Goblin 'Ha

Back in the early 13th century lived a man of noble standing named Sir Hugo de Gifford. He considered himself a wizard and was rumored to have even made a pact with Satan himself. He built a castle, and underneath it a special place where he could practice his sorcery. They say he summoned hobgoblins to help construct his home, known as Yester Castle. Though the castle lies in ruin now, it is still thought to be a supernatural place. After visiting the town of Gifford tonight, I did a little bit of research about the area. In doing so, I found this poem:

Of lofty roof and ample size,

Beneath the castle deep it lies;

To hew the living rock profound, 

The floor to pave, the arch to round,

There never toiled a mortal arm; 

It all was wrought by word and charm.

- Sir Walter Scott, Marmion.

I did not get to go to the castle ruin tonight, but I think I'll make a trip back there to see it. Apparently even though it is in ruin, you can still find perhaps the oldest gothic stone archway in Scotland - and  is still standing. Maybe is the faerie magic? Some people here may think so. The site is technically off limits to the public and there are no signs posted for it anywhere. You have to scramble through the overgrown wooded area to find it. Pretty interesting. There is apparently also a "mushroom forest" in those woods if you go deep enough. 

But even if you can't find your way to this mystical, mysterious castle, you can pop into the Goblin Ha' in Gifford town, named after the subterranean chamber where Sir Hugo was said to have practiced magic. Truth be told, Gifford is a very small town. There isn't even a post office...you put the mail through a designated person's mail slot, and they bring it to the post office for you. But there are two pubs. One being the Goblin Ha'. It really was a cute place. We sat outside and enjoyed the flowers, until we could not take any more of the May Flies and "midges."


 Since I have not yet developed a palate for beer, I often have a difficult time trying to find something enjoyable to have at a pub or bar that that won't break the bank. Today I decided to try a cider. For 1.50Pounds, it wasn't bad. After sitting in the pub for a while, we then decided to take a walk around the old town. Here are just some pictures from the wanderings:

Flowers surrounding our outside table

The little town of Gifford

The entranceway to a mansion where a famous violinist used to live. Apparently Lady Gaga came to look at this property to consider purchasing it. Thought that was interesting! 

Tree lined streets leading to the mansion. Can't you imagine horse drawn carriages riding up to the gates?

Is this a dragon weathervane?

Forgot to mention today a funny little incident that happened on the way to the bookstore. There was an older lady waiting in a bus stop with shopping bags at her feet. In her hands she was fumbling with a long pack of cookies, or biscuits rather, muttering under her breath. As I passed she said "could I borrow your hands?" and held out the package towards me. I opened them and handed them back, and then she offered for me to share with her while she waited for her bus! Since I was on my way to get to the bookstore before it closed, I declined, but it was just one of those little interactions with strangers that make you smile. Anyway, off to bed! 

Reflection 21st June

HAPPY MIDSUMMER!
It is the longest day of the year, so I'm going to pay extra attention to what time it stays light until tonight. I wish I could have gone to Stonehenge for the summer solstice ritual this morning. This "Celtic fire festival" is supposed to be incredible. So I'm thinking of the Celts and the Druids especially and their ancient history here in Scotland.

Paul has purchased his roundtrip tickets to the UK for August. We have been planning a trip for a long time now to coincide with the end of my internship and the beginning of my family's holiday plan which is starting in London. I really need to just purchase my tickets, but they are so expensive right now. For a flight to Edinburgh to Dublin and then Dublin to London, it's going to be about $250. Each flight is less than two hours! I'm going to wait until next week, but I've been checking every day and I doubt they're going to change in prices significantly in my favor. In addition, I also have to figure out what to do with my big bag, the one I'll be living out of for the next 2.5 months. Should I mail it home? Lock it up in the Edinburgh airport somewhere until my family flies home from there on the 27th? I really don't know. There is so much more research to do!

