One week down!

Well the first week of classes has passed! I have been in Scotland for 5 days now and things are absolutely getting better. I think I finally have my class schedule worked out, now I just have to catch up on the class I missed this past week. No I didn't skip it, I just didn't have it scheduled at the time, but I made room for it now. Looking back I realize that the week has passed quickly. Monday I knew no one and had nothing with me. Now I have so many friends and people to hang out with and my room is feeling more and more comfortable. I have met all my flatmates and they all seem pretty cool. I have explored the city of Glasgow many times and I think I'm actually feeling quite comfortable with it. I can get around it at least. I know I could walk around every night this semester and still never see it all, but I feel like I'm getting close. Tonight me, Keith, and Mike, a guy from LSU who lives on Keith's hall, went on a nice long cold walk. Mike heard about this place called Queen's Park, so we set off to try and find it. We had no idea it would be this far. By the time we got there it was dark so we couldn't see much. But we got to the top of the fort area and we could see the city all around us and it was absolutely beautiful. My camera didn't take very good pictures so unfortunately I can't show you what it looked like. But it was a lot of fun going there. I kinda had rough morning just thinking about everyone back at home. Today is Lauren and mine's 4 month anniversary and I was definitely missing her this morning so that contributed to my tough morning. 4 months, wow it seems like it has been so much longer. I guess time flies when you have someone like that. But it really does seem like we have been together longer. I guess it's because we have known each other for so long and have been so close for a while now. I do miss her a lot. But things soon cheered up. I met with my advisor today and got classes worked out. And Keith and I went to see a movie tonight...Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. It was really good. Then we met some friends and went to this pub afterwards. Tomorrow we're heading to Edinbourgh. Checking out the city, climbing Arthur's Seat (I think it's called), and just having fun exploring. I'll be sure to add some pictures to Facebook if I get some good ones. But other than that things have been going great over here. I still need to find some silverware and plates and pans, but I'll get that worked out soon. I'm all settled in now and things have been a lot better than at the beginning of the week. I still miss Lauren and mom and dad and everyone back home, but it's getting a lot easier. I am having a blast over here. I love all of ya'll and I will see you soon!

Classes

Well I had my 2nd class today...it seemed like it will be fun. If you know me you know that I like history (hence the whole history major thing...). Today's class was The History of Scottish Society from 1832-1914, and it sounds pretty interesting. My professor looks a lot like Patrick Swayze...at least a young Patrick Swayze like in Dirty Dancing. I got my student ID card today. Still not quite sure why the Registry office didn't see it fit to give me this the first day I came to them but whatever. I wasn't quite ready for the lady to take my picture so I look like an idiot, but what's new...some of us just aren't very photogenic. I also found out that the exam schedule isn't made up until after Easter. I'm so not used to this whole academic system here. It's really weird. I'm used to having a set schedule of classes. They have tutorials here which meet every fortnight (2 weeks). I have one class that is supposed to meet 2 days a week, but we only have it on Thursday like 5-6 times this semester. I'm not complaining about that one though. I'm also not sure if I've signed up for the right classes or not. I was pre-registered for a bunch of classes...apparently they don't have class size limits, so you just sign up and come to the ones you want and drop the ones you don't want...I'm not sure. But I'm pre-registered for some finance classes I've never heard of...like I don't know where they got the idea to register me for these. So I've tried to drop them and sign up for the ones I want, but apparently I screwed something up because I got an email saying I have to talk to my advisor "immediately." But I think once I meet with him things will start to fall into place and I'll have a better grasp on this whole thing. I'm gonna sign up for the gym tomorrow. The people here don't seem very big, so hopefully the place won't be too crowded. But hopefully they still have all the equipment I want too haha. Keith pointed that out to me tonight, and there really aren't very many big strong people here. I fit right in haha. Not many people come in and out of the gym. So we'll see how that goes tomorrow. And I went grocery shopping today. They don't bag your groceries for you and you have to buy your grocery bags if you want to use them...otherwise you carry your stuff home. Thankfully someone told me about this beforehand so I had a bag with me. It's weird though. Well I think I've written enough for tonight. Until next time...

Update...

