Edinburgh, Scotland

Taylor Watson

CIEE Summer in Edinburgh, Scotland

Major: Visual Arts – Animation

 

 

Pre-Departure Blog Post #1

Hello from Dover, Delaware, Dear reader!

My name is Taylor Watson, and I am a sophomore animation major at UMBC!

I leave for Scotland in about two days, and I am buzzing with excitement. I’m taking some time today to prepare for my trip with all the necessities. I’m starting my morning with a fresh retwist! Getting my hair done before big trips is my favorite part, honestly. It’s so relaxing!! I get to tell everyone at the salon why I’m getting my hair done! I’m also gathering up my hair-care products! I’m worried they might take up too much space. Wish me luck! I’m getting my passport and documents in order as well. It’s super important to have your ducks in a row on this, so make sure you have copies and copies and copies. I’m also printing out other papers like my flight information as well! I have an overnight flight, and I’m so ready to take a nap and wake up in a completely different country. Can you imagine getting shaken from your nap in a completely different timezone?! It might be jarring, but I find that incredibly cool.

Packing has got to be the most difficult part for me. It can’t get harder than this! I mentioned my hair products taking up too much space, and man, was I right. It’s like Tetris in my suitcase. I’m watching the weather and climate, and making sure I have the appropriate clothes to wear!! Sunscreen, bug spray, ponchos, umbrellas, make-up, shoes, and school supplies. Every time I think I have everything, I remember I need something else. Unfortunately, my room is trashed with all my clothes. Keeping an eye on unpredictable weather is something I didn’t really think about until recently. I just got my hair done, so I am bringing SEVERAL ponchos. I can’t have my hair rained on!! While I get ready, I’m making sure I keep a journal with me!  I want to call it a connection journal and use it to maintain meaningful experiences during my time abroad. A new friend? They get a page! A funny joke? Written down! Somebody held a door for me? Well, that’s awfully sweet. I’m writing it down. Beautiful sunset? I’m drawing it AND writing it down! I want to remember everything about everything with my journal!!! I think it would be nostalgic to read back on the things that made me happy, and I can also share my journal with the readers of this very blog!

I’m also taking time to talk to my parents about being as safe as possible. I’m going to be 1 million miles from home, and frankly, I haven’t been farther than Colorado. My mom asked if I’d be interested in sewing an AirTag into my hair. It was funny, but she wasn’t serious….. I think. I hope she wasn’t serious. Regardless, I’m making it a point to remember important numbers for the police or ambulance. Having this information is incredibly important for me and those who are traveling with me. Having all of these papers printed and lined up makes me feel like such a professional traveler. Was packing hard? Yes. Do you know what’s harder? Hugging my friends goodbye! I’m making some last visits to my folks back home before I’m gone for a month, and I’m going to miss them terribly. My family hasn’t let me out of their sight!

How am I feeling now, three hours after I started writing? I am so excited! I am also equally nervous. While I sit in my room, surrounded by 100 outfits and 26 pairs of socks, I’m feeling my tension ease up a bit. I can’t wait to share everything about my time. I’m so happy I get to take you along with me, dear reader! My main goal is to just have a great time. I am so happy I get to blog in real time about my experiences because I’ve never been this far from home before. This is new, this is exciting, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There’s no going back now, my tickets are non-refundable!! I’ll see you next time, dear reader! I can’t wait to tell you everything!!

Goodbye, From Dover, Delaware.

 

Blog #2

Hello from Scotland, dear reader!!

Man, I’ve been on the move since I’ve been here! Let me get you up to speed!! I got on a flight from Philadelphia and was a little afraid!! I don’t do very well with plane take-offs, so I always get nervously chatty!! Regardless, I went through the TSA area and hugged my mom goodbye! She cried, I cried, and the officers working the line were tired of us! I got on my first flight from Philly to Dublin for my 2-hour layover. From there, I had another flight from Dublin to Edinburgh! I slept through most of it and woke up in a different country! It was a bit jarring, but it gave me a good chuckle! When I landed, the head of my program took me and my classmates to our apartments! It is so nice to have my own room and bathroom! I was absolutely tickled!! It’s super cozy and comfortable!

