I'm striving for another A. I'm officially halfway done with my class which is an HR class called Organizational Development and Change and is pretty boring. I just don't think it will be too relevant towards my professional goals. My professor has only returned one assignment and our midterm is due this week. Crossing fingers!
On the 19th, University of Edinburgh is having a presentation sort of thing for all international applicants in DC. Mom and I are going and I'm super excited! I know it's just for *applicants* but I hope it will give me a chance to meet a few people.
Six more months now!
I was really upset when I got this news, a lot more than I thought I would be. Before I found out why, I thought it must be some kind of mistake because it's the first year the program is running and I thought they'd want an eager applicant like myself. The program director even encouraged me to apply! I knew I couldn't give up without a fight. I wrote back, letting them know the program director told me my undergraduate degree was relevant and that although I had a 3.36 in my undergrad, I've had a 4.0 in my graduate studies thus far. I rewrote my personal statement because I realized I didn't put forth as much enthusiasm as I should have. I think I was so excited about the program and wrote the personal statement so fast, I didn't think about it - I just wanted to get my application in ASAP.
Well, they reconsidered my application and now I have a conditional offer to the MSc European Studies program! Yay! I must successfully pass my postgraduate certificate I'm currently finishing up this semester with a satisfactory GPA. I'm not sure what that GPA would be, but I'm striving for another A. I'm officially halfway done with my class which is an HR class called Organizational Development and Change and is pretty boring. I just don't think it will be too relevant towards my professional goals. My professor has only returned one assignment and our midterm is due this week. Crossing fingers!
On the 19th, University of Edinburgh is having a presentation sort of thing for all international applicants in DC. Mom and I are going and I'm super excited! I know it's just for *applicants* but I hope it will give me a chance to meet a few people.
Six more months now!
This post is in loving memory of Gambit, who passed away about two months ago. He is thought of constantly and will always be missed. He would have been a year old on April 8th, 2010.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays! May your travels be safe and well.
Monday, December 21, 2009
9 Months To GO!
I can officially say that I will be attending the University of Edinburgh next September! I got my official conditional offer this morning (they want proof that I finish my graduate certificate which I'll be done with in May) and went in and accepted it. It's really happening!! AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! Time to start adding in "u"s and "m"s and "e"s, changing "c"s and "z"s to "s"s and removing some "l"s in order to fit in!
I am colourfully excited for this programme to instil information in my brain.
I keep trying to roll my "r"s but it's just not happening.
I believe I have all the financials situated. My next step: accommodation.
I had originally just planned to stay in a dorm but now I'm having second thoughts because I realized that really only international students live on campus since Scottish students have no guarantee. Too bad. I am now considering some type of private accommodation.
We've been officially snowed in over here on the east coast (twitterly known as the dcsnowpocalypse). We got about two feet over Friday - Saturday. It's so beautiful! I think we'll FINALLY have a white Christmas. Work was closed today and then I'm off 12/25/09 - 1/3/10.
2009 has gone by so incredibly fast! I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.
I am colourfully excited for this programme to instil information in my brain.
I keep trying to roll my "r"s but it's just not happening.
I believe I have all the financials situated. My next step: accommodation.
I had originally just planned to stay in a dorm but now I'm having second thoughts because I realized that really only international students live on campus since Scottish students have no guarantee. Too bad. I am now considering some type of private accommodation.
We've been officially snowed in over here on the east coast (twitterly known as the dcsnowpocalypse). We got about two feet over Friday - Saturday. It's so beautiful! I think we'll FINALLY have a white Christmas. Work was closed today and then I'm off 12/25/09 - 1/3/10.
2009 has gone by so incredibly fast! I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.
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