More details and pictures to come later - after experiencing these amazing countries and places...
I will be spending Christmas in Paris and New Years in Rome!
London to Paris, France - Paris to Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland - Lauterbrunnen to Florence, Italy - Florence to Rome & Vatican City!
Then to Milan for 3 days as I make the trip back to Aberdeen, Scotland!
I joined an organized traveling group of approximately 30 people through a travel agency here – I’m so excited (motivation to get me through loads of coursework)!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Autumn in Aberdeen
Starting out the Autumn season in Aberdeen with a few Fall time favorites…
1). I made pumpkin soup and pumpkin dessert with cream cheese icing out of fresh pumpkin! I have been informed that pumpkin flavor is not nearly as popular here as it is in the US – they don’t even sell canned pumpkin here – no one had even heard of it. And…practically no one here has ever eaten pumpkin pie! So I thought I would be adventurous and try to cook and bake using real pumpkin. I went to the store, bought an ‘edible pumpkin’ – came home and cooked it, then scooped out the inside, mashed it all up and ‘*ta-da*’ – fresh pumpkin mix!
2). I introduced a few friends to carving pumpkins! I have found that although my friends have heard of carving pumpkins, none of them have actually done it. We had a lot of fun scooping out the messy, gooey inside of the pumpkin, and my friends loved being creative and carving various designs, making very unique jack-o-lanterns. The final touch was lighting the candle, and placing it inside the hollowed pumpkin – overall a huge success and a lot of fun!
3). For Halloween I dressed up as The Statue of Liberty! I felt as if I had to represent America! Everyone loved my costume and had a whole new appreciation for it after hearing my ‘American accent’.
If the leaves here weren’t all wet and gooey (due to the fact it rains nearly every day here, making it impossible for dry leaves) I would be tempted to gather a pile of leaves and jump it them! So my request is that someone does this in favor of me back in The States!
Hope everyone is loving Fall time in America!
1). I made pumpkin soup and pumpkin dessert with cream cheese icing out of fresh pumpkin! I have been informed that pumpkin flavor is not nearly as popular here as it is in the US – they don’t even sell canned pumpkin here – no one had even heard of it. And…practically no one here has ever eaten pumpkin pie! So I thought I would be adventurous and try to cook and bake using real pumpkin. I went to the store, bought an ‘edible pumpkin’ – came home and cooked it, then scooped out the inside, mashed it all up and ‘*ta-da*’ – fresh pumpkin mix!
2). I introduced a few friends to carving pumpkins! I have found that although my friends have heard of carving pumpkins, none of them have actually done it. We had a lot of fun scooping out the messy, gooey inside of the pumpkin, and my friends loved being creative and carving various designs, making very unique jack-o-lanterns. The final touch was lighting the candle, and placing it inside the hollowed pumpkin – overall a huge success and a lot of fun!
3). For Halloween I dressed up as The Statue of Liberty! I felt as if I had to represent America! Everyone loved my costume and had a whole new appreciation for it after hearing my ‘American accent’.
If the leaves here weren’t all wet and gooey (due to the fact it rains nearly every day here, making it impossible for dry leaves) I would be tempted to gather a pile of leaves and jump it them! So my request is that someone does this in favor of me back in The States!
Hope everyone is loving Fall time in America!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Highlights of the Highlands
I attended the Rotary District 1010 Diamond District Conference. It was the 60th year of District 1010 holding their annual conference which unites the clubs in Northeastern Scotland. The conference was in Inverness – known to locals as the Capital of the Highlands and known to tourists as home of the Loch Ness Monster!
It was a weekend mixed with business and fun – the highlights of my weekend were:
1. Staying in my first ever Bed and Breakfast! I was housed by a local Rotarian for two nights at his lovely Bed and Breakfast accommodation.
2. Going to Loch Ness – “loch” means lake. Loch Ness is the deepest Loch in Scotland, at over 800 feet deep. I traveled to Loch Ness with three other Ambassadorial Scholars who attended the conference, and we stood in awe as we arrived to Castle Urquhart. Urquhart is the ancient Castle, that dates back to 500 B.C., left only now in ruins, due to it being burned later in its 1500 year life. The Castle overlooks Loch Ness, and I can tell you that the Loch is anything but the home of a monster. Beauty, history, authenticity…yes, but no Nessy.