So I said earlier that I would give an update on the comforting thoughts that helped me through the other night. To be honest my first day here was miserable. I had a horrible experience with the flight over, I have no luggage, I was in a foreign country, and I was away from all the people I love the most. I wanted to cry, part of me wanted to come home even. But as I laid in bed Monday night I started thinking. Actually I don't think it was me who started thinking, it was more of God speaking to me. Why am I trying to bear this burden alone? Why am I trying to push through this on my own strength? Heck, if that's how I'm going to continue I'll be home in less than a week, giving up and going back. I absolutely love my family and friends and I feel very close to them. But right now I feel so far away and I hate that. I won't get to see these people for 4 months, talking through Skype is the closest I'll get. But that night it was like God was reaching out to me and telling me to give it all up. Give up those feelings and come to Him for hope and strength. I can't do this alone, I miss everyone too much. I'm not strong enough to do this on my own. I got out of bed and started talking to Lauren again online. It was kinda weird, but after I just let out everything I had been thinking about she said that that's exactly what she was going through earlier that night and that was exactly the conclusion she had come to. It's weird how God can comfort someone with certain thoughts then reaffirm all those things through another person, especially one in the same situation having the same thoughts. So we talked a little bit longer and decided that everything happens for a reason, and we're not going to be able to do this on our own. We need some help, but thankfully we already found that help, that source of strength and courage and hope to get through hard times like these. I will admit, there are still moments when I feel absolutely miserable and alone. I'm making friends and I already have one friend here with me, but I cannot help but miss the people back home whom I love. Part of me still wants to go back haha. But I think I'll stick it out here and see what else God can teach me through this experience...

Arrival

Well I made it! The flight kinda sucked but at least I got here. Charlotte to Newark was good, even though I got lost in Newark for a little while before realizing I had to take a train to a different terminal. I got my boarding pass, grabbed some dinner and got on the plane. It was then announced that we had a problem with the computers and luggage was messed up. They took some time to sort all of that out but eventually they said they got everything straight (liars). After that was solved, it was discovered that we had another problem. The fuel guage in our right wing was broken...our fuel tank was full but the guage was reading zero. We could still fly like this but we would be forced to be within 1 hour of a serviceable airport at all times. Last I checked there wasn't an airport in the middle of the Atlantic. So our new route would have to be up thru Canada to Greenland, over to Iceland, and down to London. And so phonecalls were made to ensure that these airports were in fact open and serviceable (someone got woken up out of bed...), and engineers worked on the fuel guage. Eventually another British Airlines 767 landed at Newark and wasn't leaving anytime soon so we were able to borrow spare parts from them. The engineers fixed the fuel guage. However, since it hadn't been tested we still had to be within an hour of an airport at all times, so the phonecalls continued to wake people up. We finally got going around 11:30 or midnight (only 3+ hours late). I was obviously going to miss my connecting flight to Glasgow from London, but upon arrival I got another one scheduled immediately. I found out that the customs lady in Britain does not like Americans, so that was a bit of a pain. But I eventually got thru and got to Glasgow around 3:30ish. Then I found out my luggage was gone and they had absolutely no idea where it was. So they took as much of my information as I could give (pretty much a name and description of my bags...I had no address or phone number to give haha), and I jumped on the bus for the university. I got here, got my room key but the registration office was closed so I couldn't check in and register. And I had no way of getting ahold of Keith because my computer couldn't connect. So I grabbed my backpack and headed downtown. I love the downtown at night, it is beautiful. I will try to post some pictures to Facebook soon. I walked around, feeling very lonely and a little scared. I had had a very rough day and was absolutely exhausted, not exactly the recipe for a positive emotional state in a foreign country. But I found a Starbucks with internet, logged on and updated some people as to my safe arrival, facebooked Keith and found a tentative way to meet, grabbed some dinner and went back to my room (which looks like a prison cell, although the feeling is going away now that I'm getting settled in). Today I registered for some classes (I think), and attended my first class! I also got my internet working, hooked up with Keith to find a good place for a cell phone, and got some necessary things for my room. My bags arrived in Glasgow although I won't get them until tomorrow morning, but at least theyre here. Today has been a lot better...I'll update later what all was going through my mind to comfort me last night as I was laying in bed. Until then I'm out for some dinner with newfound friends!

