ADVENTURE TIIIIIME

Hello everybody! First off, words of the week (American: Scottish)! Cookies: Biscuits OR Cookies. Underwear: Pants. Pants: Trousers. Little: Wee (it’s used ALL the time). English muffins: Crumpets.

We’ve had quite the busy week and we’d like to share it with you. So where to begin? Well, we did end up going to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Sunday. We brought a camera, but you can’t take pictures of some of the art in there, so out of fear we have not posted those pictures. Regardless, we did have a good time poking around the Museum! They had dinosaurs (fully reconstructed but not living), they had an Egyptian display (complete with creepy for realsies mummy), and they had a ton of art (hence the name “Art Gallery”). A good time was had by all!

What else did we do this week? Well, Sandra had a crazy lab Monday. It wasn’t really crazy, it was just new and different. Actually, it was a lot easier than labs at home (it was for Power Electronics), and the Professor is really nice also. And, she made a new friend working with a girl from Malaysia! So that was a good experience overall. Unfortunately, she still doesn’t know whether her classes will count back home or not. This has been a bit of a fiasco trying to get classes to match up, but we’ve both finally got our schedules worked out and only nine weeks of classes left! Yay!

Our biggest adventure this week was certainly tackling the subway to get to Piping Class. That’s right, we’re taking a Bagpiping course. This week was just introductory, and we don’t yet have our chanters or books. But! Sandra has her first one-on-one lesson Tuesday, and due to a schedule conflict with the instructor, Tom has his first one-on-one lesson Wednesday! It’s so exciting! There’s also a small Museum in the Piping Center and we got to see a bit of that during our first class. We also almost got lost in the city! Our instructor decided to take us on a mini-field trip to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to see some amateur artists. We didn’t stay long, and soon wandered off into the night by ourselves. Fortunately we managed to find the underground station, but not before j-walking and taking a wrong turn or two.

Our biggest win of the week was probably our awesome grocery shopping abilities and sweet dinner-making skills. I mean, besides the whole, we burn the bottoms of pots and pans because the burners aren’t the best and we turn them up way too high. Seriously, people. One night this week we had roast beef, mashed potatoes, and corn, all ready in a timely manner, and all delicious. (Mostly because they sell frozen mashed potatoes and they are fantastic.) And grocery shopping consisted of meeting up Friday afternoon after classes to travel up the road from the University to a place called Iceland. Then, after our adventures buying most of what we needed at Iceland (and marveling at some of the things we didn’t need), we continued down the road to Farm Foods! There we picked up the essentials, you know, frozen broccoli, frozen mashed potatoes, milk, Yorkshire puddings, biscuits (cookies), and profiteroles (like mini cream puffs)! Thank goodness for our set of life skills that lets us grocery shop and feed ourselves and sit down at the dinner table every night with a well-prepared and well-timed dinner in front of us.

We have yet to really explore any food places, besides grocery stores, but we have slowly been exploring Byres Road and Argyle Street near us. We did venture into Baguette Express for their daily meal deal, which makes a delicious lunch; they’re basically a subway for baguettes. So, so far we have not explored much of the city, but yesterday we walked up to Kelvingrove Park and had a nice stroll through there, and today we will be venturing down to the City Centre again to hopefully catch Tron: Legacy in 3D at Cineworld. Now, we did catch a glimpse of Cineworld Thursday while we were taking our piping field trip, and just… WOW. That cinema puts every movie theatre we’ve ever seen to shame; It is huge and has crazy lights and has 3D movies and is beautiful.

But back to Kelvingrove Park, that was beautiful too. We pass the park every day on our way to class, but we’ve never really ventured in. We decided that yesterday would be the perfect day to venture into the park. It was foggy and chilly nearly all morning, and nearly the whole time we were in the park, but it made for rather nice walking weather and peaceful scenery. You can see the photos from yesterday on either of our facebook pages or by using the links on the right side of the page. We had a grand old time, got a bunch of exercise (it’s all hills here, for realsies), and we plan to walk around again when everything is in bloom.

