Weekly Routine

Wow this week....in a way, it's been no different from the last few weeks, but I think that fact that I realized it wasn't any different...made it different. I'm in Scotland, supposed to be having a great time, but I haven't been. I've been letting my school work stress me out, just going through the motions. I haven't made any new plans or done anything interesting or out of the ordinary, and I think that's been getting be down. I need to change things up a little bit, get out of this box that I've built around myself.

I'm going to go to St. Andrews next week. There's a professor there that I've been in contact with a little bit, and it's a funny thing about this guy, one of those things that makes you realize what a small world we live in. Before I left for Scotland last summer, I ran into my old pastor who lives just down the road. When I told him where I was going, he informed me that he knew a professor in Scotland who he had met on a cruise to Alaska, a Marine specialist. This in itself was an opportunity to make a connection that could possibly help my future, but that isn't all. When I was in e-mail correspondance with one of my biology professors back at Redlands, she told me of a professor SHE knew from previous research, who was currently working in St. Andrews. As it turns out, they are the EXACT SAME PERSON. I was so amazed at this discovery, I knew I had to go and see him, but as I said before, I got myself into this routine, bogged down by school and trying to keep a semi-healthy lifestyle, that I never got around to going. But that's going to change, because I'm buying tickets to go out there on Wednesday next week. I'm going to try and see him in the morning, spend part of the day with him, and if I have time left in the afternoon, I'm going to try to find the Old Course at St. Andrews where the British Open is hosted sometimes, and take a look around. In any case, it should be a fun day, and get me out of this not-so-fun FUNK that I'm in at the current moment. The only problem is I have a big Macroeconomics presentation on THURSDAY, so I'll have to get that done before I leave. Means a weekend of my nose at the grindstone, as my father puts it, but I think it'll be worth it.

In other news, the weather here has been AMAZING. if anything keeps me in a better mood, it's seeing the sun almost every day. Edinburgh is a beautiful city, and seeing it in the day time with the sun shining down on the castle, and the peaks of the cathedrals, even the ugly 1970's office buildings, definately makes me happy to be here. You get sunshine in Cali, but not these kinds of sights. I'm going to take my camera out on one of these cold, sunny days and just photograph my walks to class (which can be quite lengthy) so all of you can get an image of what I'm seeing, and so that I'll remember them. It's days like the ones lately that make me wish I had a better camera, but they'll be good enough. I really can't believe it's been so nice. From what I here from people who are from here, this is a complete phenomenon. Again, despite this lull, it makes me feel lucky to be here.

I think one of the things that's been stuck in my mind, maybe adding to the stress, I don't know, is my living situation when I get back. I've been trying to get off campus starting in January, but I'm a little nervous about it for a number of reasons. The place won't be furnished so we'll be buying stuff and borrowing stuff from Hailey's parents' garage (she's going to be my room mate). But there's a chance we'll only be there for like five months, since I'll be potentially going on another travel May term course, and it's too soon to tell what my summer holds. I've been debating with myself, with my friends, and with my parents on what I should do, and I need to make a decision soon since we're moving back in just over a month! Any ideas?

I miss you all, thanks for your support and continuing to put up with my spiratic entries.