September 25-30: Pier Walk, Chinese Moon Festival, and Neuroscience

     I spent a lot of time in coffee shops and in the library this week, and I enjoyed the time I spent, earbuds in, sipping tea, studying neuroscience and the old testament. I've been very productive. It was good to have a few moments to breathe and collect myself.

     The entire weekend I devoted to studying neuroscience, but I had some time for fun, too. Friday night, my plans got rearranged, so I ended up having an impromptu ice cream party in my room! My friend Hannah and I found "Ice Cream Rolls" at Tesco, which were like ice cream sushi, and, intrigued, brought them back to share. We had a good time and laughed a lot that evening. 

     Saturday, I slept in before meeting a friend for coffee to discuss the writings of Tolstoy. The rest of the day I spent studying, and I got a lot done. 

     Sunday was really good - I attended church, which was fantastic, as usual. I left a little early so I could meet my friends to participate in the St Andrews traditional Pier Walk. In this tradition, each week, after St Salvatore's service ends, students emerge, donned in their gowns (which I did not buy because, gosh, they're way too expensive to buy for only one semester), and walk down to East Sands pier. Here, they walk down the rocky path to the end and ascend up a rickety ladder. Then, the somewhat terrified students balance on the upper ledge as they walk back. As I walked, I could really see why this is a longstanding tradition - the view is breathtaking. There are few sights as lovely. Pictures really never do this place justice.

This view!

     After the pier walk, we made it back for lunch, and then I headed to a classmate's house for tea, scones, and, most importantly, study group. I can't describe how helpful it was to have help understanding the concepts, and I left after a few hours feeling much more positively about where I am academically. 

     I spent the rest of the day resting, and preparing for the adventure I would have in a few hours - the Chinese Moon Festival. My roommate is from China, so to celebrate this equivalence of Thanksgiving, I bought the closest treats I could find to mooncakes, and we emerged from our dorm just after 3am to watch the moon together on the beach. Here's a picture of us looking real rough after rolling out of bed on 2 hours of sleep. The evening was very nice, and I think we went back to bed around 4:30. 

     Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I studied a lot and sorted out further bureaucratic red tape concerning my visa and financial aid. In the words of Lorelei Gilmore, "Oy with the poodles already!" It's pretty annoying that there's so much administrative rigmarole and hoops to jump through. But if that's what it takes to be here, than so be it! I can't imagine anywhere that is more beautiful, or that would provide a better education, or that would fit me better in any way. It's worth it, whatever it takes to be here. I spent the day Monday studying foundations of neuroscience, which I realized in my study group Sunday, that I was supposed to already know. That's the caveat of studying abroad the way I am - you aren't on the same track curriculum-wise, so you never know what you're missing. However, I found some good material, and I spent the day catching myself up.

     I love Wednesdays because I don't have classes. As this evening comes to a close, I'm connecting with friends from home and hoping that I happen upon Hugh Grant or Jamie Dornan, who are actually here right now for the golf tournament! Ironically, Hugh Grant is banned from university buildings for his, um... "antics," whereas Jamie Dornan is the happily married responsible one. But most excitingly, the close of the week is going bring me to London with my roommate! It promises to be very exciting, and I look forward to the new sights I will have the opportunity to take in.

Sept 21-25: Scotland, My Heart

     My heart belongs here. It really feels like everything I think the world should be, it is here. All my dreams and hopes, all my fantasies of moss-covered castles and strikingly beautiful places - all of it, converges, in this one little corner of the world, and they decided to call it St Andrews. I can't imagine a place more beautiful in the entire world.
     God has sparked renewal inside me. He took my thousand-year-old, weary heart, and He delighted and strengthened me. When I look back at my life, and I look at the restoration and wholeness I see now, I am overwhelmed by God's lavish grace and work in making me whole in Him. God has given me all the desires of my heart.
     God loves to bless His children - and truly, when He is our delight, He will never deny us more of Himself. He delights to make us smile, the way any loving Father would. Anything I could ever desire and more, more than I even know how to appreciate or show thanks for, God has lavished upon me in the wisdom of His character. There is little else to say than this - my cup runneth over.
     And God didn't need to do this! God is unchanging and good - He was good in the worst of times, and He is good in the best of times.