3. Surviving my first Ceilidh Dance. A Ceilidh is the traditional Scottish partner dancing that is done here. It is basically the equivalent to line dancing in the states. I was thankful that all the dance moves were very repetitive, so even my uncoordinated self was able to catch on and sometime hold on! Holding on because the gentlemen often swings and spins and turns the lady around. One of the dances was called “Strip the Willow” – where men line up on one side, ladies on the other, facing each other, then you and your partner spin and “dose-doe” with one another and all the partners down the line. For all of the dances, the music got faster and faster as the song progressed, so you were going triple the speed, compared to when beginning the dance. It was catch on to the dance moves or fend for yourself!
4. Eating Haggis! The Ceilidh Dance started by a very “posh” dinner. “Posh” is the word they use here for “high-class”. The haggis was delicious! The haggis was used as a stuffing inside a chicken breast. When imagining haggis, I thought it would be gruesome and bloody and not appealing at all, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The haggis had the consistency of a fine stuffing, and was very pleasing. I tried not to think of what I was actually eating – minced sheep heart and liver perhaps, and rather focus on the actual taste.
It was a weekend mixed with business and fun – the highlights of my weekend were:
1. Staying in my first ever Bed and Breakfast! I was housed by a local Rotarian for two nights at his lovely Bed and Breakfast accommodation.
2. Going to Loch Ness – “loch” means lake. Loch Ness is the deepest Loch in Scotland, at over 800 feet deep. I traveled to Loch Ness with three other Ambassadorial Scholars who attended the conference, and we stood in awe as we arrived to Castle Urquhart. Urquhart is the ancient Castle, that dates back to 500 B.C., left only now in ruins, due to it being burned later in its 1500 year life. The Castle overlooks Loch Ness, and I can tell you that the Loch is anything but the home of a monster. Beauty, history, authenticity…yes, but no Nessy.
3. Surviving my first Ceilidh Dance. A Ceilidh is the traditional Scottish partner dancing that is done here. It is basically the equivalent to line dancing in the states. I was thankful that all the dance moves were very repetitive, so even my uncoordinated self was able to catch on and sometime hold on! Holding on because the gentlemen often swings and spins and turns the lady around. One of the dances was called “Strip the Willow” – where men line up on one side, ladies on the other, facing each other, then you and your partner spin and “dose-doe” with one another and all the partners down the line. For all of the dances, the music got faster and faster as the song progressed, so you were going triple the speed, compared to when beginning the dance. It was catch on to the dance moves or fend for yourself!
4. Eating Haggis! The Ceilidh Dance started by a very “posh” dinner. “Posh” is the word they use here for “high-class”. The haggis was delicious! The haggis was used as a stuffing inside a chicken breast. When imagining haggis, I thought it would be gruesome and bloody and not appealing at all, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The haggis had the consistency of a fine stuffing, and was very pleasing. I tried not to think of what I was actually eating – minced sheep heart and liver perhaps, and rather focus on the actual taste.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
One Month Anniversary
As of Monday, October 18th – I am celebrating my one month Anniversary of living in Aberdeen Scotland! How am I celebrating? Toffee flavored rice pudding! One of my new favorites treats here!
Castles - Chapels - Chocolate Cheesecake
There are moments when I really miss home – all the comforts and seeing family and friends…Then I think about all the unique experiences I am having here in Aberdeen Scotland!
Today was a perfect example - mixed with typical Scottish sights and mini adventures. Starting the day by going for a run, past cottage like Scottish houses made of granite and adorned by chimneys, lined with luscious green grass. The trees are turning colors – shades of yellow and orange, and the wet leaves that have fallen squish under my feet as I run along the sidewalk. Every day I pass meadows of hay bales and today I passed fields scattered with horses and cows, while I was running. I laughed to myself, because these sights are exactly as I had pictured Scotland months before arriving here!
Cleaning, laundry, homework, were also accomplished today – followed by a more exciting drive to a nearby Chapel and then to Drum Castle!