Now, after a lovely morning of Tom using Sandra’s musical skills to attempt to make a crazy medley of songs from Zelda on Finale, and a superb lunch of grilled cheese and salami, we will venture off into the great kind-of-known city to see Tron: Legacy which we wanted to see a month ago! Cheers!

 

A Rainy Saturday

A Rainy Saturday

Today it is Saturday. Today it is raining. Therefore, we are stuck inside with limited activities to keep our smallish brains busy. We’ve been in Glasgow for a little over a week now, so we figured we should probably bring you all up to speed. Orientation was nice but wasn’t completely helpful. The system here is actually quite terrible for visiting students, and isn’t very easy at all to figure out. Each class is different, and each has their own rules regarding registering, tutorials, and labs. They all also have their own timetables, which you then need to find from various people or places. It’s terribly confusing. But we have started to figure it out and so far Tom is taking Physics 1, some weird math course, Exploring Scottish Culture, Piping, and auditing Physics 2. Sandra is taking Applied Mechanics 2, Power Electronics 2, Exploring Scottish Culture, and Piping.

Originally, neither of us planned to do Piping, but it was too good an opportunity to pass up. The Piping course is run by the Piping Center in Glasgow, and includes one-on-one lessons to learn to play the chanter (and eventually the bagpipes if you get good enough)! So that was just too exciting, and we’re anxious for our first class this Thursday. The Exploring Scottish Culture class should also be interesting, as it is a mixture of Scottish History and Literature lessons taught by some very energetic guys!

Wow, the wind sure is blowing out there! It really is raining. We thought of going to the cinema, but a 40 minute walk in the rain didn’t really sound appealing, especially because we’re both getting over colds. There’s no bus stop very close to here anyway. Besides, the buses aren’t the most user-friendly thing I’ve ever seen either. They’re quite annoying actually, unless you take them every day or always happen to carry pocketfuls of loose change.

But no matter, we’re here, in the flat where some random Chinese kid periodically takes over the kitchen and  we awkwardly slink out (no joke, it’s happened at least twice, we don’t know his name and he doesn’t live here). Tom is engrossed in some of the brochures we picked up in Central Station last week. Do you know how many castles there are in Scotland? Like a bajillion, that’s how many, and it seems as if he’d like to visit every one. Maybe we will! : ) But first, we think we should go to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum (where admission is free because it’s a Museum!). Maybe tomorrow.

We have managed to do a bit of exploring around Glasgow. We’ve found and figured out most of the University campus. We explored Byres Road next to campus, even stumbling upon a Blockbuster (that doesn’t take American Blockbuster cards). We ventured into the City Centre last weekend by bus (not the best travel experience ever), and found the place to shop. Poundland. And yesterday we found a fantastic supermarket called FarmFoods. Most of the food was frozen (but that’s fine), and it’s a bit of a walk (20 minutes), but the price is right and they don’t rush you bagging. Plus! We get their flyer delivered to our door (with some coupons that we forget to use when we’re there).

Speaking of food! We’ve been eating well, and mostly American. Though, while we toured Edinburgh (we’ll get to that later), Tom did get to try Haggis! He liked it but said it didn’t taste like anything he could really describe. Though we did buy Haggis bites yesterday so we’ll see if Sandra can put words to it (other than disgusting) sometime later this week. We also tried, and loved, neeps! (Though, personally I just like saying neeps!) Neeps aren’t actually that exciting, they’re just mashed turnips with a better name. I’m being yelled at to tell you that they’re Swedes, but I think that gives a terrible cannibalistic impression because they’re just Swedish turnips. We did have fish and chips one of the first days we were here… it was delectable. Tom also, after hours of begging, got his can of Irn Bru, and promptly poured it down the sink after drinking a bit more than half the can. Their favorite soda, we concluded, tastes more like cough syrup that was nearly completely watered down with seltzer. We have not yet had the pleasure of trying a deep-fried Mars bar, but we can’t wait.

