Little Discoveries

Newest Aberdeen Discovery: They have a “Rails-to-Trails” here, just like in Morgantown! The Rails-to-Trails, is where the city has converted the old railroad tracks into a biking and walking path for the community to enjoy. I ran to one end of the trail, which led to “Duthie Park”- it was a large park with a pavilion and various monuments and a huge winter rose garden. I love colorful flowers and I’ve been amazed that despite the cold weather, various flowers are still in full bloom!

The Kirk: My newest vocabulary discovery is “kirk” which means church. I went to the kirk on Sunday with a local Rotarian, who invited me along to his church service, a tea and coffee gathering after the service, and then welcomed me into his home for a meal and tea. It has been a pleasure working with and socializing with the different members of the Rotary and I’m looking forward to meeting with various clubs in Scotland throughout my stay here.

Bits of America: I always laugh when I see “American” things in Scotland that I don’t expect – like Subway sandwich, Pizza Hut delivery, Hollister clothing store, a TK Maxx – which is the same as TJ Maxx, and Blockbuster.

The Beach: Aberdeen is a coastal city, so if I go left from my house and run I will see rolling hills and farm land for miles and miles, but if I run to the right, and about 5 miles down the road from my house is the beach! I put my feet in the North Sea for the first time on Saturday, and I predict from the cold wind and weather that the water is freezing too, unfortunately it is not a warm beach.

International Students: Monday night I went to an “International Student Dinner” that was organized by one of the local churches. It has been really fun meeting different members and families in the community as well as many international students. I continue to meet students from across the globe, at the dinner I met students from Romania, France, and Syria. I’m continuing to meet new people every day, and met my first American in Scotland, 10 days in, and you have no idea how nice it was to hear a fellow “American accent”.

First week in Aberdeen

It has officially been an entire week since leaving America – so I thought a first week update of Aberdeen, Scotland would be in order:

I still don’t really know where much is, I’m slowly learning the bus system here and I’m sure I look extremely confused when reviewing the bus “time table” a.k.a. schedule. Which reminds me that although they do speak English here, and I can nearly always understand what everyone is saying, phrases and words are quite different. My favorite question to answer is “Where abouts are you from in America?”

Some other Scottish phrases I’ve picked up so far: “wee” is used in everyday speech to refer to something that is small. “Lad” is commonly used to say “man”, a “mate” is a friend, “brilliant” is used to describe something that is really great. My newest vocabulary discovery is that “snooker” is a game similar to pool. Everyone refers to my house here as a “proper” house – meaning real or actual. “Fresher” is what they call “Freshmen” here, and I also learned they do not use sophomore, junior, and senior status, it’s just “first, second, third, and forth year”. And “Cheers” is often used in exchange for “thank you”, but is also a way to end a conversation or say hello.

The money is obviously different than American dollar bills – and where as we have four types of coins, a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter – I swear there are a thousand different types of coins here! 2 pounds, 1 pound, 50 pence, 20 pence, 10 pence, 5 pence, 1 pence…their might be more, but that’s all I’ve discovered. Most embarrassing moments have definitely been going to pay for things and not knowing what to hand them, I usually just laugh it off and say “Oh, I’m still learning”, in which people respond with a look revealing they want to laugh at me, not with me!

I’ve not seen a single person in an actual kilt – one of those stereotypical Scottish things, that is not an everyday occurrence. The only people I have seen wearing kilt like, plaid, skirts are the younger school children walking home after school and still in their uniform. When I asked some Scottish friends that I met about kilts they informed that they do represent your “clan” or family – this originated when in war the Scottish were fighting and would use different patterned kilts to distinguish between troops. The Scottish invented the kilt to fight in because it was loose fitting and allowed the men to run and move easily across the terrain made of rolling hills. Still today, men are typically the only people who wear kilts, and kilts are most commonly worn by men at weddings and when playing Rugby. Although two very different occasions, the kilt can be dressed-up with a jacket or dressed-down with boots.

A week in, and I have still not met one American! I did meet a girl who is half American, half Egyptian. She studied in Texas for 4 years during her undergraduate. As soon as she started talking, I picked up a hint of an “American accent” and was stunned that she used “like” in her sentences as much as me! Immediately I asked where she was from.