The Chapel was a Catholic Chapel that is still used today for regular church services – filled with wooden carvings and beautiful stained glass. I appointed my new friend, and native of Aberdeen, Angharad, as the official “tour guide” and ambassador for Scotland. After showing me the chapel, Angharad then drove us to Drum Castle, which as enchanting! The Drum Castle was surrounded by a garden, family cemetery, and small chapel building.
Following the mini Aberdeen adventure, was a delicious homemade dinner, prepared by Angharad - who along with being a great tour guide, is also a fantastic cook. She delegated the crushing graham cracker like cookies and the task of chopping up almonds and chocolate pieces to me, as she prepared the rest of the chocolate cheesecake and vegetable pasta!
Angharad and I, with satisfied stomachs, then enjoyed an evening church service together! So moments of missing home have been quickly filled with long relaxing jogs and sightseeing at Castles – not a horrible way to spend a Sunday in Aberdeen!
Today was a perfect example - mixed with typical Scottish sights and mini adventures. Starting the day by going for a run, past cottage like Scottish houses made of granite and adorned by chimneys, lined with luscious green grass. The trees are turning colors – shades of yellow and orange, and the wet leaves that have fallen squish under my feet as I run along the sidewalk. Every day I pass meadows of hay bales and today I passed fields scattered with horses and cows, while I was running. I laughed to myself, because these sights are exactly as I had pictured Scotland months before arriving here!
Cleaning, laundry, homework, were also accomplished today – followed by a more exciting drive to a nearby Chapel and then to Drum Castle!
The Chapel was a Catholic Chapel that is still used today for regular church services – filled with wooden carvings and beautiful stained glass. I appointed my new friend, and native of Aberdeen, Angharad, as the official “tour guide” and ambassador for Scotland. After showing me the chapel, Angharad then drove us to Drum Castle, which as enchanting! The Drum Castle was surrounded by a garden, family cemetery, and small chapel building.
Following the mini Aberdeen adventure, was a delicious homemade dinner, prepared by Angharad - who along with being a great tour guide, is also a fantastic cook. She delegated the crushing graham cracker like cookies and the task of chopping up almonds and chocolate pieces to me, as she prepared the rest of the chocolate cheesecake and vegetable pasta!
Angharad and I, with satisfied stomachs, then enjoyed an evening church service together! So moments of missing home have been quickly filled with long relaxing jogs and sightseeing at Castles – not a horrible way to spend a Sunday in Aberdeen!
St. Andrews
St. Andrews Scotland is known to gentlemen as the “birthplace” of golf and to ladies as the University home of Prince Henry, and is one of the most gorgeously historic and quaint towns I have even visited. Filled with golfers, University students and residents of the town, the street of St. Andrews, and the golf course, was bustling with activity.
The day trip to St. Andrews, about an hour drive South of Aberdeen, was organized by the Rotary, to bring together the Ambassadorial Scholars that are being hosted in the St. Andrews and Aberdeen Rotary District 1010. I met 5 other Rotary Scholars from the United States, 1 from Japan, and 1 from Greece!
Followed by the formal meet and greet of Ambassadorial Scholars and our host families was a tour of St. Andrews. First we were led to the final hole of the main St. Andrews golf course that was surrounded by golf club buildings and golf shops. Golfers scattered across the bright green grass, and along the streets – watching and playing golf. We were then led along the coast of St. Andrews, overlooking the North Ocean, and then along streets filled with cottage like houses, enchanting church buildings, and an abundance of Bed and Breakfast accommodations. St. Andrews’ history is just as abundant as the amount of golfers, and I got to experience walking along historic castle, church, and cemetery remains.
The day trip to St. Andrews, about an hour drive South of Aberdeen, was organized by the Rotary, to bring together the Ambassadorial Scholars that are being hosted in the St. Andrews and Aberdeen Rotary District 1010. I met 5 other Rotary Scholars from the United States, 1 from Japan, and 1 from Greece!
Followed by the formal meet and greet of Ambassadorial Scholars and our host families was a tour of St. Andrews. First we were led to the final hole of the main St. Andrews golf course that was surrounded by golf club buildings and golf shops. Golfers scattered across the bright green grass, and along the streets – watching and playing golf. We were then led along the coast of St. Andrews, overlooking the North Ocean, and then along streets filled with cottage like houses, enchanting church buildings, and an abundance of Bed and Breakfast accommodations. St. Andrews’ history is just as abundant as the amount of golfers, and I got to experience walking along historic castle, church, and cemetery remains.