It is only day 4 here, but it feels like I’ve been here forever! I am studying abroad and taking a history course about Scotland, as I am sure you’re aware. That’s been keeping me so busy, I haven’t had time to be homesick. Every time I get mopey and sad, I find a new cafe to try.  I’ve been seeing beautiful landscapes and historical monuments, and trying to take pictures of everyone!! The weather has been unusually sunny here in Scotland, and a few locals have joked with our group that we “Brought it with us”. Unfortunately, it’s about to rain for 2 straight weeks! I do like the rain, but because I have been walking everywhere, things are about to get a little more difficult.

Edinburgh is such a diverse and safe city!! I feel super comfortable walking around here, and there are so many places to eat and explore!! Fun fact, they repurpose their old churches into community centers!! I find that to be amazing! I’ve been to a community center here and it is just brimming with fun events and little cafes I fancy. It is a ton of fun, and there is always something to do! There is always something to see, there is always a bus to take or a train to catch. I still have 28 days left here, and I am already devastated that I have to leave at some point. However, I will live in the present and not get too wrapped up in the future.

What have I done so far? Dear reader, I haven’t walked this much in a long time. I’m talking 20,000 steps every day! That is a lot for me, and my feet hurt a bit!!  Every day, there is a new place to explore in this city. My favorite thing I’ve done is the Stirling Castle tour. It is always so interesting to be in a place with such a rich historical history. Walking cobblestone streets built hundreds of years ago fills me with curiosity I just can’t describe. Other than that, I’ve done a trivia event, a hike to the Wallace Monument, and several strolls around the gigantic parks in the area. Everything here is just so breathtaking. During the trivia event, I was on a team called the lady-dragons! We didn’t win, but our name was cooler than everybody there, so that should count for something. There is the old city and the new city, and it is super cool to see how there is a shift in architecture! These buildings are beautifully done!

What have I learned so far? I learned so much already!! I learned about Scotland’s history and its relationship with England! I’ve learned how to navigate the wing of the city I am staying in. I also learned that the national animal of Scotland is, wait for it, a unicorn!! How awesome is that!! This city has so many stories, and I haven’t even breached half of them in class!! I really want to tell you everything about my classes, but I’d hate to spoil it! What if you decide to join this program, dear reader? I want you to be as pleasantly surprised as I am! Thank you for joining me, dear reader! I’ll see you next time!

Goodbye from Scotland!

 

 

 

 

Blog #3

Hello from Scotland, Dear reader! I hope you missed me! It’s so good to be writing to you again!! So let me take some time to get you up to speed about what I’ve been up to!

Academically, I’ve been preparing to write a research paper on the Industrial Revolution in Scotland, and consequently, my history class has taken us to a series of museums! I love a good museum so they had to drag me out to continue class, and sometimes I would make my way back when class was over. The topics we touched on this week consisted of Industrialism, urbanism, the Enlightenment, women in history, and Scotland during the Atlantic slave trade! I won’t go into too much detail regarding the modules, I want you to take this class after all!! Though I would love to tell you about my favorite museum, as creepy as it may be! It’s called the Surgeons Museum of Edinburgh. Now let me tell you, dear reader, it is NOT for the faint of heart. At all! This museum is dedicated to historical medical advancements, specifically in the United Kingdom. They portray aspects of human anatomy as well as medical donations. So if you are curious look into it, but if you’re squeamish steer clear, dear reader!

After that, we went on a hike up to Arthur’s seat today! I am so very very tired. It was worth it for the view though! I took some pictures of the breathtaking city view, and they don’t do the place justice. You have to check it out! It was windy though! I was accounting for the rain, but I wasn’t ready for all the dust and wind! While walking down from the hilly areas we saw a bunch of people rolling down the hill in the grass and going “WEEEEE”. It honestly made my day, and I hope it makes you smile as much as I did! Seeing people have genuine fun doing something so cute makes my day brighter. I was tempted to join them, but I was just too tired. So I compartmentalized their joy, and I chose to live vicariously through them.