Today after work I went over to a bookstore/coffee shop in town that I have been meaning to go to. The daughter of the family I'm living with works there, so I told her I would pop in and say hi! So as I am wandering around, kind of thinking about the weekend and what to do on my free day tomorrow, I suddenly find myself staring into the face of temptation. This particular version of temptation can otherwise be identified as Neil Gaiman's new book, "The Ocean At The End Of The Lane." I failed all attempts of resistance.

In what is the next logical step in this series of events, I ordered myself a latte, picked out a particularly cozy looking table and began to read. I'm only about 50 pages in, and I already caught myself with goosebumps multiple times and wondering whether Neil actually wrote this story specifically for me. His stories just have a way of calling out to little pieces of you that you've forgotten...this one in particular is going to be that way I think. So far we have a young neglected boy looking for more in the world that what meets the eye, mean kids, blurred lines of dreams and reality, unfortunate events, dark creatures, mystery... Fencing fighting, torture, revenge, giants, true love, miracles! Ok well, maybe not that bit (or at least not in the first 50 pages, but I couldn't resist the Princes Bride reference). Anyway, in the first chapter, the protagonist talks about cats, shillings and his love for Batman. So I have high hopes for the rest of the novel. Maybe I'll read outside tonight, and see if I really can read by the 10:30pm light! 


Then today when I got home, I found this was delivered from my wonderful friend Jessie! I was so excited! I love mail! I am really appreciative of it too. It's nice to hear from friends back home. I really do have a wonderful support system, and I'm thankful for those who take the time out of their day to make the effort. As much as I find it amazing here, I do feel the sting of loneliness now and again. As long as that does not become disabling, I think that is ok.

So I have just decided this moment what my plan is for my free day tomorrow. I think I'm going to go to the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. They are apparently having something special going on with dinosaurs and dressing up in traditional Scottish clothes? Interesting combination of events but I'll be happy to see both. As all the museums in the city are free, my whole day (minus the cost of coffee and food) should be 6pounds, or just about $10. I'll try to go early and plan to be back by Tea Time. Apparently there is guest coming over, who may be renting my room after me. So I'm to meet him and give my input too! Then the plan for Sunday is to go to the Royal Yacht! Hopefully I'll have some fun things to share here soon!

Reflection: 20th of June

"Slow down!"

I'm used to hearing this, but I never listen. I swear people must think I'm manic sometimes. I've defined my life, in many ways, by the activities I am involved in. Along with fulfilling roles as daughter, friend, sister, girlfriend etc., I have also labeled myself as a full time graduate student, an employee (of three part time jobs), and a dancer/choreographer for a local dance collective. Now it's strange, because the only thing I am committed to here is my internship. I've been averaging 35-40 hours a week, and yet I am so relaxed. Just having this one responsibility to focus on is so...counterintuitive. I'm really not used to it.

I found shillings at the hospital!

My supervisor told me yesterday to slow down. Said she loves my enthusiasm, but that I really should take it easy. I was eager to start working on another research project, as I am trying to do as much as I can with the time I have here. If you had told me to slow down 3 weeks ago, I would have looked at you and said "I can't," and that I hate standing still. After a day or two of vegging out, I get bored and antsy and ready to start again. I feel like life passes me by the days I sit inside and stare at a screen or not doing something "productive." I think if I'm not moving, I'll get caught in the gears of the world as she continues to spin around. I'm not OK with the idea of being ground up and trampled by time. In some ways that seems like the cruelest way to go: a lifetime wasted with nothing to show.

I know I am only three weeks into this experience, but I am already seeing the detriment that old lifestyle has had on me. I picture myself being quartered (much like William Wallace), pulled by all four limbs in different directions to my breaking point. I think that gruesome image being drawn to mind is enough to suggest that this way of life really is not healthy. Am I really accomplishing more by rushing? By doing too much in order to feel fulfilled, is that detracting from the true experiences that make for a full life? I know that I need to work to live, I know that school is where I want to be to help prepare for my future career, but what can I do differently when I leave here to find a balance between doing all of the things I want to do but not ignoring the fact that each day I'm getting a little bit older.