A BIG Thanks to Rotary
I have been overwhelmed by the support, encouragement and hospitality of the Rotary Clubs and Rotarians I have had the pleasure of meeting in Aberdeen and thus far as an Ambassadorial Scholar. From offering me ride, inviting me to church, taking me to a Bagpipe and Drum Concert, inviting me to their homes and for delicious homemade dinners, buying me drinks, providing me with lunches, taking me to community service events…Rotarians have been nothing but kind, helpful, and generous of their time, resources and energy!
I would encourage any student to apply for the Ambassadorial Scholarship. It has been a very rewarding experience, and I am looking forward to speaking with Rotary clubs around the local area and meeting even more Rotarians in the future.
A perfect example of Rotarian hospitality was the invitation to The Lord Provost Variety Show, which I attended this past weekend as fundraising entertainment for The Lord Provost Charity Fund. The Lord Provost is the political representative for Aberdeen, kind of like a town mayor in America. All of the Variety Show performers – comedians, dancers, and singers – donated their time and talent to assemble the Variety Show. It was a lovely night filled with Scottish entertainment and humor!
I would encourage any student to apply for the Ambassadorial Scholarship. It has been a very rewarding experience, and I am looking forward to speaking with Rotary clubs around the local area and meeting even more Rotarians in the future.
A perfect example of Rotarian hospitality was the invitation to The Lord Provost Variety Show, which I attended this past weekend as fundraising entertainment for The Lord Provost Charity Fund. The Lord Provost is the political representative for Aberdeen, kind of like a town mayor in America. All of the Variety Show performers – comedians, dancers, and singers – donated their time and talent to assemble the Variety Show. It was a lovely night filled with Scottish entertainment and humor!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Bagpipe and Drum Concert
I went to my first ever bag pipe and drum concert in Aberdeen this week! And am excited to say that I also saw my first “mass-appearance” of kilts! I was invited by a gentleman in the Rotary to go to a bagpipe and drum concert at the Aberdeen Music Hall and quickly took him up on the invitation. When all my fellow Scottish friends heard that I was going to hear bagpipes and drums, first they laughed at my excitement, and then, they all warned me of how loud it would be!
Regardless of my friends warning and their laughter, I was exceedingly excited to attend the concert and watch the bagpipers and drummers, adorn their traditional “tartans and pipes”. Tartan is another name for the traditional Scottish kilt outfit. The entire tartan outfit, plaid kilt and all, is comprised of a collared shirt and vest, a sporran which is tied around the waist and over the skirt, and knee high socks and shoes with laces that tie up the ankle, gladiator style! A sporran is kind of like a “fanny-pack” and would serve as a pocket, since traditional kilts don’t have pockets.
As much as I admired the tartans I also equally enjoyed the traditional bagpipe and drum music! The bagpipe and drum band we had been watching was a well known and respected band in the area of Aberdeen, competing in and winning world championships! My favorite part of the entire performance were the tenor drummers who would hit the drums, fling their hands in the air and spin their mallets around, and repetitively hit the drum again, keeping the beat perfectly.
Regardless of my friends warning and their laughter, I was exceedingly excited to attend the concert and watch the bagpipers and drummers, adorn their traditional “tartans and pipes”. Tartan is another name for the traditional Scottish kilt outfit. The entire tartan outfit, plaid kilt and all, is comprised of a collared shirt and vest, a sporran which is tied around the waist and over the skirt, and knee high socks and shoes with laces that tie up the ankle, gladiator style! A sporran is kind of like a “fanny-pack” and would serve as a pocket, since traditional kilts don’t have pockets.
As much as I admired the tartans I also equally enjoyed the traditional bagpipe and drum music! The bagpipe and drum band we had been watching was a well known and respected band in the area of Aberdeen, competing in and winning world championships! My favorite part of the entire performance were the tenor drummers who would hit the drums, fling their hands in the air and spin their mallets around, and repetitively hit the drum again, keeping the beat perfectly.