When peace like a river attendeth my way -

When sorrows like sea billows roll; 

Whatever my lot; Thou hast taught me to say,

"It is well! It is well with my soul."

There have been bad times - and for them, I praise God all the more. I hope I can encourage you... that when it seems like nothing good can ever grow from the barrenness of your life again, that there can be no restoration from such a state of brokenness - just when you are tempted to despair, God reminds us of His continual work of healing with a simple foretaste of the infinitely good things He has for us.

All this earth

Could all that is lost ever be found?

Could a garden come up from this ground at all?

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of the dust.

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us.

The weather here is wonderful. It's eternally autumnal, and the rain makes it all the better.

Our libraries are beautiful. 

St Mary's Library and King James Library has a long history. Founded for Mary Queen of Scotts, this library has been the recipient of donations from many historical figures. Parts of the building have been used for parliament and even as the workshop of scientist James Gregory, who helped discover calculus, create the reflecting telescope, and calculate the distance to the sun. The pictures really don't capture it, but it's very inspirational and old-feeling in there.

View out the library window

Entrance to St Mary's Quad

Secret back way to get to my dorm, overgrown with ferns and trees.

Note the greenish tint to the ground...

Because moss is everywhere - 

Just as it should be!

You can get a peek at the sea from the end of this street.

There should be more moss in America. It adds a magical wonderment to the atmosphere of life.

Yorkshire pudding!

Wine and Cheese night

These lovely, classy ladies make me smile :) 

Dorm fire drill at 6:30am... well, it is still college.

I don't know if you can tell, but there's a beautiful rainbow hidden in that cloud.

Beautiful skyline on the water

Waves rolling in

Beautiful shore

You can't totally tell what's going on here, but the wind is so strong that it creates currents of sand rushing into the sea.

I love the little grassy hills beyond the beach.

It wouldn't be St Andrews without continual golf tournaments!

Quaint turn on my walk back to my dorm

I found St Andrews' most hidden gem of the town - Toppings and Company. They serve tea to their browsers, they have really cool rolling ladders that make you feel like you're in Beauty and the Beast, and the store is filled with nooks and crannies and places to sit and read for hours!

Another pretty book store

Lovely lane... pictures can't do this place justice

I love how greens sprout out of everything here

There are a lot of these little doors in all the stone walls which line the streets. They're tiny, so naturally, I've donned them to be Hobbit Holes.

The street on which I live! In fact, if you want my address, here it is: 

University of St Andrews

2.21 John Burnet Hall

30 Links Cres

St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JF

Chocolate cookie and a chai tea latte, because, as the ESV says, 

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Or as the Sarah Version says,

"Today's a good day, gosh darn it, and it deserves to be celebrated!"

My new favorite place - the Bean Room, where I got an Emerald Fog (basically green tea latte) and a scone. Yum! Good end to a good week,

September 18-20: Lemons to Lemonade - My Deportation to Paris

Friday - Travel and Recouperation

     I had to leave the country and return to get a stamp on my visa - so where should I go? I hemmed and I hawed. I looked through my Pinterest travel boards, researched cheap flights, and asked fellow travelers for opinions. But what finally persuaded me were the immortal words of one of my dearest role models, Audrey Hepburn - "Paris is always a good idea."

Well, that settled it in my mind, and off I went.

     After 12 hours of travel on only 2 hours of sleep, I was more than thankful to reach my hotel room Friday evening. It was already getting dark, so I spent Friday night in my hotel room reviving myself with a good chick flick, some tea, and a nice dinner I had packed.

My hotel was right by the train station, Gare du Nord.

Walking Around Odeon, 5th, and 6th arr.

 Saturday morning, I took the metro to Odeon and walked around the 5th and 6th arr.

