First Day

View of New York City before take off

The first view I had of Scotland in the morning

My room, and my desk!

Ruins of "Hailes Castle" and the river Tyne, which runs all the way through Haddington

Volcano called "North Berwick Law." A very steep hike, but I may do it sometime! There are ruins on top of the Law (meaning hill), including a replica of a whale's jawbone. A real one stood there for hundreds of years, but was replaced by the replica when it collapsed in recent years.

North Berwick

An old church, not sure of its name

A sailboat on the water. We watched some people taking lessons. The tide was way out, so the poor sailboats in the marina were just sitting on the ground!

Bass Rock - a bird sanctuary. You can get tour boats out there from the Scottish Seabird Centre which is right on the shore. We did not go through the tour, but had lunch in the cafe which was in the visitor center.

Lunch at the Scottish Seabird Centre

View of the Firth of Forth. We had to walk up some volcanic rocks to get to this view.

Here I am!

Well, it has been a few days longer than I wished between posts, but it has been busy (as you can imagine).

I left home yesterday with teary goodbyes at about 4pm. Once I arrived at the airport and got through security, I only had about 30 minutes in the gate before it was time to board. Once on the plane, I made my way to my window seat towards the rear of the plane. 

After a few minutes alone in my row, a petite older lady and her husband found their seats next to me. Instantly, the lady (whose name I now know is Irene), commented on my hair color and how she was glad she was sitting next to another red head, because "we have to stick together, you know." After telling me her story of growing up in Edinburgh and moving to San Francisco in her early 20's to be with her now husband, I shared my own story of how it is my first time in Scotland. To that she replied, "then I'll give you the numbers of my nephews, they're about your age - they could use a bright young lass to guide around Embra" as she nudged me and winked. She and her husband were very eager to learn about my plans and were so warm and friendly. They both gave me hugs before parting at the Border Agency. Speaking of the Border Agency - I was taken aback by how friendly they were, too. The agent who checked my Visa was also interested in my trip, and I learned she did something similar while she was in college - except she went to Canada for a summer to work!

Edinburgh airport is much smaller than I expected. If anyone has been to the Atlantic City Airport, I would compare the size to that. My flight ended up getting in early, so I wandered for a bit trying to find the correct place where I was supposed to meet Val to get picked up. Finally found it, and we both arrived at almost the same time. Caught myself looking to the left for traffic to cross, after which I instantly felt a fool - they come from the RIGHT!

So after coming back to the house and dropping my bags, we had tea, and then we decided to go out for a bit. It is absolutely gorgeous out today. Bright sun, blue skies, warm weather. Definitely not the wellie and brelly weather I was expecting. I'm sure that will come, though. From the house, we went a castle, and then down to the beach! I'll post pictures in a separate entry!

Now, we are back for tea time. I am unpacking, and next I'm going to take a nap! The jetlag is kicking in...

Counting Down

THREE DAYS!

I think the anxiety is starting to set in. Last night I had dreams all about the trip, including packing, turbulence on my flight, and getting lost in the airport. I guess it makes sense why I would be nervous, but I am hoping it does not hindrance my experience! I anticipate the first few weeks being hard, but I am serious about documenting everything I think and feel in this blog in the most honest way possible. Looking back, I want to remember the trip for how it really was.

Today I will be running some last minute errands which include purchasing a new pair of jeans (dawned on my last night I should have a nicer pair), gathering toiletries, and finding a hostess gift for the family I will be living with. That being said, if anyone has ideas of what to bring from NEW JERSEY to SCOTLAND, I would be forever in your debt! I figured I would pick out a few handcrafted items from Smithville Village, but everything else I can think of seems so cheesy! I know Val, the mother in the family I am living with, is a "teetotaler" so bringing local NJ wine is not an option, which was another idea I had! So any suggestions would be appreciated. The family I am staying with is picking my up from the airport, which is so generous and wonderful, so I want to make sure I bring them something nice to thank them.

