So, guess who thought she’d posted about week two but apparently didn’t and now subsequently has her posts out of order? At least I’m labeling the weeks in the titles, so hopefully ya’ll can figure it out.

Classes started on Monday. I find it a little odd that classes don’t start until the second week of the semester, but then again I’m American and I’ve only ever been to schools on the quarter system. I think the American part is probably more prevalent though.

My first class was liguistics, to which the professor did not show up. There were also only four of us waiting in the otherwise empty classroom, which was all around worrisome. My other two classes, Starting to Write, and Genre Writing, ended up both being taught by the same teacher who seems like she’ll be an excellent writing facilitator. She appears to be Indian, and has the accent, but has obviously been influenced by the Scottish way of speaking. It’s very interesting to hear how one accent is affected by another, though I do have to spend more time focused on what she’s saying than I can how. The classes themselves have a larger focus on literary theory that other writing classes I’ve taken, (in that there actually is a focus on literary theory) so that will be an interesting point of comparison.

It snowed one night early in the week, which, according to one of our resident assistants, hasn’t happened in several years.

Because of the way my classes are set up, I have Tuesdays and Wednesdays free, so I decided to go on a photo adventure to the National Museum of Scotland.

This is just one side of the Museum. There’s another bit that’s older around the corner. The mix of architectural styles and time periods is persent just about everywhere you go.

I only managed to make it through a couple of sections before my camera decided it well and truly hated me and if I insisted on taking any more photos it was going to make sure every single one came out blurry. That was about when I left.

This is why I make a habit of looking up no matter where I go. There was a section of painted roof displayed on the ceiling and if I had spent my time only concerned with what was at eye level I would have missed it.

I also spent my days off visiting cafés that I’d noticed while walking various places. My Starting to Write class had an assignment to go to a café and observe three people, so I decided to use it as an excuse to try several places out. My favorite ended up being the first one I tried, which also happens to be the closest.

I did take a picture of the outside, but I think this is more interesting. One of the postcards/picture things proclaims buiscuits and potatoes to be friends, but I don’t remember the reasoning. Or if there was any reasoning. It could have been an unsubstantiated claim. Also, if there’s an emergency, we’re supposed to breakdance.

And then Friday was Burns Night. They don’t actually call it the Night of Burns. I wouldn’t recommend calling it that. I’m pretty sure they’ll think you’ve lost your mind. Some people might get what you mean, but really, why risk it?

My flatmates and I went to The Golf Tavern to celebrate because they had two for one haggis that night and they are literally right next door.

Haggis, (lightly) mashed potatoes, some gravy thing I didn’t try, and turnips. All really good, though haggis is a little spicy for my tastes. Also, my parents were super amused when I told them about “two for one haggis.” I have no idea why. I just thought I’d share that.