Flower boxes are a common and delightful feature on these old French buildings.

People watching at Danton Cafe

Typical old french buildings are built in the style of the above.

I got a macaroon from a fancy dessert place called Larnicol.

Typical Parisian street

Old-timey car winds down the street of a Paris market

These outdoor shopping streets are my favorite places to walk.

How picturesque!

Old buildings like this add to the elegant French feeling of the district.

The River Seine

Jardin Du Luxembourg

Luxembourg Palace is the home of the French senate, and the large gardens which surround it make for a lovely walk.

I'm quite a fan of tree-lined streets. Apparently, Paris is the place to go for such a thing.

I loved seeing the many violinists which play on the streets.

Saint Sulspice Church

After wandering about, I met up with my uncle's coworker, Mathilde, who showed me around. She was an absolute sweetheart, and I was so grateful to have someone with whom to spend the day. She didn't even know me, yet she gave up her whole day to show me around, and she even bought me lunch! How blessed I am that even strangers show me so much kindness and goodness. God shows me His goodness every day through His instruments of love and provision. Our first stop was this grand church.

Notre Dame

We did not go inside Notre Dame, as the line was outrageous, but I was quite glad to have gotten a glimpse at the outside. I love how massive, looming, and impressive it is.

Lunch!

I was quite glad when we decided to break for lunch. We stopped at a lovely outdoor restaurant and enjoyed the warm Paris weather.

Lovely outdoor restaurant

I got a bacon, tomato, and goat cheese crepe (though it doesn't look much like a crepe) - yum!

After lunch, we bought dessert at Gerard Mulot and walked to the River Seine, stopping to see a few old buildings and market streets on the way. 

Cute outdoor books and magazine shop.

The famous Lock Bridge. Couples from around the world come here to write their initials on a lock and add their contribution to the bridge which promises to immortalize their love. Unfortunately, the bridge has become so heavy that it brinks on collapse, so they are taking the locks down. This is one of the last sections that exists.

Eclairs across from the Louvre - perfect.

Having an Audrey Hepburn moment inside.

The Louvre

The world's most famous art museum, home of the Mona Lisa and other famous paintings. Again, we did not go inside the museum - I'll save that for another time. There was too much to see in just one day to waste the day away in lines!

The Louvre is currently under some construction, as you can see in from the main court pictured above.

The famous glass pyramids of the Louvre.

Madeline and 1st, 2nd, 9th arr.

France is known for its shopping. We walked around the really expensive shopping districts, pictured below.

Though you can't quite tell because of the glare, these French shops take pride in their extensive window displays.

This very famous shoe shop created and popularized the ballerina shoe. 

We climbed the eight floors of the posh French department store, Printemps, to glimpse a rooftop view of the city.

Paris Opera House

Most known in popular culture for the legend of the Phantom of the Opera, this gorgeous Palais Garnier is no longer in use as an opera house, but its legend lives on.

Petite Palais and Surrounding Area

We headed across the lovely river to the trendiest new drinks place, where you can lounge and enjoy the lovely view.

Eiffel Tower

Once again on my own, I headed to the Eiffel tower.

Arc de Triomphe

Finally, I took a bus to the Arc de Triomphe and saw the Champs-Elysees. There happened to be a parade at the Arc, which was really cool to see. A lovely end to a lovely day. 

I walked over 16 miles that day, according to my pedometer. So, I was happy when I finally took the metro back to my hotel and collapsed in bed for a good night's rest.

Home Sweet Home

I suppose it would be a gross exaggeration to claim that no one has ever been happier to arrive back in Scotland, but I certainly can't imagine being more thankful when I landed. People that speak my own language! Edinburgh - my favorite city in the world! The Scottish countryside and mossy knolls! France was a delight, but I mus say - Scotland is an incredible place. I've never been one for homesickness, but France certainly threw me for a loop. I arrived back in the country, received the coveted visa stamp, and arrived back at my dorm, safe and sound. I couldn't be happier to be back.