Dinner Party
I have really loved living in my “little Scottish house” – regardless of the fact that we have spotty internet and that when we open the windows (they don’t have screens) that spiders like to come in and visit us! I killed a spider as big as my palm the other day in the shower! When I asked the maintenance man if he could put in any screens, he told me “the spiders here aren’t poisonous”. Hmmm…apparently that comment was supposed to calm my spider annoyance.
I decided spiders and all – to host a dinner party and “get together” for the friends that I have met in Scotland! I practiced my cooking skills and prepared Chicken Parmesan for everyone! We also enjoyed salad, homemade bread (that my friend Angharad had made), and spaghetti! It was a lot of fun to have everyone over! It was also interesting cooking everything and converting recipes from cups to grams and baking in an over using Centigrade instead of Fahrenheit – conversion tables have come in very handy on quite a few occasions!
Before the Dinner Party, I had invited over some girls to bake desserts for the Christian Union meeting at Aberdeen University, where I introduced everyone to “Puppy Chow”! Everyone loved the check mix, peanut butter, powdered sugar and chocolate concoction. Peanut butter isn’t as widely popular here in Scotland as in America and is not often used in baked goods, so I decided to treat everyone here to peanut butter cookies. They don’t even have Jiffy peanut butter in the stores here – which I believe proves my point. I also learned that they call powdered sugar – “icing sugar”, haha you have no idea how long (about 5 times up and down the sugar isle) to finally figure that out.
I decided spiders and all – to host a dinner party and “get together” for the friends that I have met in Scotland! I practiced my cooking skills and prepared Chicken Parmesan for everyone! We also enjoyed salad, homemade bread (that my friend Angharad had made), and spaghetti! It was a lot of fun to have everyone over! It was also interesting cooking everything and converting recipes from cups to grams and baking in an over using Centigrade instead of Fahrenheit – conversion tables have come in very handy on quite a few occasions!
Before the Dinner Party, I had invited over some girls to bake desserts for the Christian Union meeting at Aberdeen University, where I introduced everyone to “Puppy Chow”! Everyone loved the check mix, peanut butter, powdered sugar and chocolate concoction. Peanut butter isn’t as widely popular here in Scotland as in America and is not often used in baked goods, so I decided to treat everyone here to peanut butter cookies. They don’t even have Jiffy peanut butter in the stores here – which I believe proves my point. I also learned that they call powdered sugar – “icing sugar”, haha you have no idea how long (about 5 times up and down the sugar isle) to finally figure that out.
Mini Road Trip
I went on a mini road trip to a nearby farm and tea house for lunch with my friend Angharad and her friend Sarah – we drove about thirty minutes away to have a relaxing weekend lunch at the FInzean Estate Farm Shop and Tea Room. I enjoyed what else but more carrot soup – this time carrot and courgette soup. This is when I learned that courgette is actually zucchini. Angharad also pointed out that the Scottish call eggplant aubergine. I am continuously boggled by the use of different “English” words to explain and describe the same thing, eggplant and zucchini being a perfect example! I love picking up on the expressions they use here in Scotland and sometimes try to fit their vocabulary into my own speech. My most recent favorite expression being “That’s Ace” – Ace meaning really cool or neat, and “I’m going to take a nip to the loo” – which would mean I’m going to excuse myself quickly to go to the restroom!
After lunch I decided to take pictures of nearby cows that were a little too friendly for comfort. The cows liked my camera and apparently my attention a lot. I was only separated from the cows by a wooden gate and wire fence – which when yards away from the huge animals, really isn’t that assuring.
After lunch I decided to take pictures of nearby cows that were a little too friendly for comfort. The cows liked my camera and apparently my attention a lot. I was only separated from the cows by a wooden gate and wire fence – which when yards away from the huge animals, really isn’t that assuring.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Week 2 In Review
I truly have been enjoying my time in Aberdeen! Moving to a new continent…country…city…school has been very exciting and nerve wracking. At times I look at the granite buildings that line the city streets and the cottage style houses and I am truly in awe of the world and how at any one second millions of individuals around the world are enjoying the exact same day as me!