I have been absolutely shocked by the international community here in Aberdeen and around the RGU campus – I have only met about a third of my classmates, only about 20 students are in my specific program, although I do share large classes with many postgraduate business students seeking a masters degree, and of those classmates that I have met India, Slovenia, Ireland, Taiwan, China, Nigeria, Scotland, and America are all represented! I can’t wait to learn from each other and be immersed in a truly global learning environment. I have also been surprised by the number of students from Nigeria that attend school here – the largest international student groups are from Nigeria and India. I was told this is because of the oil industry that Aberdeen is known for.

I also must admit that I am surprised at the weather here. I had prepared myself for cold, and maybe it was just me trying to have a positive attitude, but I never expected in to be this cold! The weather is a mix of cold, wind, and rain – sometimes separately, and sometimes all at once. It is bearable during the day, but at night, all I want to do is drink hot chocolate and tea, turn up the radiator as high as it will go, and get wrapped up in a big blanket!

I have been spending my free time, when I’ve not been in my “introduction” classes to the university and for my course, scouting out different organizations to get involved in and attending The Christian Union events on campus. I went to The Christian Union weekly meeting, an acoustic night in a local theater, and also to “Amigos” – an International Student outreach held at the YMCA in Aberdeen. Today they had the “Freshers Fair”, basically an organization fair where all the different clubs and societies promoted their causes – I signed up for the Running and Triathlon Club, the Christian Union, a traveling enthusiast organization, and also the Golfing Club, because I was told by many people that I have to take up golf while in Scotland. I’ll keep you posted on the successes of each of these.

If you have any specific questions, or want me to blog on any certain topic, just let me know – e-mail me anytime - Perry.SarahMarie@gmail.com.

“Cheers” – Welcome to Aberdeen, Scotland

I have arrived safe and sound to Aberdeen, Scotland after a flight from Pittsburgh to New York to London, and finally Aberdeen, Scotland, where I was welcomed at the airport, by my Rotary host family Ron and Annie McKail. The McKail’s took me to my house on campus, and I met my “house-mate”, Sebastian.

Sebastian is from Northern Scotland, and is a first year student at Robert Gordon University (RGU) just like me. He will be studying Computer Science, does martial arts and thankfully is an excellent cook. He told me he would teach me how to cook any time I’d like and has already allowed me to sample his vegetable and minced meat lasagna, curry chili, and carrot soup!

I find myself comparing Scotland to Hong Kong, since the Chinese and Asian culture is the only other culture, aside from America, that I have experience with, and let me tell you Scotland in nothing like Hong Kong! Basically the only familiarity is the fact that in Scotland they also drive on the “wrong” side of the road. The driver’s side is on the right side of the car, making all traffic patterns opposite of what I’m used to. Even crossing the street I have to look for cars in the opposite direction.

The McKail’s have been extremely hospitable driving me around town, treating me to meals, and helping me get acquainted with Aberdeen. The first day they took me shopping for necessities at ASDA (the name for Wal-Mart in Scotland). ASDA is basically the same as Wal-Mart in America, it is just 2 stories instead on one. ASDA also has a McDonald’s attached to it, and I am happy to say ASDA sells Diet Coke! I am so happy Diet Coke is International!

I am excited to try all the different foods, so far I’ve seen a lot of “minced meat and tatties” which is basically ground beef and potatoes. No haggis yet. Rhubarb is apparently a common flavor in Scotland, which I am very excited about because rhubarb pies are my favorite!

Some little highlights of my trip so far have been going for my first run in Aberdeen, I am going to become an expert at running up and down “rolling hills”. So far I have seen at least 3 Starbucks, and lots of places to go shopping. I was also super excited when I found one of the lamps in my room is a touch lamp, haha…sometimes it’s the little things. And just now, Sebastian and I…well okay, just Sebastian, killed a spider in our house. The spider was big, black, and very, very fast!

The weather here is what I had been expecting, rainy, colder, and gray. There have been periods of sunshine, and with them I thankful for the little blessings. I already bought packs of hot chocolate. This cooler weather always makes me want to cuddle up and drink hot cocoa and tea!

I’ve got a week ahead full of orientation, meeting International students, being introduced to my Master program and the RGU Business School. I’m going to check out different organizations around campus and see where I can get involved – the Christian Student Union, a running group, and triathlon club, are just a few of the organizations that have already caught my attention. I did attend my first Rotary club meeting here in Scotland, where I was introduced to just over a dozen older gentlemen and community leaders, who I shared lunch with as they welcomed me to Aberdeen. Everyone is very friendly and I’m looking forward to future adventures, opportunities, and stories with friends – “Cheers”.

