It's choice not chance that determines your destiny.

Before I came to Scotland everyone was telling me about how Scotland would change my ideas on life. That it would change me as a Human Being. I have only been here for twenty eight days, so I can't completely say for sure it hasn't or has. All I can say is that yes it is effecting me. It is making me think twice about things I did naturally for the simple reason I do not wish to offend anyone. However, my worldview, my ideas on life, have all stayed in tact and if anything coming to Scotland has helped me to support them even more.

While I was in the Highlands I went to the Firth of Moray. It was a nice little sandy/rocky bit of coast with a small white house on top of it. I was there for two hours. I completely cut myself off from everyone around me. First I took off my shoes and walked barefoot on a patch of sand and let the cold ocean water slowly make my feet numb. The entire time I was looking out over the Firth just thinking about life, myself, and others.

My view on the world is complicated, but simple to say. Maybe not so much to explain. However, I believe in choices. Everything is a choice. You choose. You decide. I'll explain this a bit more because after class I was seriously debating exactly how my view of choices would be explained completely considering everything that makes up a worldview.

Worldview is your idea on God, humanity, nature, questions of existence, the universe and cosmos, life, moral and ethical reasoning, suffering, death and other philosophical issues that influence how its members perceive their world. (According to my lovely intercultural book)

Now as I sat their and stared out over the Firth there was one simple thing that my choices view couldn't answer. I could answer about God, you can choose to believe in one or not, humanity has a choose of how to live their lives and purposes, we can choose to appreciate nature or destroy it, etc. etc.

However, I couldn't answer one question with that view. How did the earth get here? I know I have the idea that it was by chance and a random occurrence. But, my view of the world is very set in choices and random chance isn't a choice. Then as I was sitting there on the sand I had an Epiphany. I have never need to know everything. The answer to how the earth happened may not be consistent with my overall worldview, but that doesn't mean it can't be a dimension of it.

I have no religion. I have no label. As I sat there staring at a couple of seals playing in the Firth I asked myself. Am I as happy as people with religions? Am I as happy as someone with a label like Agnostic or an Atheist?

My answer was yes. I'm as happy, if not happier than anyone else in the world. I then just sat on the sand and stared out over the ocean while I watched the seals CHOSE to play with each other. I was happy I CHOSE to come to Scotland.

In London Everythings Extra

So I went to the wonderful city of London. As previously stated. However I should probably go into more detail of what I actually did.

In order to get to London we went the cheap route of taking something called a Mega-Bus. This Mega-Bus is basically a coach bus that drives throughout the night for eight straight hours to get to London from Edinburgh. We left at 10pm from Edinburgh, and arrived in London at 8am. It turns out that 8am is actually rush hour in London. So our group of 35 had to learn to ride the tube(the subway) during rush hour. Thankfully I was a quick learner and got it quickly.

We arrived at the Generator, our Hostel, and got our rooms. I was in room 348.(I took a picture of it in order to remember my number). We than got back on the tube to go on a free walking tour of London to get a bit of knowledge of what or where we wanted to go.

The picture above is my first picture in London in Hyde Corner Park which was three stops away from Russell Square where my Hostel was. The monument we are in-front of is in honor of the Duke of Wellington(ever heard of the Wellington boot?) It was made to mock the French as the English often do.

After our tour we went to lunch with a tour guide for a lunch that was 25% off. I had macaroni and cheese and broccoli that I shared with Brandon. After words we headed off to the British Museum to kill time until we left for dinner before Wicked. After about an hour in the British Museum Brandon and I headed back out into the world.

And in this world we got lost for about 2 hours. It was okay though, we got directions from maps and locals and wandered our way back to our Hostel. It was actually quite fun, and made us be able to see more of London as we were wandering. It turns out we were once exactly a block away from our Hostel, but thought we were going the wrong way so we turned around.

