"Travel is More Than The Seeing of Sights..."

From the very moment that I stepped off of that plane, I knew I made the right choice in choosing Scotland for #studyabroad adventure. I can't explain the feeling, but something about this place just feels right. Maybe it's the overwhelmingly sweet, kind and helpful people (an absolute 360-degree flip from what I'm used to). Or maybe it's the utterly breathtaking scenery in every direction all around me. Let me just say that Edinburgh may be on the smaller side of the city-size spectrum, but there is absolutely no way a person could ever see all that there is to see here in a day or 2 - and that isn't just because their days are almost too short to measure. On that note: you really haven't felt confusion until you have traveled 5 time zones ahead and then watched the sun rise and set within 8 hours of each other. Yeah, they only have a total of 8 or 9 hours of daylight during the winter here, if that. Therein exists a real struggle: you try telling me the date and time (if you were me) at this point - bet your bottom dollar you couldn't; I know surely can't. Right now feels like 9 P.M. on a weekday, even though I couldn't be more wrong if I tried (it's actually 5 P.M. on Saturday, FYI).

Is isn't even just the time difference that is throwing me for a loop here. Everything about this place feels foreign. It's a good kind of foreign for sure, but still very different from home. It's magical here; I feel like I just stepped out of a #BBC special or a #SherlockHolmes film. The old brick roads, the classically detailed architecture, and the adorable taxis straight out of an episode of #SuperNanny - it's all so... British... to put it simply.

My hardest adjustments so far? I can sum those up in two words: the currency and the driving. What is with this whole driving on the wrong side of the road thing? I mean, I was warned... but not nearly prepared, I guess. I'm just minding my own business walking down the sidewalk, and out of nowhere a car comes cruising (what really appears to be) right at me because of the obscene barnyard-style turns they make onto the left side of the road. I swear, it's utterly terrifying watching them on the roads - and that doesn't even begin to explain how scary it is to ride in the car with them. This may be ethnocentric of me, but I am firm believer that we from the states are the ones who drive the "correct" way - their way just seems ill-advised. Oh yeah, and don't let me forget to mention that similarly to their backwards driving, they also are in an odd habit of backwards walking as well. So, here's a formal apology to every person of on-coming foot traffic that I have awkwardly walked into on the right side of the staircase, or sidewalk, or when using the right door -  #mybad, I'll work on that.

But back to currency... It's pretty, if nothing else, but so strange to use. They have a coin that's worth 2 pennies - it's huge and looks like a copper U.S. Silver Dollar. Who would have thought? They also don't have a 1 Dollar (I mean, Pound) bill, but they do (oddly enough) have coins that have 7 sides - not 8, not 6, but 7. Why? Who does that? Maybe I'm overthinking this one a "wee bit", but I didn't know anything was made with 7 sides. Isn't that bad luck or something? I digress.

Confession time: I must admit that I made some pre-judgments about this place that I probably shouldn't have. Mainly, I'd like to apologize to the people of Scotland for my previous lack of ability to conceptualize their fabulous sense of style. Not only are a large portion of the people here (if not a large majority of the people here) just so naturally gorgeous with their petite builds, strawberry-blonde hair and freckled complexions, but they also out-trend and out-style myself and many of my American compadres. I can't help but notice how painfully and obviously I must stand out in a crowd with my blonde hair and #basic #Abercrombie wardrobe. I bring very little to the table compared to these lovely people and their designer wool coats, leather bags with matching shoes, and trendy haircuts. I am jealous. I wish I had half as much natural #swag as the Scots do, or maybe just half as much as I think they do. Even the men dress better and carry themselves better than I do - I think their man-scarves only add to their (already) charming personas. Add all that to their sexy accents and you have one attractive nationality of people - I am undeniably a huge fan.

While I do miss home, and I know that I will for my entire stay, I have absolutely no fears or regrets thus far coming to the U.K. Admittedly, I have yet to try the food, do any real traveling, or start classes at the university - a few major items that could have an effect on my overall opinion later on. However, from what little I have managed to see from the beginning of #Day1 until now, I am over-the-moon happy with all that #Scotland2k15 has to offer me.

This is (already) shaping up to be one of the most successful things I have ever done and one of the best decisions I have ever made. Without jumping the gun too much, I predict that this experience will undoubtedly change my life for the better, if I let it.

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”

— Miriam Beard