It has been really fun to meet new people and go to different events across campus and the city of Aberdeen. This weekend I met lots of really amazing students at Aberdeen University’s Christian Union weekly meeting. I met two girls, Daniella and Katerina, who are first year students from the Czech Republic! Daniella, Katerina, and I all enjoyed dinner at an Italian restaurant and the movie “Eat Pray Love” on Saturday as well.
Sunday was filled with new friends! I enjoyed attending church with a new friend, Angharad! It was Angharad’s twenty second birthday, so we celebrated at a nearby coffee shop and enjoyed the cake that she had made – which was delicious!
I also enjoyed time with some of the gentlemen from Rotary this past weekend and dinner with my Rotary host family earlier in the week. The gentlemen from Rotary are so nice, and have really gone out of their way to make sure I feel at home here! My Rotary host family, the McKail’s invited me over to their house for a home-cooked meal of soup, potatoes, corn, venison stew, and strawberry dessert! And the gentlemen from Rotary also treated me to a meal at a local pub and restaurant – lots of delicious meals. I finally know what it feels like to be a “real college student” who appreciates real food and free meals!
This upcoming week is my first full week of classes – tutorial and lectures. I am quickly being reminded that the reason I am here is to pursue a Masters degree, but at the same time wanting to make sure I become part of the community in Aberdeen and really take advantage of all the different cultures and friends who surround me.
Soup!
I’ve eaten so much soup – I decided to dedicate an entire blog post to it: With the colder weather, that I think I may actually be adjusting to, I don’t mind enjoying a latte at Starbucks and…eating lots of hot soup! Yesterday’s soup was carrot and sweet corn and then for dinner a broccoli type soup my roommate made (he is a very good cook). There is also a soup here called Carrot and Coriander. I learned that coriander is a type of herb. Chili is often added to soup as well, to warm up the spiciness and also the flavor of the soup. I have also tried Spicy Parsnip soup (yes, I was feeling quite adventurous) and a Roasted Red Pepper flavored soup, both which were very good!
Purple Pinkies
As part of my time here in Aberdeen Scotland, as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, I have the opportunity to take part in various community service projects alongside the member of my local hosting Rotary Club. On Saturday, I took part in my first event with Rotary and a local Cub Scout Troop at a local farm, where we planted crocus bulbs to signify the “Purple Pinkie”.
When I first heard about planting flowers – purple crocuses – with the Cub Scouts, I thought it would be a really fun outdoors activity, to beautify the community of Aberdeen, I had no idea of the significance behind the “Purple Pinkie” Project. It was an interesting name with amazing symbolism and purpose…
I had previously learned that Rotary International’s largest initiative is to help eradicate Polio, a crippling and potentially fatal disease. Although incurable, Polio is easy to prevent, simply by a vaccination – forever protecting the child against this terrible disease!
What I didn’t realize was that, when a child is vaccinated, they have a purple stamp put on their little “pinkie” finger. So each crocus was planted in hopes that it will bloom PURPLE in the spring to signify the “Purple Pinkie”.
Alongside the excited younger boys, girls, and parents of the Cub Scouts and with the lively gentlemen of Rotary, I helped plant 10,000 crocus bulbs on a Scottish hillside in Aberdeen – truly something I never imagined having the opportunity to do, and will most like never have the chance to do again.
When I first heard about planting flowers – purple crocuses – with the Cub Scouts, I thought it would be a really fun outdoors activity, to beautify the community of Aberdeen, I had no idea of the significance behind the “Purple Pinkie” Project. It was an interesting name with amazing symbolism and purpose…
I had previously learned that Rotary International’s largest initiative is to help eradicate Polio, a crippling and potentially fatal disease. Although incurable, Polio is easy to prevent, simply by a vaccination – forever protecting the child against this terrible disease!
What I didn’t realize was that, when a child is vaccinated, they have a purple stamp put on their little “pinkie” finger. So each crocus was planted in hopes that it will bloom PURPLE in the spring to signify the “Purple Pinkie”.
Alongside the excited younger boys, girls, and parents of the Cub Scouts and with the lively gentlemen of Rotary, I helped plant 10,000 crocus bulbs on a Scottish hillside in Aberdeen – truly something I never imagined having the opportunity to do, and will most like never have the chance to do again.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