I have been starting to fill my bags up with clothes and shoes - I think I need a whole bag for my shoes! Between my wellies, regular boots, walking sneakers, berkenstocks, flats for work and a pair of pumps just in case, I am worried about the weight in my main bag. I am taking one large suitcase with wheels, the biggest carryon case that I am allowed to take, and a personal bag in which I will be packing my laptop and my camera. I don't want to let them out of my sight! Well, it is time to get a move on with these activities. I'll update tomorrow!

One Step Back, Two Forward

I had a bit of a set back this morning regarding my trip. For the hospital I will be interning in, I had to request a copy of my personal record (background check) directly through the FBI. Even though I did this nearly a month ago, I still had not heard from them. So this morning, after far too long searching for a contact number, I was able to call to check on the processing status. Unfortunately, they haven't even started it yet, and can give me no other information about when it will be done, except that I should be about 6 weeks from when they received it. So frustrating, as this means I cannot start working directly with clients or be responsible for confidential information until they get the one sheet of paper saying I do not have any criminal record. What is most annoying is that for my Visa, I had to go through an extensive background check, and also I work with a company currently that contracts through the government and that required two separate fingerprinting appointments and background checks. Our system for this in the States is so messed up. Sort of put a damper on everything, as I am not sure what I will be allowed to do in the hospital until this comes through.

That is part of this experience though - not getting overwhelmed when things do not go exactly as planned. Whatever happens, happens. Some things, like this, are out of our control, and it does not do much use worrying over it. One of my goals for this trip is trying to reduce my anxiety about such situations that I cannot change.

Other than that, everything is going well. This week I held my last rehearsal for dance, and yesterday I worked my last shift at my third job. Today I pulled out my suitcase, my carry on, and my "personal item" bag to start filling. It is hard to think ahead for the next three months to determine what I may need! But this was a step. I also crossed the last two big items off my list that I need to purchase - a pair of nude flats for work, and a new black blazer. So that was another move towards progress!

I have 5 days left until I get on that jet. It's pretty unbelievable. I have so much to do during my last few days, and so many people I hope to see! That being said, if anyone would like to share their address with me (or would like my mailing address in Scotland), please let me know! I would be happy to receive snail mail, and to send authentic Scottish gifts to people back home (as long as you don't ask me to send haggis)!

Thirteen Days

Everything seems to slowly be coming to an end now. I successfully completed my first full year of

graduate school, finished my hours at two of my three jobs, and tonight I had my final performance for the season with the dance company I belong to. As much as I do to mentally prepare myself, whether it be running through checklists of things I need to bring, researching places I want to visit online, or visualizing myself actually being away, it still seems so surreal.

One thing that has started to sink in though, is that I am already feeling the tingling of loneliness - I haven't even left yet! I knew this would be something I would experience, but I did not realize how nervous I would be to be on my own. For the next 12 days, I hope to spend as much time with my loved ones as possible. But once I am gone, I have to work on one of the tasks I set forth for myself: learn to be my own comfort, my own solace. I think as humans we generally seek comfort from others, at least I know I do. On a bad day, I know I just want to cuddle up with my boyfriend or a friend and just forget those anxious, worrisome or disappointed feelings. But what happens when you put someone who is not good at being alone in a place isolated from the comfort of regular relationships? That's something I need to find out!

So now that I do not have textbooks to read for school, I picked up a couple of books about travelling. The one about transformational travel

(on the left) was recommended to me by one of my professors. So far, it has been interesting but it seems to be geared more towards vacation type travel. Many of the same ideas apply, but I know as I will be essentially working full time, I may not have as much of the freedom that the author advocates for. I am not too deep into that book yet, but I expect to utilize many of the techniques suggested to create transformational travelling experience.

In the next few days, I will be working, tying up loose ends, and trying to see my friends and family before I hop the pond!

Visa!

Today I received my Visa in the mail! I learned that it is printed on the inside of your passport, which I never new before. It is all starting to sink in now that I am actually going on this trip, although the whole idea still possesses many of the same qualities as a distant dream.

I am focused on getting as much done as I can before I leave on May 30th. Between finishing school and working (more hours than I probably should, but I need the money), I have not had much time to see my friends or even my family. For the next 20 days, I expect I will be rushing around like a manic person. That being said, I may not have as much time to blog as I would hope about the pre-adventure, but I hope to at least have it up and running effectively before I get on the plane!