Most commonly asked questions – the 411 on Aberdeen, Scotland

Q: Why Not WVU – Why are you going to Scotland?

A: I was awarded the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to study internationally for 1 year. This scholarship will allow me to complete a Masters in International Marketing Management at Robert Gordon University. I chose Scotland, 1) Because I have never been to Europe before, all my experience abroad has been in Asian countries and I wanted something new and different 2) They speak English in Scotland, and through my scholarship I had to go to a graduate school that spoke English, since I don’t speak another language to a graduate level proficiency 3) The unique 1 year masters program of International Marketing Management – that will allow me to continue on with my undergraduate Business Administration and Marketing Degree

Q: Where exactly in Scotland?

A: Aberdeen, Scotland! It is on the Northeast Coast of Scotland – the third most populated city in Scotland and known as the Granite City/Silver City for the granite buildings that fill the city, along with the gloomy gray clouds that frequent the area. The city is an industrial city, with oil being the largest economic influence in Aberdeen.

Q: Are you going with anyone you know?

A: No. I’m going by myself. I do have a Rotary Sponsor Family who has been extremely helpful, and will be there when I need them, and who have currently helped answer questions and arrange meetings with various Rotary Clubs throughout Scotland. I’m excited to meet new people in the Aberdeen Community through the Rotary and the students at Robert Gordon University – many new friends and connections in store.

Q: Where are you living?

I decided to apply for campus housing, and was assigned to a “uni-home” on campus – it is a little house owned by the University, it is on the Garthdee Campus, the same campus where the Business School is located and the Rec Center, both places I will no doubt frequent nearly every day! It is a two bedroom house with a communal living, kitchen, and bathroom area. I will most certainly be updating on my living arrangements and meeting my new roommate!

Q: Are you excited?

A: Yes, yes, yes, of course! Excited mixed in with anxiously waiting and the nerves of leaving home and excitement of living in another country and going away for school. I’ll of course miss family and friends, but knowing this is what I really want to do, and recognizing what a unique opportunity this is, along with how hard I’ve worked to get here, I feel confident even in every moment of nervousness.

Q: How is the weather?

A: Cold. Average temperature of 50-something degrees Fahrenheit. Average cold temperature in the 30’s – Average High Temperatures in the low 70’s. I hear it will rain everyday – at least for 10 minutes or so. I’ve been told to have rain boots, a good rain jacket and an umbrella on hand.

Q: Have you tried Haggis? Will you try it?

A: Haha. I'll try anything at least once. Definition of Haggis thanks to Wikipedia "Haggis is a dish containing sheep's 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion,oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally simmered in the animal'sstomach for approximately three hours. Haggis is a kind of sausage, or savoury pudding cooked in a casing of sheep's intestine, as sausages are... most modern Haggis is prepared in a casing rather than actual stomach".

Summer in Morgantown

Summer 2010

As I prepare to head off to Aberdeen, Scotland for graduate school in just 10 short days, I have been telling family and friends to stay updated for the next year via blog – I’ll be updating regularly with pictures, traveling adventures, Rotary updates, and day to day life at a new university and in graduate school. But before I jump into posting questions and information about Aberdeen, Scotland – here is a quick review of my life post-college graduation and highlights of my summer...

1. I1. I worked full-time as a waitress at Muriale’s, and Italian restaurant in Fairmont, West Virginia. Working all summer took up a lot of my time – but every penny saved is going to be worth it, when I use it to travel throughout Scotland and Europe!
2. Spontaneously went to a Tim McGraw Concert in Pittsburgh
3. Vacationed with family and friends in Myrtle Beach for the 1^st time ever – and LOVED it!
4. Went camping numerous times – both in locations with no running water and alongside the most elaborate camper ever!
5. Had a very successful Graduation/Send-Off Party and was reminded of all the people who love, support and encourage me, many thanks!
6. Completed my first Sprint Triathlon! Official Overall Time - 1:14:54. I swam 300 yards, then biked 11 miles, then ran a 5K (3.2 miles).Most recently, I’ve been spending every free second with family and friends, while preparing to head off to graduate school in Scotland.

Most recently, I’ve been spending every free second with family and friends, while preparing to head off to graduate school in Scotland.