Hello, Hello. Sorry for such a lag between the updates. I haven't done anything nearly as exciting as rafting or traveling in a while so I haven't really had much to talk about but I think after so many weeks I have a few things to write about and a few pictures to share. Like a traditional Scottish conversation I'll start with the weather. I am still getting used to the fact that they actually have seasons here. Literally all the leaves are losing their leaves after they turn the most amazing colors. It's a nice change of pace really but I could leave the weather change any time for California.
It's getting cold... really cold. As my friend Ben, also a UCSB student here, said, "It's not a matter of getting used to how cold it is but learning how to look like you're not cold." haha so true. Last Saturday on Halloween it was so nice out. The sun was shinning... that right there was enough to celebrate! I used this brief break in general gray and cloudy to wear my flip-flops out when a friend and I went to a fancy dress shop (costume shop). And of course in true Scottish style while queuing up outside the shop (everyone was getting costumes for the night) it started to rain. Not drizzle but rain. Last time I ever try and leave my flat with my rainbow flip flops on. The funniest thing was as soon as I met up with Amanda she looked at my sandals and told me it most likely would rain now, lucky she brought her umbrella.
The Sunday following Halloween it decided to rain, really rain, all day. I went out once and my fake ugg boots are still recovering. I bought some wonderfully colorful Wellies (aka Wellingtons/rain boots) at a really cool vintage store for only £8. My feet will not stay dry on rainy days. :] Other than the rain it's just cold. About 12-10ºC in the day and 5-3ºC at night. burrrr.
A few weekends ago a group of us made a trip down to Leith, which is an area just outside the city center on the Firth of Forth, near the ocean. Even though we were told that there wasn't much going on down there we were still a little disappointed how literal that was. Two great things came out of the trip though. 1- one of the best meals I've had here. It was absolutely delicious. I got mussels in a garlic cream sauce and just demolished them. 2- we saw the most perfect rainbow.
Halloween was fun here. I thought maybe it wouldn't be celebrated as much but I was very wrong. I dressed up as a bee. It was a good time. Several of the local student pubs put on Halloween parties that we went to. What I remember more from the weekend is Sunday night. A group of about ten of us, all American but one French girl who spends time with us, went to the student union sports bar and watched the Greenbay vs Vikings game. It was so funny. We were all yelling at the TV and we were one of the two groups of people watching the game. The other group was a single guy in a Bears jersey and cap. hahaha. It was really nice to do something that was extremely familiar. Our French friend, Anna, had no idea what was going on but we showed her the SNL superfan Bears clips so now she will just randomly say DA BEARS. Which has to be the best things ever or at least really close to the best.
I have purchased my plane tickets, yes tickets plural, for my Christmas break. I'm going to Belgium to spend Christmas with family. I'm so excited for that. So very very excited. I fly back to Edinburgh on the 31st of Dec for Hogmanay. Hogmanay, which means New Years in Gaelic (not gay-lic, in Scotland, the Scottish Gaelic, it's pronounced gah-lic), is the huge new year celebration in the streets with music and art performances and fireworks. Then late on the first I fly to Madrid to be with my best friend for a week. She's studying in Madrid for the year and I will be there for her birthday which is really exciting!
School is school. It's going. Two weekends from now I have my trip to Dublin so I will have more to talk about. Miss you all.
Peace and Love
-Liesbeth