Coffee on my favorite bench

This is what I think I'm enjoying most about being here. I go to work, and work is an amiable place. I can leave if I want to when I'm done work, or I can stay and chat with my coworkers who are friendly, sociable, and like to hear my reflections on my experiences and to share their insights into living here. Then I can wander the town, which I often do, stop in a cafe for a take away coffee to sit in the park, or pop into the gallery or a store I've been eyeing. I don't have to worry about making it home at a certain time to leave for the next thing. I have had high anxiety for as long as I remember, and almost always when I am in a work situation. But not now...even halfway across the planet and completely on my own. I'm still trying to figure out why. I know I have to identify that before I can devise away to change my lifestyle for the better when I return home.


On that note, almost my whole office ended up leaving work early today. There was work being done on the electrical system, so with the power being shut off we lost our phone and computer access. We waited around for the last appointments of the day, and then headed off. I stopped at the post office to get more stamps (I've spend more money on postal supplies than food), grabbed myself a take-away coffee from a cafe I've been meaning to try, and after sitting by the bridge

View on my left from my favorite bench

for a while, I took a wander to a new part of town. It was beautiful out today. When I got back to the house after my 2hr detour, I watched a movie I've been meaning to for a while - A Dangerous Method. Not sure what else is happening tonight, but tomorrow is Friday! I took an exercise group class yesterday, and I am very sore, so having a break from the 3 mile roundtrip walk will be appreciated. But hopefully power will be restored at the hospital tomorrow so I can get some more work done!

Reflection: 17th of June

Quick post today!

Realized that I forgot to mention that on Friday before I went to work, I stopped at Tesco again. FINALLY got my phone sorted out. So now I can contact people in the UK/check bus times and maps and such while I am out. That's a relief.

Found out another American girl is starting to intern at another NHS location in the psychological therapies department. She is having the same issues as me, waiting endlessly for the FBI check to come back. I think this week is the 5th one? But my payment hasn't yet been processed so that's making me nervous. At least I am able to do research at this point. I have a lot of data to go through tomorrow as well as some assessments and questionnaires to score. I did almost a 9hr day today so things are certainly picking up! On Monday, I am going to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for an "Away Team Meeting." There will be presentations on working with people with depression, trauma, and anxiety to name a few. The workshop is from 9am - 4:14pm, so it will be quite a day! I am not sure if the new intern is going to be there, but I hope I get to meet her!

After work today, I went with the family I am living with to a local furniture show. There is a furniture school in town called Chippendale International School Of Furniture. The pieces they made were really quite amazing...they are only there for 9 months but produce some really unique art. At the end of the year they receive their certificate, have a showcase and try to sell as much of their work as they can! I didn't really take any pictures of the furniture because it didn't really seem appropriate, but the setting of the school was beautiful.

Today I sent out about 15 piece of mail. I must have looked like a crazy lady at the postbox. I still have a few people who requested mail I need to write to, and for that I apologize. I must have miscalculated the amount of postcards I needed to by. I am out of stamps, too! It is possible that I may have spent more on post supplies so far than on food...

Tomorrow's small adventure will be going to Tesco (again) to see if I can get cash back using my credit/debit card. When I went to the currency exchange in Edinburgh, they told me they can only do it with cash, and will not accept cards. I should have exchanged more money at the airport, I suppose. Good to know for the future!

 I think this will probably be a low-key week as far as blog posts go. I hope I have another exciting weekend ahead of me though!

Melrose, Alnwick Castle, and Berwick Upon Tweed

Fun fact: The Red Lion is the most common pub name in the United Kingdom. There are hundreds that share this name, all independent owners!

So on Saturday morning, I woke up at the hostel and went down to have breakfast. Again, right away people began asking questions and striking up conversation. Chatted for a while with an English guy in his late 20s, yet has lived all over the world - China, India, Australia, the States, Cambodia...all over. He even has been to New Jersey and asked if I have ever been to Ocean City. Of all the places in the world he has been, he remembered the name of that little town in NJ. I could only laugh! So we talked for a while about our lives, our plans, how we found ourselves in Edinburgh, etc, and just about the funny ways of life. This was one of my favorite interactions I think, because of the anonymity - we never exchanged names, just stories. I guess it really emphasizes that belief that we are all just fellow travelers in life. Our paths cross sometimes, and it's up to us to choose what we do with the time we sit in the presence of someone else and their own story. But then, it was time for me to go catch the tour bus. Grabbed my bags, turned in my keys to the hostel, and headed down the Royal Mile again.

