Current Location: Bed - Wavell House - Aberdeen

I believe that my floormates have successfully converted me into one of them. I think I'm quite lucky to be experiencing my second freshman year! I'm pretty sure I can keep up with them too, since I've never been one for growing up. I kept up with them last night anyways. We decided to go down to the beach... at 9 o'clock at night. Since no one believed that I knew where I was going, we wandered towards a different beach that took 45 minutes to get to. We also had to cross a golf course which ended up with one less flag at the end of the night. No it wasn't me that stole it, and it wasn't even my idea!

Once we finally got to the beach we were a bit split on whether to jump in and swim around or play rugby on the sand. We compromised by having about half the people jump in the water and then playing rugby for just a couple of tries before heading home. The water was freezing since it's the North Sea and all. Still, my team (I got to be a captain, along with Gillian, the other woman rugger) and I were able to warm up enough to beat the other team. I had a great time on the beach but the walk back was not as enjoyable in damp clothes and sandy jeans. It reminded me of all the crazy stuff we'd do back in Homer though, and I'm really glad everyone was up for that instead of clubbing again.

Ah yes, I also had visitors! Mackenzie and Molly from Homer were traveling around Scotland and stayed in Aberdeen with a family friend for awhile. They finally got a hold of me by way of a hand delivered message from the Central Building at Hillhead where I'm staying (I felt very special and important!) and I got to spend about an hour or so showing them my campus before they had to catch their ride. It was very nice to see some familiar faces and I can't wait for more visitors to come!

Current Location: Bed - Wavell House - Aberdeen

No worries about the freshman thing anymore. I love my floormates! I think it's better to be around first-years anyways because they are in the same situation as I am... just left home and don't know anyone yet, and really want to make friends! I've finally joined in on the fun! The group of us are really great too. There are four girls from my floor and probably around ten or twelve guys from the floor below us. I feel like I already know them really well even though I've only known them for a couple days and I'm still working on names. Thank goodness for them though, I feel very lucky to be running about Aberdeen with them!

So the other night when I said I'd be staying in... well that didn't happen! I was convinced (quite easily convinced) to go out to a club called Liquid that was having a beach themed party, with foam. Now that really didn't sound like something I would find fun or entertaining, but I figured I'd go for it anyways and give it a try. Ha, wow, it was crazy. The group of us from Wavell House got right in the middle of the dance floor and the foam was everywhere! It was very entertaining for awhile, kind of like playing in a blizzard, but once the music started to go downhill and my eyes were stinging from too much foam I decided to take off. Still, what a great first club experience! Wish I had pictures but I didn't want to ruin my camera.

I do, however, have a picture of half the Wavell House group at a different club called Priori... which happens to be in an old granite church right in the middle of Aberdeen. Interesting atmosphere to be sure. We're not the most photogenic group, but I love this picture!

So in the back starting on the left we have, shoot, Ben?, then there's me and Andrew, also known as Todd since his last name is Sweeney. Second row is Sean, then Lyndsey, Gillian who's the other rugger, Tom, J.J. and right up front is half of Dan's head. Not pictured is Bo, Ewan, Conner, Amy, and Lukas... all of them just as awesome as the rest of us.

I have a lot of trouble with Dan's name since Dan is said with an "ahh" sound like when the doctor tells you to open your mouth, instead of how I say it in my American accent. My accent has been made fun of a few times already, as well as words I use. I was made fun of for saying "pants" instead of "trousers" for awhile, since "pants" means underwear here. Also, apparently "faucet" is an unknown word but "tap" isn't. I'm getting some vocabulary straight but it's tricky since people are from all over the British Isles (Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, England... we've got everything except Wales) and there are differences between them as well. I hope some of it sticks until I get back home and you'll be able to enjoy it too. I'm not asking people to repeat themselves as much either. Honestly, the accents are growing on me and I'm getting used to them. I know I'll miss them when I go back home though. I'm already sad about leaving, even though I've only been here two weeks. I just know these months are going to fly by. Luckily most of my friends are first-years so they will still be here for four years and I've already got another trip planned to come back.

Current Location: Bed - Wavell House - Aberdeen

Well, if you didn't figure it out from the photos... I've made it to Scotland!

