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.