The coach bus was small, there were 14 passengers on the tour. It was great because it was small enough that everyone interacted with each other. There were people from the USA, Canada, Portugal, and I forget where the last group was from. There was a little girl next to me, maybe about 10 or so who was wearing a Harry Potter scarf. That was awesome. Behind me sat three Americans from California whose son is starting college at a school by Princeton NJ in the fall. By the end of the tour, we chatted so much that I passed along my email information if they had any questions about the area. I spend most of the tour with a really nice Canadian fellow who was also travelling solo. It was really nice to chat and have someone to explore with. Another great thing - everyone kept offering to take each others' pictures throughout the tour. So I actually have proof I was there!

The first stop: Melrose Abbey. As you can see, it is in ruin, but it is absolutely gorgeous. Many Scottish royals and important people are buried here, including the heart of Robert the Bruce. If you've seen Braveheart, you may recognize his story (although most of that movie is very historically inaccurate). It was a really lovely place though.

The next stop, and the main focus of today: Alnwick Castle. For this one, we crossed through the beautiful Border towns into England. This castle is still inhabited by the Percy family and the Duke of Northumberland. They were preparing to host a wedding next weekend for someone in the Percy family. They expect some of the Royal Family to be there. 

Something else significant about the castle is that it was the set of a few of the Harry Potter movies. We saw the site where the Whomping Willow would have been located, and of course the field where the broomstick training took place in the first film - they actually had a broomstick flying activity for kids on that location! Less well known, this castle was also the backdrop for the show "Black Adder." Pretty neat!

Pretty sure this was Dumbledore

There was a "Dragon Quest" maze, kind of like a haunted house type thing that you walked through. It culminated with this animatronic dragon.

I was convinced to put on a dress and take a picture with Harry ( didn't take much effort, you know me). I have a Deathly Hallows hair clip in from my friends' store: http://ziggyspiggies.blogspot.co.uk/
Check it out, they're awesome!

Harry Potter hosted a little show for children, and I got called to the stage as a special guest. I was introduced as one of the "Weasley cousins." That was pretty great. As you can see I was trying to contain my laughter - I thought it was hysterical! So that whole event was a highlight, I'd have to say!

After exploring the castle, some of us from the tour walked into town where there was this amazing second hand bookstore. It was originally a train station, so the architecture inside was still very reminiscent of that.

There was a little cafe in the back, and the waiting rooms for the trains were converted into quiet reading areas, with tables, desks and some big comfy cushioned chairs. If only this place was closer...I could see myself spending a lot of time there.

Next Stop: Bamburgh Castle. We did not go inside this castle, as there was a fancy party going on. But we went up to the top of the hill. This one is located right on the sea, so it was a great view!

Last stop of the day: Berwick Upon Tweed. This town is right on the Border of England and Scotland, and has notoriously changed which country it is in due to the frequent changes in the border line. Now it's located in England.

You can see the very interesting wall around the town. We walked along the wall for a bit, and then did a quick stroll around the town. After that, we hopped back on the A1. I was dropped off in Haddington, which saved me a huge amount of time!

So that was my day! I had a really great time. I can't wait to go back to Edinburgh as well as take another tour! I thought it would be strange going on the tour as a solo traveler, but it really worked out well. Back to work tomorrow!

First Day in Edinburgh

I had an INCREDIBLE two days. I have to split my reflections into two posts, because there is just way too much for one!

 On Friday after work, I caught a bus to Edinburgh. It was 4 quid just to get there, but I had a double-decker bus to myself most of the time! Getting the bus was  uneventful, but once we got into the center of town, I was not really sure exactly where to get off. I recognized Princes Street (as it is pretty much the main road) so I decided just to hop off there and spare the trouble of sitting in traffic guessing whether I was at the most convenient stop based on where I was heading or not.