In regards to the things I’ve gone off to do on my own, I’ve been traveling around this beautiful city now and again!! There are lovely markets that pop up during the weekends and it’s an awesome place to walk to. The weather has been pretty good, despite the random bouts of rain! These markets have everything! I’m particularly fond of the fresh bread here, but a close runner-up is the cheese! During my long weekend walks I love to admire the beautiful architecture in the area. The churches and historical buildings in the old towns are second to none! In some places, I’ve done fun little interactive things, like making my shield crest and I chose a dragon and two suns! I’ve also been drawing a whole lot, and journaling a ton like I promised.

I’ve been doing my shopping, and frankly, it’s too much responsibility! I can’t leave the store without a sweet treat in one hand, and fresh bread in the other! Luckily I do love to cook so it isn’t a hassle to throw some things together to make a nutritious meal! Something to keep in mind in this program is how independent you have to be sometimes. Honestly, it was a bit of a struggle at first. I’m not used to being by myself, let alone being by myself in a whole unfamiliar city. It was hard not having a friend at first, and I didn’t know what to do. Let me tell you this, go outside anyway. You don’t have a friend? Make one. Get dinner with yourself, and go on a walk. Sometimes being alone with yourself is an okay thing, and I’m still getting used to it. If I can do it, dear reader, you can do it too. Trust me! I think this was the best thing I learned while here. Even as I write this, I’m planning on going on a long walk through the gardens tomorrow! Sometimes when you walk through the neighborhoods near the gardens you see decorated yards, and today I saw a dinosaur! I snapped a quick picture because it was too cute to not share!

That’s all I have to share today, my friend! I hope you’re doing well from wherever you may be reading this blog! I’ll see you next time!

Goodbye from Scotland!

 

Blog #4

Hello, dear reader!

I’m still running around the city of Edinburgh but I recently took a couple of trips I’m super excited to tell you about! So firstly, I went to the highlands!! If you saw my Instagram takeover on UMBClife you know I went to see the kelpies and the highland cows!! If you didn’t see my Instagram takeover, I am hurt, dear reader. It’s okay though, I’ll get you caught up! So basically, I went on a trip with my class to see the Kelpies. The Kelpies are these 30-meter-tall horse monuments, meant to memorialize the working horses of Scotland. Those horse-heads were amazing and beautifully done!

Next, we went to the highlands, and everywhere I turned it felt like I was in a fantasy game or something! The hills and mountains were gorgeous and always covered with strange and conveniently placed fog. We also took some time to visit some Highland cows, which was amazing!! They have such lovely hair, I almost want to see it styled and curled!!  I felt like I was on a side quest. It was fantastic!! So after, we went and had lunch at a small cafe, and went on a hike while we were in Glencoe. Dear reader, tell me why it started to rain. We were climbing rocks and hills in the rain. I was slipping and sliding, almost fell twice, and when I almost fell I almost took 7 people with me. NOT my proudest moment, but It was worth it. I didn’t want to leave, I wanted to stay in the rainy forest, build a hut, and live out my days as a herbalist. Unfortunately, I have people waiting for me back home, so my wizarding dreams will have to wait. It was truly an amazing experience, and it was good to make some friends along the way. Scottish people are super friendly and love to talk, which is perfect for me. Dear reader, if you think I’m talkative here in a blog, you should see me in real life!! I could talk for hours!! So after that eventful day, we went home and promptly went to sleep, because hiking in the rain takes it out of you. Truly.

