Friday, November 29, 2013

Feels Like Home to Me.


I'm finally back in Glasgow! These last two days have been a whirlwind.

I left for Glasgow around four in the afternoon Dallas time. I was sad to say goodbye to my mom and worried to fly eight hours, but once I got walked onto the plane, I realized everything would be ok. You see, I was in business class. Therefore I got my own TV, my chair folded out into a bed, and I practically got waited on for the duration of the flight. It's amazing what a little airline miles can do for you.



















Heathrow was chaotic, maybe because it was Thanksgiving, even though it is an American holiday. I was surprised how easy customs was. I couldn't believe that in a few short hours I would actually be in Glasgow! My short connecting flight took no time at all. But it took me a while to locate my bags and get situated before I could go see my friends. I wasn't sure if anybody was going to be home so I went where every American would go to relax and get on the internet, Starbucks. I went to order my drink but the lady behind the counter said something I couldn't understand. I asked her to repeat the question and she smiled and said "Would you like whipped cream on it", in a smile like, oh that's right, you are a silly American and cannot understand us. No! I just haven't been here for a year and my Scottish is rusty :). So I sat down to eat but it turned out that my friends were waiting for me and that I should hurry up and get there! But I was so nervous. Would I feel like a fish out of water here? Would it be like I never left?

So I hopped in the cab and went on my way. The cab driver asked me why I was visiting Glasgow. I told him that I had study abroad at the University of Glasgow and that I was coming back to see friends. He then said "So last year you came to study and this year you came to party". I guess so but I like to think that there is more to seeing my friends than just that.

 It is amazing what one cab drive can do for you. Glasgow was just how I remembered it. It was just like going to Denver (except its Glasgow). We found the flat and I got out of the cab and rang the bell as fast as I could. Cal, Julie, and Gordon greeted me at the door. It was like I had never left. It was so surreal to actually be with them rather than see them on skype.

First up was a tour of the flat. It really is the cutest little flat I have ever seen and it's so beautiful (All this is coming from an American. Perhaps British people think differently). It's so big and the architecture is so gorgeous. I feel like I am in a Bridget Jones book or something. Everyone has their own room (which is twice the size of my room in Colorado) plus a kitchen and a living room (where I am currently staying). It really is amazing.

After the tour we all caught up and then I took a little nap because I was so tired from the flight. Then I went to Cal's room to see what everyone was up to and Eve surprised me! It was so cute. She was all dressed up in America attire too. It was the best surprise.

Sense it was Thanksgiving we decided that we should have our own Thanksgiving. So at five at night we made our little trip to Tesco. It was nice to get out of the flat and see Glasgow again. Their flat is so close to everything I loved about Scotland (it's close to gym, to the University, to Tesco). I didn't think we could find all of what we needed but we did!

Julie and Eve did most of the cooking. The food was great. We started with Julie's awesome soup and a lot of bread and butter. Then we had Turkey, stuffing, vegetables, and mashed potatoes, and cider to drink. Stewart and Sorcha also stopped by to say hi. It was so good to see them! After Thanksgiving we played charades. Again, I felt like I was in a Bridget Jones book. It was so much fun. The game worked like this: Your team could chose a category to act out. If your team guessed the right answer then you got a point and were done with that category. However the other team could stop you from getting the right answer by answering before you did. Our teams were boys versus girls. We got down to one category each and the game went on forever. Finally it was my turn again and we won! We then took a little pie break and played again. This time the game was much shorter.
A British Thanksgiving


After the game I gave everyone the presents my sister wanted to give them. The all loved the Texas things she picked out. We also spent a little bit of time trying all the American candy (Razzles and War heads). Then we made my beautiful bed, two sofas pushed together. It is extremely comfortable. Then we called it a night.
The Bro Couple trying out my new bed 
My humble Abode
It was the best first day back I could've asked for. Although things are a little different, it still feels like home. Now on to today's adventures

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Return to Neverland



I cannot believe this day is happening! Tomorrow, I fly back to my beloved Scotland! I am hyperventilating!

I feel even more nervous than I was last year and that makes no sense! Last time I  was gone for three and a half months and I didn't even want to come back so soon and this time I am only going to be gone for one and a half weeks. That is no time at all. This time, I am also going back to people that I know and could could very well call family when before I had no idea what I was getting into.

I think part of it is that it's hard to come home from school to family and then to ship off to another country. Coming home makes it a lot harder to say goodbye to my family. Granted, I won't be missing too much and I will have about a month to spend with them. Also, my family will have a much better time in the mountains without all my moaning and groaning about how much I don't want to be there.

Part of it is also how easy this trip seems to be (knock on wood). Last year, it was such a big deal to go abroad. I was the little American that was over prepared. The United Kingdom was kind of a fairy tale land that I had never had enough time to spend in before. Now, I am packing the night before and my passport is this little nagging thing that I need to travel.

I guess the truth is that it will be different this time. But that is good. I want to go back to visit friends and not have to worry about school, right? It's just all so strange. I guess before I went abroad, I never envisioned myself coming back to visit. But the truth is, I left I piece of my heart in Glasgow. I might be nervous about the journey ahead but I know that once I get to Scotland, it will feel like I never left.

Seriously cannot wait to see these lovely people again!



My theme song for this trip