The first thing I heard when getting off the bus were bagpipes. So automatically, I started walking in that direction! There were a couple of street performers playing outside of the Scottish National Gallery. Here is a wee bit of one song!

I experienced this particular feeling a few times yesterday, though it is really difficult to describe. I am often very unsure of myself, wondering if I did the right thing, made the right decision, or did everything I possibly could to make things go a certain way. But when hopping off the bus in Edinburgh, it kind of hit me that I have actually done it- the one thing I have daydreamed about doing for as long as I can remember: travelling abroad. LIVING abroad. Edinburgh made me forget those worries and just be in the moment. Edinburgh made me feel alive. As cheesy and cliche as it sounds, it is really the truth. I want to feel that way more often.

 Though I did not have a clear plan of where I was walking, I knew my destination sits at the base of the castle. So I began walking in that direction. After some twists and turns through winding roads and feeling like I was constantly picking my jaw up off the ground each time I turned a bend, I finally reached my end goal: the Castle Rock Hostel, my haven for the night. This is the view from right outside the hostel. Incredible, right? 

I wish I would have taken more pictures of the inside on the hostel. It was kind of medieval-themed, with suits of armor, huge wooden doors, and painted celtic knots on the walls. That was juxtaposed with more modern art in some the rooms, with giant maps of the world and brightly colored walls. The rooms and beds all had funny names. I was in "Snow White's Room," and coincidentally I also had the "Snow White" Bed, a top bunk.

So after checking in and getting the room sorted, I grabbed my camera and headed out onto the Royal Mile. Here are some pictures of what I saw!

I really wanted Indian food, but I felt awkward asking for a table for one at a busy restaurant where other, larger groups, were waiting. So after wandering for a bit I found this little place called "Hula" that was actually a juice bar/art gallery. They serve carnivorous, vegetarian, vegan and gluten free foods as well. I had a yummy veggie wrap with guacamole, and this pretty latte.

Since it was late in the evening, I decided to save going inside the Castle for another day. It's really expensive to go in so I want to make sure I have sufficient time to see it all and really enjoy it!

Street performers: bagpipes and this circus-type guy. Apparently he's turned down Circus Soleil a few times because he believes they charge too much money. I also watched him juggle a live chain saw, a grenade and a machete. You can see him here laying on a bed of nails. 

This is called "World's End" because there was once only one road out of Edinburgh. You could leave for free, but if you wanted to enter into the city, you had to pay a toll. Unless you had a lot of money, you did not leave. So for most of the people who lived in what we now know as Old City, this spot marked the end of their world.

Doctor?

After exploring until about 8:30pm, I decided to head back to the Hostel. The wind was really picking up! When I got to my room (12 bed female dorm), a few girls were there who were American. They had also just arrived. We struck up conversation, and they invited me out with them that night. A pub called Ghillie Dhu was recommended to us where there would be live music and a céilidh! Of course I was excited! Traditional Scottish dancing was something on my list of things to do while I am here.

I could not get a good picture of it due to the confined space, but there was a beautiful spiral staircase leading up to the second floor of the pub where the dancing was to take place.

As you may be able to see, there were all ages involved in the dance.

 I got asked a few times to dance by the instructor, so that was really awesome! He was a very good leader so I was able to pick up the moves and the patterns pretty quickly. The three girls I came to the pub with seemed to really enjoy it too! We all partnered up throughout the night, but many of the dance require interaction with others and switching partners. It really was a great way to meet people. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and excited about our enthusiasm. Every time we decided to take a break and catch our breath, we would get asked again to join someone as their partner. My calves are sore this morning! It was quite a workout! But this was one of my favorite experiences so far - everyone was just smiling and laughing and having a good time, no one was judging your technique or anything. It was just fun!

Once the dancing had drawn to a close, we went back to the hostel. There were still a lot of people up, so we sat in the common room and chatted for a while. There were people from all over the world - some just passing through, others living in the hostel long term. I am looking forward to going back!