I'm sitting on my bed right now, which isn't so bad even if I'm still getting used to the duvet and always wake up with it wrapped around me in some strange manner. It'd be nice if I could actually get some good sleep but what with the first-years running up and down the halls drunkenly yelling and other dumb people pulling the fire alarms, I haven't been getting much sleep. Perhaps once Freshers' Week is over, along with all the free drink promotions and such, things will calm down. I hope so, or else it's going to be a bit difficult to focus on studying!

Aberdeen is a really cool city and I've really settled in well. It's about a twenty minute walk into campus and then another ten or fifteen into the city center, but the walking is good exercise and I'd rather do that then spend money on taking the bus. I'll save that for cold, wintry days to come. And still, I'm looking forward to walking around the city when it's all snowy... but I can wait for that. A few more sunny days would be nice, especially if I can get out to the beach again. The beach is only a fifteen minute walk or so, and it's nice! I wasn't expecting sandy, white beaches in Scotland, but there is at least one. Thank goodness too because I'm tired of being landlocked.



I finally had my first meal at the cafeteria this evening. I went down with Lindsey and Amy who both live on my floor and it felt like freshman year all over again, sticking close to people you know so you don't have to sit by yourself at dinner! The food wasn't so bad except that I accidentally sprinkled sugar all over my pasta thinking it was Parmesan cheese. Oops! I just mixed it up into the tomato sauce and it tasted okay. The yogurt, juice and lemon meringue pie was good though so I won't be starving this semester. I'm quite happy to have guaranteed meals all the way to December... just in case I go broke, at least I'll still be fed two meals a day!

The Sport's Fayre is tomorrow as well as my advising appointment, so I don't plan on being out too late tonight. Must not get too carried away with running around campus.

This is me jumping into the TARDUS to time travel with Docter Who.

First pint in the UK!



















Big Ben and I















Just London atmosphere, double-decker buses and all















Yep, proof I'm in London



















Notice the pigeon caught in mid-flight?




















These guys were in the Night Carnival at the Thames Festival
















Scotland countryside from the plane!!

A piece of Urquhart Castle, located right on Loch Ness

Colin, Palmer and I at Glenfinnan with Loch Shiel in the background

Current Location: Window Seat - Astor Quest Hostel - London

Made it again! After leaving my safe little airport bench, I got lost on the way to the Underground and had to ask directions. Luckily the actual ride was uneventful, aside from being very excited about every glimpse of houses or cars driving the opposite direction. Overhearing conversations has been great fun as well, can't get over the accents yet! So after I got off the train, I definitely was having problems finding the hostel. I just kept asking different people for directions and got to it eventually. I must say, I am thrilled I didn't bring any more stuff because I wouldn't have made it. I love my new backpack but I can't wait to unload in Aberdeen. I'm not used to this living out of a bag thing. Also, our room is on the fifth floor which is no fun to climb up with 37 pounds of stuff on your back.

The hostel is cute, tiny staircases and cool painted walls. I'm in the lounge right now, but I feel a little intrusive with all the other more regular guests here watching House. Oh well, I'm not in the mood to be social right now anyways.

Current Location: Bench - Heathrow Airport - London

Made it! I'm in Heathrow airport, I have my bag and I am through customs. No problems so far but now I've got to figure my way to the hostel and find a place to exchange some money. I better go do that now before I get too comfortable on this bench. Can't wait to step out those doors and get my first breath of English air!

Current Location: Bed - Homer - Alaska

Still working away in Homer. I've been deckhanding the last few days which has been great, even if the weather hasn't cooperated. Definitely had people hanging over the sides of the Irish every day so far. Still, most of them enjoyed their time out there and we always limited out on fish, even getting some crew fish for myself now that we're allowed to keep them too. I love being out on the water and I love that I get paid to be out there. Best job in the world as far as I'm concerned.

I got to go out on the town this last Sunday and spent a fabulous night at Alice's Champagne Palace dancing the night away to CTTC's last gig of the year. Good friends, good times and even better music. The James Torme Band was in town too and picked up the instruments as Ethan, Dan, Haven and Patrick left the stage one by one, then continued playing for another excruiating twenty minutes or more. I thought I was going to have to keep dancing until my legs gave out and I simply crumpled to the floor to be trampled on by those with more fortitude than myself. Luckily the music stopped, leaving an empty feeling and a single note ringing in my ears for the next two days. I'll certainly miss the rockin' times I've had listening to CTTC, watching them get better and better. I wish them all the luck in the world.

Now I'm just typing to put off all the work I have to do. Must stop.