After my lost adventure, I got ready for Wicked and we headed to a diner in central London that served Italian food. I am not someone who likes Italian food. However I had a pasta dish with eggs, onions, white sauce, and bacon(canadian bacon). It was probably the best dish ever!!! It was one of the cheaper things on the menu because this place was a little spendy. After dinner we headed out to Wicked. It was amazing, and I think Wicked sounds even better with a British accent. A weird thing the Brits do, during intermission you can eat food! I had an orange push pop during the intermission at this really nice theater(the apollo).

After that we wandered back onto the tube and to our Hostel. The next morning we got up early to head to the Tower of London!! WOOT!! It was so friggen awesome. It was everything I'd hoped it could be. A debbie downer is that I didn't get to see as much of it as I wanted, even though I was there for three hours. I plan on going back to London specifically for the Tower. I was unable to get in the chapel that holds Anne Boleyn's body. So I need to go back. I did however purchase a locket in the shape of the Tudor Rose.

After the Tower I headed to Chinatown with Paige, and we ate at this little Vietnamese restaurant. We got a giant bowl of soup.(which was great for me cuz I was pretty sick by this point) The soup was only 5 pounds and the bowl was bigger than my head. I also had fresh pineapple juice which was amazing. After that Paige and I haggled at some shops, and wandered into a bunch of bakeries. The bake goods were so cheap we got a bunch to sample. I was even able to find the wonderful creation known as Mt. Dew in a Chinese shop, most of the U.K. fails to have any Mt. Dew! IT IS DEPRESSING. Later that night I went to Les Miserables and fell in love with the musical. So I plan on getting the sound track soon.

By this time my feet hurt and I head back to my hostel. I did other things, but this post is getting too long, so I'll end it with my train ride home. I rode the train for the first time ever, and it was awesome. I watch the scenery flash by, and got to see the Scottish Coast. It was amazing. Now it is time for class. So I best be going. BYES!

History is History? OR not

I have never really thought exactly what makes up my culture before. In fact, I was foolish and probably unconsciously thought most cultures were like mine with a bit of variation. After being in class on Thursday, I honestly still feel it is.

Do not get me wrong. Cultures are all different, but that is something that ties all human beings together, we all have a culture. Perhaps this isn't making sense.

I went to London for the weekend, and I didn't think it would be anything different than Scotland. I thought to myself they are both in the U.K., they both contain accents. Example one. I assumed that the accents were extremely similar and both attractive. I realized shortly after getting on the tube and hearing the London-ers speak. English and Scottish accents are completely different. I think after having hearing it for so long around Dalkeith I somehow thought Scottish and English were now the same sounding. False.

Communication between two cultures on the same continent is vastly different. Which is understandable considering their History is similar but completely different. I went to the Tower of London, and hear all about how Henry the eighth went all crazy and chopped off peoples head, and you hear about that history continuously. You hear about the monarch falling, rising the struggles between the monarch and its people. Basically it is Queen this, King that.

In Scotland, that isn't what you hear about. You hear of William Wallace, Robert the Bruce(not very often referred to as king), the 300 years Scotland was free of England, the unfair vote Scotland has in Parliament. You never hear anything about a royal family in Dalkeith, and I do not know of the Buccluech family doing any type of ceremonies continuously ever year. (Unless it involves the Queen).

In other words. These two Cultures of people Scottish and English are different in a bit of a hidden way. Due to their History, England's culture is deeply entwined in the Monarch. It is in their daily speech of communicating about how the Queen is, or refering to her still as your Grace, her royal Highness, even though she has currently no political power. In English families it is a tradition to watch the Queen give her address to the people on Christmas Day, to wish them all a happy christmas.
In Scotland, you hear about their struggle for independence and breaking free from the U.K. This is communicated in local papers, by word of mouth. If you look at their history, this is always something, that the Scots have tried to do. In families they still discuss independence from England. When I was in Mason's there was a father and son discussing the different politics in the world. Constantly keeping up on them.