And speaking of eating and drinking, we have not yet been to a pub or had an alcoholic drink. Although, we pass a pub called the Goat every day on our walk to class, we haven’t yet plucked up the courage to go inside (or rather, Sandra hasn’t built up the strength to drag Tom inside). We will soon, though, hopefully… Anywho!

Also speaking about drinking, we’ve got a flat mate from Northern Ireland! Though we haven’t actually seen him drink yet. But he’s mad cool, his name’s Matt and he’s pretty much the only flat mate we ever talk to (because he’s mad cool), and he teaches us words and such in a nice, easily understood accent (that Sandra can’t tell apart because she’s bad at that). We also have a flat mate from Germany whose name we’ve been debating since we met her because we both forgot and feel terrible about that. She’s nice though, she just keeps to herself mostly. And then there’s Amanda. We don’t really know what she’s like because we’ve never actually talked to her, but she does cook a lot, and her friend is in our kitchen a lot cooking without her, and we never know what to say, and we’re not completely sure they speak English (they speak Chinese to each other) but who knows! And that’s the flat! We also each have our own little bathrooms with our own little showers that steam up the whole room and toilet bowls with no tanks. Cause that’s how they do in the UK.

What else didn’t we talk about? Well, being in the UK. It’s fun, really. It’s quite a bit different. I mean, Tom still falls off the bed, it’s just (thankfully) a lot lower. We’ve taken tours of both Glasgow and Edinburgh (pronounce that Edinburrough) now, and they’re both beautiful cities. The architecture in general is exquisite; you’ve seen the pictures of the University, it’s honestly like going to Hogwarts every day, it’s amazing. And the city architecture, the flats, ohhh, they’re beautiful and old and beautiful. And it’s weird because they’re just flats, they’re ugly little flats with shops on the ground level but the sheer majesty of the buildings themselves and their age and the hustle and bustle of the city, it’s simply incredible.

They also have funny name for things! LIKE! Stickyootwindees: Bay windows. Jumper: Sweater. Cheers: Thanks. University: College, school. Wee bit: Little. Bits: Parts. ‘Zed’: “Zee” (as in letter). ‘Jie’:”Jay” (as in letter). Chicken FilleT: Chicken Fille(t). Queue: Line. Chips: Fries. Crisps: Chips. Biscuit: Cookie. Mash: Mashed Potatoes. Tea Time: Dinner. Mobile Phone: Cell Phone. Underground/Tube: Subway. Petrol: Gas. Pieces: Sandwiches.

Culturally, it’s interesting as well. We’ve been exploring the BBC website in search of entertainment (until we get comfortable with the city, we prefer to learn culture through tv). We found British Wipeout and backwards Family Feud! It’s fantastic. And other than that we’ve been completely addicted to Chuck. Seriously, if you’ve never seen Chuck, rent the first season and watch, you’ll be absolutely hooked. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say it’s the best show ever, clean comedy, crazy characters, and an almost-believable story line.

Anyway, since Tom is currently attempting to shave my head with his mobile, I think we’re going to do something else now. Perhaps plan dinner? (We are so ordering Dominos tonight.) Or watch more Chuck? (For realsies, it’s fantastic.) Or look up more places to go and mark our calendars? (All those brochures should be good for something!) Or skype a family member? (It’s only 8:30AM back home though.) Anyway, you all have a good week, we’ll update when we can. We miss the snow, we miss you. TTFN!

 

P.S. GO SEAHAWKS!

 

PHOTOS

So, we have been quite busy settling in here in Glasgow, but we’ve found time to write this little blog to let you know we have put up an album of all of our pictures so far. If you’re on facebook you’ve probably seen (and liked, and commented) on all of these already. But for anyone else, here’s the link! Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=346884&id=679153625&l=6e44f532a5

SCOTLAND FACT COUNTDOWN – 1!!!!!

Tomorrow we leave! So, to wrap this up, I figured we’d go with the most obvious Scotland fact there is… NESSIE!