The next day I went on a day trip with two of my friends! We went to the Isle of Arran! We did wake up at 4:45 AM, which was hard. It didn’t matter though, I had an amazing time!! We took a ferry and walked around the beaches of Arran! I didn’t realize that golf was such a big thing there, but everywhere we went we saw somebody with golf clubs. We went to a cheese store, and I bought a wheel of cheese. I’m not going to say buying the cheese was the highlight of my trip, because what does that say about me, but I will say buying cheese made me very very happy. After, we took a short hike into the mountains, and then it started to rain. So at this point, I’m thinking “Wow, maybe the weather just hates me”, but I was assured that’s just Scottish weather. It really didn’t matter because everything was just so pretty. I might get into hiking because I do enjoy the sights, but I’m worried they just won’t compare to the things I’ve seen here! We went to a local restaurant on Arran for fish and chips, and I quite enjoyed it!! I feel the need to mention, dear reader, that we saw so many dogs! We pet many small animals, and that might be the highlight of my time on Arran! Something about talking to fellow dog lovers about something trivial like the weather is super sweet to me. It’s those little small things that made a short time a good time! After a long day of walking, picture-taking, and talking, we dragged ourselves back to our ferry and fell asleep. It was a super long day, so when we finally went home, I slept for at least 10 hours! I love a good adventure, dear reader, it can be solo or with people, and I’ll always have a fantastic time! It was an amazing time, and it just reminded me that I needed to travel more. Dear reader, I am truly having the time of my life! I am so happy I am here, and I can’t wait to see you again in my next blog!

Goodbye from Scotland!!!

 

Blog #5

Hello from Edinburgh, dear reader! It is always so lovely to see you again! Today marks the beginning of the end for me, as I have one more week left in the city. I am emotionally devastated. I miss my friends, of course, but I’ve had such a lovely time here that I don’t want to leave ever. Readers, I highly recommend coming to Scotland!! Now, let me tell you about some more things I’ve done here!! So I went to the Poppy factory, which is a factory that employs veterans! It is so individual and the first of its kind! They make poppy wreaths and decorations for veterans and their families and advocate for veterans who are homeless or without a job! It is a truly fantastic place, and
it was interesting to tour and learn about its history. The folks who work there are very passionate about their cause, and uphold a great respect for Scottish veterans!

I’ve also been taking more walks and admiring the beautiful flora and fauna! I am quite partial to the birds I’ve been finding here!! One of my favorite things I’ve done here was going to a planetarium. Something interesting about me, dear reader, is that I like space. I love learning about space, early Earth’s development, and how on a fundamental level we are made up of the most basic aspects of stars. How lucky are we!!??! I find it beautiful how much the earth changed. The earth was a ball of molten rock, a sheet of ice and sleet, a tropical time ruled by dinosaurs, and now we live in the age of humans. I wonder what’s next?

I experienced my first-afternoon tea. It was so good!! There were 4 mini sandwiches! Smoked salmon with butter, Cucumber and cream cheese, Ham and Mayonnaise, and egg and mayonnaise! I listed those in the order in which I liked them. I was a big fan of the salmon! We also got some shortbread and a scone!! I was never too particular about how I liked my bread, but scones have grown on me! I particularly like them with butter and any kind of jam! The scone was super soft, and the strawberry jam made it perfectly sweet! I’d recommend going to a tea house if you find yourself in Edinburgh! The final thing we got was a choice of dessert from their plentiful menu! I chose a chocolate cake, and it was absolutely decadent. They had to roll me out of the establishment, truly. It was also good to just sit down with my class. I only knew them for a month, and I’m so upset that we are so scattered around the United States. I know I’m going to miss them deeply. I think when you do something that changes your outlook on life, the people who you are around stay with you forever. Maybe it’s proximity, or maybe those new people were part of the catalyst for change. Regardless, they will always have a place in my heart and the stories I’ll be telling my friends when I’m back home.

