Study Abroad in Scotland II

Ok this is blog number 2. It is a little longer coming then I had hoped but I have been busy and did not get around to doing it until now. Well, I think I left off in the middle of Fresher’s week. Fresher’s week was ok it is actually just like Grove City’s but drawn out into a week-long process. All the Students have that terrible look on their face that says, “I have never been away from home before and I am lonely, please be my friend.” It is a time where the question, “how are you doing?”, is met with a smile, a long pause and a detailed answer. This effect is unlike anything I have ever seen before. It is the only time in our lives where a huge group of people, with the same age and the same experience get thrown together. And they are all lonely. I got to experience this twice in my life. Once when I was on the inside at Grove City and the second time was at St Andrews. Although this time I was and still am somewhat lonely, I have learned from the first experience. So I was able this time around to watch and observe people’s disparate attempts at friendships. I think the funny thing is that these friendships which are made with such haste and desire to feel accepted rarely last. I can think of several friendships I had freshman year which fit this mold. We were “such good friends,” but as soon as we actually had friends and we realized we had nothing in common, we downgraded our status to the awkward hello stage. So Fresher’s week was an interesting experience especially because this time around I was content to just see how others handle it.

On last Friday we went to Stirling and went and saw the castle. It was pretty beautiful and we also explored the cemetery around the castle. We saw the Chapel were James the VI was Baptized. He later became James I of England, which united England and Scotland. We explored all around the castle. In my opinion Stirling castle was actually nicer to see than Edinburgh. The reason was that at Stirling they let you see more stuff and let you actually experience the castles. We went on a guided tour and we learned all about the castle and Scottish history. We learned how most Scottish people hate the movie Braveheart because it is not that accurate and Mel Gibson is Australian. We learned how Robert the Bruce destroyed all the castles in Scotland because he didn’t want the Kings of England to control Scotland with them. So all the castles that are still standing are from the 1400s. It was a good day and Patrick has put up most of the pictures from that trip.

Our first classes were on Monday. Now I am not mad but I promised myself and Patrick that I would mention this. So between seeing things and doing Fresher’s week, Patrick and I were trying to figure out what classes we had and where they were. On Wednesday of Fresher’s week we got to meet some advisors but it wasn’t really a meeting. They had all the international students show up and in assembly line style marched us through to see the professor. We got about ten minutes and they were completely unhelpful. We thought that we were just stupid and out of the loop, but whenever we would ask a fellow student questions about classes, we would get answers like “how would I know” or “I don’t have any ideas”, or my favorite “I don’t even know what classes I am taking.” We then turned to the staff thinking that they would have word of wisdom to share with or guidance to give. Instead, we got response of “I don’t know” or “why should I know” or “I have absolutely no idea, and that’s not my responsibility.” So whatever. Patrick and I had our first class together on Monday and we managed to trick someone into telling us it was at 11am. We decided the best place to start looking for our class was in the history building that was at the edge of town. We got there an hour early and began searching the premises for our modern history class. Asking students and faculty was equally fruitless. Patrick finally saw a small note card pinned to a bulletin board. We eagerly ran to it. It read that our class was in the Irvine lecture hall. We made our way to Irvine lecture hall which of course was in the biology building. Obviously we should have started our search there. We got to class ten minutes early and just found a seat. Students not coming to class ten minutes early were then forced to sit on the steps or stand in the doorway. I then watch the head teacher get the blue screen of death on the computer and then for 15 minutes install windows XP. Apparently preparation was only something stupid Americans practice. After failing for about 10 minutes into class she turned and apologized for the cramped space and said that if you weren’t in a chair you had to leave because it was a fire hazard, and they could come back at 11:30. Apparently asbestos had been found in our actual lecture hall. Since the computer wasn’t working either she would have to go over the syllabus from memory since she had no hard copy either. My favorite line from the lecture was and I quote, “I apologize for all the confusions, no doubt there is some blame to be put on the school, even though I personally am not responsible.” This line pretty nicely sums up my experience with St Andrews’ Administration. There were even many other things that happened which I could tell you, but my fingers are tired. Oh yeah and the only thing that made us feel any better was this was the BEST SCHOOL IN SCOTLAND.

Now that I have had my rant which is all true, I will say that a lot of the teachers are really good, and I have really enjoyed some of my lectures and am sure that I will continue to enjoy them. BUT as far as administration is concerned I have never dealt with a group of more inept people in all my life. It is not that they are stupid. On the contrary everyone there is extremely smart, it is that they are completely unhelpful. They have no desire to help you if it not specifically their responsibility. Patrick and I both agree that we will never complain about Grove City ever again.

On Saturday me and Patrick went on a coastal trail hike that went down the coast of Scotland for about 9 miles. It was extremely beautiful. I am sure Patrick will have those pictures up pretty soon.