One More Week...

I feel like ever since I packed up and left Clemson after exams last semester that I have been living out of a bag. Living at home doesn't feel the same because I know it is temporary. I couldn't move everything back to Clemson after break because there was no point. So I feel like I have been living out of a suitcase and quite frankly I hate it. I'm ready to get to the point where I have my stuff set up in my room for an extended period of time. Packing has never really been hard for me to do, but it really hit me on Saturday when I started packing my stuff in Clemson. This was probably the hardest it has ever been for me to pack up and leave the place I love and the people I love. I only have 1 short week left with my family and a day or 2 to say goodbye to friends in Clemson. It's really getting hard to comprehend leaving as I realize just how much I'm going to miss everyone. 4 months is a long time to be away from everything you love. I already told Lauren and Dad that the only thing I request be at the airport when I get back is a big glass of sweet tea. It's the little thing like that which I have started to realize. I'm also getting to the point where I almost don't want to leave. Living out of a suitcase is getting old, packing is getting harder and harder, and the realization that I am going to miss everyone is really starting to set in. But this time next week I'll be 30 minutes out of Newark Liberty International Airport, just having left the United States, and on a loooooooong flight to London. (For those who don't know...I'm flying out of Charlotte at 4:40 to Newark, NJ, for a connecting flight to London, then up to Glasgow). One more week, so we'll see how this goes...

Braveheart

Well I'm here for my last couple days in Clemson. Mom and I are going down to the beach next week to spend a little time together before I leave. But for now I'm in Clemson spending time with friends before saying goodbye. Lauren and I watched Braveheart tonight. Definitely my favorite movie of all time, and part of the reason why I love Scotland so much and want to visit. Just watching the views of the country and the history makes me want to go experience it all for myself. There are some great quotes from that movie, and I think they can apply to more than just that movie:
"Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it."
"Every man dies, not every man really lives."
Follow your dreams, take advantage of ever opportunity, don't let hard times or tough roads keep you from living your life and doing the things you want to do, the things that matter. My life as a college student isn't summed up by my time spent in the classroom. My life as a college student also includes the time I spend doing the things I love to do. Going to football, basketball, and baseball games. Going to the gym. Spending time talking with and doing crazy things with friends. Spending time with my best friend, who also happens to be my girlfriend, and getting to know her more everyday. The crazy stupid things I do and have a blast doing them, the down time spent doing nothing but laying around and being with people...these are the things which define my life. Going to Scotland and following a desire I have is yet another example. I'm leaving this place, a place I love and people I love and what I'm comfortable with, to go to a country where I don't know anyone. I don't know what the people are like or what the culture will be like. Heck, I don't know how to get from the airport to my new apartment. I don't know who my roommates will be? I don't even know if they will speak English. But this is what I'm going after, this is what I'm pursuing, this is the adventure I have chosen. It will be hard leaving, but it will be good. I'm following a dream, living my life the best I know how, and doing something I may never have the opportunity to do ever again. But this time here is precious, so I plan to take advantage of every second. I'm following my heart, doing my best to really live my life...

New Blog!

Hey everyone,
This is just an idea I had for while I'm studying abroad in Scotland this semester. I hope to be able to update this and tell about all the things that I'm doing so that anyone who is interested can stay updated. I leave in 12 days for Glasgow, Scotland, to study at the University of Strathclyde. It's so hard to believe that this time has actually come. I've been thinking about this for a long time and I've imagined doing it since before I started college. It's just hard to believe it's actually here. I'm leaving this country soon, along with all my family and friends, the people I love the most. I'll be gone for just over 4 months, but hopefully I'll still be in contact with some people for the most part. If anyone needs to get in contact with me or is curious about anything, the best people to contact will probably be Lauren or Mom and Dad, since I'll probably be talking to them the most. I'm excited, sad, nervous, and terrified all at the same time. I have no idea what to do in a foreign country, I have no idea what it will be like to leave the people I love for this long. So many things have changed this semester which have made leaving harder and harder to do. But it's here, it's coming, and it's coming soon. Check back for updates and stuff, and I hope you all (all 2 of you who might read this haha) enjoy reading about my time in Scotland...