It is just weird to me. That in England the Monarch is so important to daily lives. I went to the palace, paraliment, westminster abbey, the tube, every muesem possible, the tower of london, the eye, and london bridge. EVERY SINGLE ONE SOMEHOW HAD THE QUEEN INVOLVED!! Crazy isn't it? I think it is.

Ha I'll post soon about more adventures, this was really my pondering blog today. BYES!

The Accent, The Voice, The Conversation.

I have had many different conversations with people now after being here for about 11 days. One thing that every conversation I had, had in common was simple. They were all animated. People were so excited to talk to me, about the U.S. about the Dalkeith House, about their lives in General. During the Open House we had a Dalkeith House, we allowed people fro the town of Dalkeith to come in and see the house. We gave them tours.

I took on the job of the escort showing them to each room, for them to learn about. I was a bit paranoid about saying something incorrectly, so I monitored my self a lot in the beginning. As the day progressed though, I was more comfortable and not as wary.

Some old ladies tried to kidnapp me for tea but I was able to fight them off by saying I was still giving tours!! They were actually quite nice, and just wanted a bit more of a chat.

I found that most Scots are indirect in their communication. When I was talking to most of the Scots it seemed that, they preferred to not interrupt and if they were interrupted they wouldn't interrupt you back. I did it once, but caught on quick.

For example, I was talking to an old man who working in the Dalkeith House back when it was empty and they were using it for computer system thing. Aka before Wisc in Scotland. He told me about the writting in the attic from the polish soldiers who were housed their during the world war II. I listened in depth to his story which I realize now probably was what he expected, he then asked me for a story about the house, and I told one of the many old ghost stories. He listned intently which made me feel good about myself, but I doubt he appreciated my story very much. I'm not a good story teller!

Well that's it for today!

Pip Pip Cheerio!

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” – James Michener

Today there was a bit of a close call. Not for me, but the people I was with on my way to Franco's. Franco's is not very far at all from Dalkeith House. It is about 4 blocks I'd say. Well it was around 9 o'clock here and we decided to do a run there. We passed through a group of locals who were preteens I'd say, first they almost ran us over while their hooligan ways. I was in a group of about 8, all female and one male.

After we got our food at Franco's we began our trek back. First I had to hear people grumble about the unhealthy fried food and Franco's. So what? They fry things here; pizza, hambugers, cheeseburgers, haggis, hotdogs, fish, you name it they fry it. It is part of their culture, and just what they eat. Oh yeah, so on our way back we had to pass back through the hoodlums. The females were freaking out a wee bit, so I said, "It is all good I'm here. Just be quiet and mind out own business we'll be fine" I said the I was here part in a joking way.

So, I was at the head of the group just walking munching on a slice of pizza, and walked through the group they said something to me, I ignored it. So they ignored me. Do you think the people I was with could do that? No they just had to respond, which led to the group calling out to them way after we passed them.

Sure, nothing happened. I didn't think anything would happen. Regardless. I was a bit irritated. I should have crossed them to the other side of the road. I blame myself a bit for saying not to worry. I should have been more serious and not joking.

One girl in our group did get growled/lunged at. Let's just say I wouldn't have interfered, and I seriously was going on my own way. Does this make me a bad person?

I think I'm just adjusting to the culture more. I see Locals be called out to by the preteens at night and they ignore it too. Maybe I'm just more aware of my surroundings, maybe I'm more laid back. Maybe I over think things.

I think I'm just sick of people. While in a large group it seems to just be obnoxious. I'd rather be out on my own or in a small two person group. Plus some people seem to not understand discretion or how to act their age or to understand that just because it is legal to drink doesn't mean it need to become your water.

Goodnight. That's it for my rant.

“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the land, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” – Cesare Pavese
It was weird, being thrown or actually throwing myself into a new culture, a new world. I didn't fully understand the trip I was taking, until well I actually took it. Even crossing over through the different airports, I slowly realized I was not in the comfort of my own country, or in the comfort of familiarity.

