'Tastic Tuesday

Yesterday was my first of two consecutive days off (no classes Tuesdays or Wednesdays). Claire and I decided Monday night after choir we would meet at the bus stop on campus and go into the city for a coffee and shopping adventure. It was rather fun. We got off in the heart of the city centre and went into a Danger Zone (formally known as a Used Book Store). Claire bought a book for her economics class while I restrained myself and just browsed. They were all under £5 - very cheap compared to most merchandise and books I've seen in Stirling.

We then went into the mall and encountered another - more expensive but not too high priced - Danger Zone. I couldn't resist. They had a section full of Scottish literature...I had to get something. After a bit of perusing, I settled on a book of tales from the Scottish Highlands. The stories in the book have been passed down over the centuries - pretty neat if you ask me! Claire bought a new Phillipa Gregory book (she is the author of The Other Boleyn Girl and The Virgin's Lover - books all having to do with Elizabeth I and the like era).

After that we went into Primark, a clothing store similar to America's Kohl's. I had been there last Saturday but didn't buy anything. This time, though, I came away with a nice purple half-pea coat (it only goes to my waist) for £17! That's a deal. Other coats, in high-end stores are £30 to £90.

To curb our consumer appetite, we left the mall and went into the main shopping area of the city centre to Café Nero for lunch. I had a yummy ham and cheese panini and a hot chocolate, while Claire had pasta and hot chocolate.

She did most of the talking. She told stories from her time in West Africa, of her parents back home, and her boyfriend. I loved listening to all she had to say. It was particularly cool that she has been to West Africa - twice! It was wicked expensive to go, though, but totally worth is, she said. She did some translating and surveyed the locals to see how parents taught their kids languages. There are 66 different languages spoken in West Africa, but the main language is French. Most people can speak two or three languages, some more. So cool!

When we had finished lunch, we walked around the city centre to several dress shops, just to look. There were dresses in those stores priced at £150 - that's $300! Honestly, those dresses, in my opinion, weren't worth as much as they were priced at...The quality wasn't that great, and the look of the dresses seemed...old-fashioned, (forgive me) grandma-esque. But maybe those styles are in fashion here.

We eventually wandered back to the bus stop, boarded the bus, and headed back to Uni. Claire had a 2 o'clock class - we got back to Uni around 1:30. I headed toward the student shop to buy scissors and a couple folders for my class handouts. I met Becca there and we decided to go to dinner later. We then went to the computer labs to figure out trip-stuff for our adventure to Doune castle (that's the castle in Monty Python and the Holy Grail). We didn't get very far, though, since Becca had class at 4. We walked to where her seminar class was then walked back to the atrium. She headed toward her flat while I went to read some Shakespeare in the library.

I managed to get to Act 3 of The Comedy of Errors before meeting Becca for dinner at 5. After dinner I went back to the library and spent the majority of my time reading before meeting Claire for Bible study at 7:15. I was nearly finished with the entire play by 7:10, but went to meet Claire in the courtyard before I could finish it. Claire picked me up in her car. It was so weird being a passenger on the left-hand side of the car. I felt as though I should have a steering wheel in front of me, and gas and break pedals on the floor. I also kept forgetting which was traffic was going and would cringe slightly when I'd see a car in the opposite lane.

Using Claire's handy GPS-Woman, we reached the Bible study leaders Phil and Roz's house by 7:30. They welcomed us into their kitchen, talked to us for a bit while other students wandered into the house, and gave us baked potatoes to eat and juice or water to drink. It was really nice of them to invite us to their house and to feed us. I thought, Wow, these people are doing exactly what Christ taught - showing hospitality toward strangers.

We then sat in their living room talking to the other students. Most were from Northern Ireland, three (including Roz and Phil) from England, one from Germany, and me, the oly American. It was very neat to be able to talk to international students. I've been so used to talking to Americans while I've been here that, sometimes, I forget I'm in Scotland. I spent most of my time talking to Claire and Julia (the J is pronounce like a Y - She's from Germany.).

When conversation finally wound down, Roz and Phil explained a bit about the Bible study. I've never been to a Bible study before, so it was interesting to listen to. Apparently the group meets every Tuesday and discusses various Bible passages, this year from the Gospel of Mark. All the participants receive a guidebook to help them reflect on the readings ahead of time.

It sounded interesting, and I think I will give it a try. I know my thoughts will probably clash with a lot of peoples' but I feel as though this will be a good thing for me to experience. If nothing else, it will familiarize me with the Bible and give me a new outlook on international Christian students' spiritual lives.

Claire and I left about quarter to 10. I got back to the chalet around 10 after 10, said hello to my flatmates (who weren't going out that night), freshened up, then talked to my Dad. I really do live for the times when I talk to my parents. It's very nice to have familiar voices on the phone to listen to you and talk to you. Even though it makes me miss home, it makes me realize how lucky I am to have people who care so much.

Another highlight of the evening: I got a letter from Katie. It was sitting on the table waiting for me to open it when I got back to the chalet. I was so happy! I miss all of my friends at SNC. It's sad that we only have Facebook to communicate with each other...Getting that letter really made my night.

Well, after reading the letter and getting ready for bed, I finished The Comedy of Errors. All of the flatmates - myself included - were in bed by 11:30. Yay. Happy times.