The first recorded sighting of the Loch Ness Monster (AKA Nessie) was in 565 AD by St Columba. Nessie was actually first seen in the River Ness before it became associated with the loch. The monster was next seen in 1933 when Mr and Mrs Spicer reported seeing a large animal crossing the road. Normally, the Loch Ness Monster is said to have a small head, long neck, broad body, four flippers and a long tail. The scientific name for Nessieis a plesiosaur (acarnivorous aquatic, usually marine, reptile). Nessie is the most famous cryptid in the world. (Look the word up, feel educated!)

And so we set off!

NESSIE!

SCOTLAND FACT COUNTDOWN – 2!

SEA! HAWKS! WOOO!

I didn’t post the fact last night because I was too busy cheering on the Seahawks winning the NFC West and making it to the playoffs. Happy times. So now, in honor of this, I have researched (on Wikipedia) how one may find these games on Scottish television!

Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster that started in 1982. It’s a “publisher-broadcaster” so it commissions all of the material it airs that’s not it’s own,  So it as well as its’ offshoot channels or sister channels air certain American television shows as well, such as Family Guy, The Simpsons, Everybody Loves Raymond, Will & Grace, etc., as well as Sunday Night (American) Football games. Here’s to hoping that they show the playoffs as well!

 

Channel 4!

 

SCOTLAND FACT COUNTDOWN – 3!

Sports are quite popular in Scotland, and Glasgow in particular has a few teams of note. The first international football (soccer) match was held in Glasgow, a 0-0 draw between Scotland and England. The Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Football Museum are both in Glasgow, as well as four other football leagues. The city also is home to three different football teams, the Celtic F.C., the Rangers F.C. and the Patrick Thistle F.C. They also have a Rugby team, the Glasgow Warriors, and a swimming organization; the Arlington Baths Club is the world’s oldest swimming club, dating back to 1870! In 2003, Glasgow was given the title the European Capital of Sport and in 2014 the World Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow. So, as you can see, sports are quite popular there, and that’s only a few quick notes I found and jotted down before bed because I’m tired from staying up for the New Year!

 

WOOO!

 

 

 

SCOTLAND FACT COUNTDOWN – 4!

So, Sandra has had some worries about the food in Scotland, but have no fear, the cheese is here -er, there! Scotland has over two dozen cheese producers across the country! They range from tiny little cheese producers to industrial cheddar creameries! Scottish Cheddar cheese accounts for about 70-80% of the output of the principle creameries and remains a favorite of the Scots and their visitors. There are also over 20 different kinds of cheese made in Scotland, including:

Bishop Kennedy, Bonnet, Brie (Howgate Scottish Brie), Brodick Blue, Brodick,Caboc, Caithness, Cream Cheese (including Caboc (Ross-shire), Howgate (Perthshire) and Lochaber-smoked), Crowdie, Dunlop, Dunsyre Blue,Drunileish, Isle of Bute, Mull of Kintyre, Highland, Arran cheddar, Inverloch,Isle of Mull, Kelsae, Lanark Blue, Loch Arthur, The Orkney Isles, Pentland, St Andrews, Scottish Cheddar, Stichill, Strathkinness, Swinzie, and Teviotdate.

St. Andrew’s Cheese

SCOTLAND FACT COUNTDOWN – 5!

The Proclaimers are possibly the most famous musical act to come from Scotland (that we know of!). The band consists of identical twins Charlie and Craig Reid who were born in Leith, Scotland in 1962. Formed in 1983, they’ve released 8 studio albums and 3 compilation albums and are  one of the only bands ever to stay together with the original lineup for that long. And their music has been on the UK Singles Chart, with “Letters To America” peaking at number 3! And one of their albums went gold!

I just like the song I’m Gonna Be.

Editor’s Note: Sandra did not help with this post. Shut up Tom. Here’s a picture.

 

LA DEE DA DAAA. LA DEE DA DAAAA.