I still got on my planes though, and I still got off at my ports. I wandered through Paris's airport confused by my inability to speak French, and the thick french accents everywhere I went. I found my gate by using different gestures and such to be directed to it. Face planted by tripping over, my own feet while going down the gate to the shuttle, that would take me to the plane. I slept for the first time on my trip for a wee 49minutes, and was awoken by the nice French couple next to me. I went through customs with the couple from France who temporarily adopted me on my AirFrance flight. I walked up to Patty who was holding the Wisc-Scotland sign, and boarded the Dalkeith shuttle after loading in my hot pink luggage.

The entire time, the only thing I could think was, why am I here? What am I doing? This isn't the USA any more. I just paid a load of money to go somewhere extremely different and strange and out of my comfort zone. What was I thinking?

Then I met the people I would be spending my semester with, and what an odd looking group they were. I saw old faces, new faces. I met people who immediately made me giggle. I met people who immediately made me excited to travel.

I entered the place that was to be my home, and was amazed by its beauty. It was historic, it was old, and it was mine. My place to call home on this odd journey I had decided to take. I then wandered out of this new sanctuary full of fellow Americans and Wisconsin and Minnesotan accents into Dalkeith. I ended up in a little food shop called Franco's. I was a bit intimidated. Franco looked like a short tough Scottish man who I thought would give me a gruff time or something.

He didn't.

He was nice, and made me a pepperoni pizza from scratch. It was delicious. It was amazing. His co-worker taught me the proper way to say Fanta, and told me what everything was in the shop. It turned out it was all fried something. Fried Pizza to Fried Haggis. Fish and Chips. Along with other such things. She was very pleasant, and she made me laugh quite a few times.

On my way back to my house aka Dalkeith Palace. I passed many locals of Dalkeith and was greeted friendly by each of them. Let's just say my fears and uncertainties were fading away with each smile I received.
After returning to the House I was assigned my room. I was place in Room 107 with 4 other ladies: Sara, Melissa, Amy, & Paige. It turns out this room was once the Nursery and believed to be haunted by two ghosts. A nurse and a baby. So far half of us believe this is true, the other half think it is bull.

At the bottom of this blog is a picture of the view outside the window by my bed. It is amazing, and I love waking up to it everyday.

After getting settled in my room. I met my roommates we all love eachother. It was then on to orientation. After orientation it was back onto the streets of Dalkeith. I was comfortable. This was my home. Dalkeith was safe now.

The next day we were taken to Edinburgh. Uncharted territory, and once again I was nervous and a bit fearful. I rode on a public transportation double decker bus for the first time ever. It was fun, and a long ride.

I entered Edinburgh and it was so big, and jam packed. There were people everywhere, and I just knew I'd get lost or get pick pocketed. Of course neither one of this things ended up happening, but at the time they seemed inevitable. I was led to Edinburgh Castle by Resident Director Patty and her wife Natalie. The group I was with was then told to just let loose and go. It TERRIFIED ME!! I am a pretty independent person, but we had just spent orientation being told about pick pockets, and knives being used more then guns and AHHH!

I made it to the castle and wandered around it. Marveling at its history and beauty. I received a tour by Gavin a Scotsman wearing a kilt, and was shocked at his hatred of Bagpipes, this just showed me that not all Scots enjoy the bag pipes, and to be honest I still haven't met someone who does!

I got lost in the castle and a nice man and woman helped me find my way back. Edinburgh was becoming safe as well. Towards the end of the day I returned to Dalkeith finding my way back with two others. It was a comfortable ride back, like I'd been doing it all my life.

I grabbed some fish in chips on my way back from the bus drop, and enjoyed a bit of brown sauce and salt on them. As I was walking up to Dalkeith house I looked at it, and was happy. I was living here. Exploring here. Nothing seemed scary any more. Everything just looked so much brighter.

Plus with a view like this outside my window each morning how could my future travels not be anything but amazing.