I’m not sure if you can tell the reader, but I have changed since my first post. I know blogs aren’t a good way to measure change, so just take my word for it. I feel better just generally since exploring a new place. Knowing that just makes me feel good.
Now, coming up in my final week, I have a few exciting things! Reader on Monday, June 16th, I will be turning 20!! I get to spend my birthday here in Scotland! My family was sweet enough to travel to Edinburgh and spend a week with me. I get to take them
around the city and show them around. I missed them a ton, and it feels really good to know what I’m doing regarding navigation. It’s really good to see their faces and hear their voices! I will also be going to Dynamic Earth, and exploring more about Scotland’s
geographic development. I intend to live out my last week with joy and really appreciate my time left here.

That’s all I have today, dear reader! I hope you enjoyed reading about my blog, and I’ll see you in my next post!

Goodbye from Edinburgh, Dear reader!

 

Blog #6

Hello from Dover, Delaware!

Dear reader, it’s been a life-changing journey for me in Edinburgh. I never thought I’d be lucky enough to have an experience like that, but there I was in a whole other country having the time of my life. Learning, growing, and changing! I was so honored to have this opportunity and even more honored to share it with you! Dear reader, it’s been amazing updating you on everything I’ve done. Between you and me, you were one of my highlights.

In regards to Edinburgh, I’d love to live there. It’s just so pretty I don’t think I was ever bored. I learned how to hang out by myself! I’m actually quite good company, and it was good to sit with myself. I’ve eaten so many desserts dear reader, and Victoria’s sponge cake has a special place in my heart. There was so much walking and there were so many dogs. The leash laws are different there than back home, and dogs were just wandering around next to their owners. They were so friendly. I felt super safe in Edinburgh, especially as a woman of color. Traveling internationally can be difficult when you don’t know what to expect, but I was never in a harsh or dangerous situation during my time. I won’t lie, now and again I felt out of place. That certainly did happen, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that, but in terms of my safety, I never felt as though I was in danger at any point. Now, this isn’t me telling you to go to Edinburgh and not be safe. Every place has issues, but this is me encouraging you to explore! Personally, I’m a pretty anxious person, and this pertains to travel as well. It was hard being there at first. I didn’t know anyone, I had to do my own grocery shopping and cooking and take to the city by my lonesome. It was one of the more difficult aspects of my time there, but once I overcame that it was smooth sailing. Dare I say, light work. So since I’m basically a pro, here are some things you should do if you go to Edinburgh!

-Make a friend!

-Take a hike!

-Eat a bunch of sweets!

-Pet a dog!

-Visit as many museums as you can!

– Be present!

These are the things I did that really made my trip memorable. Here’s another good tip. When you leave, avoid saying goodbye. Replace it with a “see you next time” or “see you later”. Goodbye is just so permanent, and you never know when you’ll see people again. If I had to pick a favorite out of my little list, it would be to make a playlist. Please, make a playlist. IF you do, and listen back when your time abroad is over, it just makes you so very nostalgic! Trust me on this!

As you know, I went to Scotland through a CIEE program, so I have a gift for you. If you’re interested in applying, it might ask you for a referral code to get 200 dollars off the cost of your trip! Here’s mine: https://my.ciee.org/?rc=AbroadFromAFriend:)

Consider it my thank you for being so attentive during my blogs. I want you to do this class, and participate in this program, so tuck that referral code away somewhere safe!

Now as I lay in my bed (that I missed dearly) I’m just thinking about my trip. I miss my friends and the people I met. I miss the way it felt. I can’t reminisce for too long, because I have the rest of my summer to enjoy, but I just can’t help it. I’m just thinking about all the funny stories I get to tell everyone here in Delaware. If I’m being honest, I missed the food so much. I’m so hungry, and I’m not sure what I’m going to eat quite yet but it’s going to be delectable. Also, I’m going to learn how to make a Victoria sponge cake this summer too!! I think doing little things will keep me busy, and maybe I’ll start saving money for another study abroad program! I am super antsy for my next big thing, but I think for now I’m going to take a nap!

Dear reader, the world is so big and we are so small. It would be a shame if we couldn’t see it all. I’ll see you next time, dear reader! Whenever that may be!

Goodbye, from Dover Delaware!