While this is the fourth week of classes, this is my fifth week away from home! I was so very homesick my first few weeks and I am still quite homesick now but I make sure to do things to help manage it! I get outside as soon as I can in the day, and it helps significantly if I get outside for a walk before classes begin which is 2 pm in Scotland! I have facetimed a family member around 4 days a week which has helped and I have explored Scotland with people in my cohort and alone. On a trip to Edinburgh with most of my cohort I went beyond Edinburgh to an alpine coaster about an hour outside of the city and it was so much fun! I managed to find my way there with help from bus drivers, other tourists and their staff. The only thing I wish was different about that was that I could ride the coaster more than 3 times!
I would say that this is the most adventurous thing I have done and so it has consequently pushed me out of my comfort zone every single day. I was aware of this before, but now can confirm that even grocery shopping is overwhelming in a different country. At least the groceries are cheaper than in Calgary, if you ignore the exchange rate of course!
Prior to arriving, my cohort was told that we couldn’t do anything for the Scottish side of PVGs, their police checks, until we got to Scotland. As it turns out, if I had received the email to register with the University of Strathclyde sooner, then I could have completed the university’s and the country’s PVG processes at least a couple of weeks ago. Thankfully I just received my PVG disclosure from the Scottish government and can now share that with my school and begin to volunteer!
As i have not yet begun volunteering, I have been committed to completing my school work and think I will be able to get ahead on some assignments and readings before starting next week! I also have gotten to see lots of the city, explore the many many parks and museums in Glasgow!
Almost every person I have met in Scotland has been kind and helpful and so I’m grateful for that and that is also a large reason why I’ve been having positive experiences here!
Below are some pictures of my experience so far! Not pictured is the many many dogs I have met due to all the walking I’ve been doing.
And that’s been my first few weeks!
Slàinte!
Chloe
