Hey-a! It's been a few days since I've written anything, but only a few months worth of events have occured in that time! This past week it seems all the events on campus have started. I have now attended both of my classes (I only have two, and this is a full schedule!) and they seem wonderful. I'm taking Medeival History (History and Legend is Sub-Roman Britain) and English Lit (Revolution and Romanticism). I have also in the past week been joining various sports clubs and social societies, such as football (soccer), and most excting the riding team (check out the link it's ridiculous http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~riding/). And I had some very exciting news! I made The St. Salvator's chapel choir! This choir sings at all the major university events, every Sunday at the University chapel service, various weddings, and best of all I get to wear my red robe (officially called a gown) for all our performances!

I desperately want to keep writing but I must run along to class! I will write more soon I promise!

cheers!

Settling into St.A's

Hello, or Hey-a as the Scots say! So I'm finally settling into St. Andrews. I have been here at the University since last Saturday...but with the roller coaster the adjustment has been it feels like a year has past since I got here.





When I first arrived in Scotland I stayed in Edinburgh for a few days of orientation. I actually didn't realize this way part of the schedule (here pronounced Shhh-edule), but I'm so thankful that my program gave me a few days of rest in that glorious city. From the get-go I knew God's hand was on me. I walked into my hotel room, exhausted and disoriented, to the welcoming regards of my roommate for orientation Allison. Allison, it ends up, is a dedicated Christian who is studying abroad for the semester. I also was welcomed by the view you see posted up above. My room looked out to the Castle of Edinburgh, right in the center of the city! Orientation was a load of fun. One of the highlights however was that each night ended with a discussion and prayer between my roommate and I!

However, things got a bit complicated once I got to St. Andrews. The picture you see above is Andrew Melville Hall. As we approached the gorgeous and Medieval City of St. Andrews, I was over joyed all up until the moment I realized this architectural wonder was the location where I would reside. My fears were further realized when 'quelle horreur' I found that my room was on the base floor of the building! I had nothing near the promised view of the ocean, and was practically assigned to the basement.

To be perfectly serious, I was really put off by my housing assignment. For a few days, it left me feeling helpless, alone, and homesick. But through various events, and conversations I made peace with my situation. The event left me feeling, what I now am seeing as truth, that God's plan is very different from our own. I had many ideas of what this trip would be...God is showing me that He has some ideas of His own. While this may sound somewhat somber it isn't. My realization that God has a plan in mind that greatly differs from my own actually fills me with peace and freedom.

Until next time...Cheers!

note- 'cheers' is the final word of every Scottish sentence.

Last few days

For many people the acts of cleaning and organization are tedious processes. For me they bring peaceful monotony and the whimsical illusion of control. Packing seems to stimulates a similar vein of my OCD and thus, is a great joy of mine.

The past few days I have been totally dedicated to packing for my year long trip to Scotland. It has been such a joy to lay out sweaters and blazers, line up boots and loafers, and all the other essential articles that will accompany me to St. Andrews. This job, I might add, has been no small feat. It involves me, a blond kleptomaniac, collecting everything she will need to wear, use, and own for the next year and place it inside two Samsonite suitcases, neither of which can weigh more than 50 pounds. Luckily I have Julie Headland (aka Super Mom), and the staff of JCrew to help me.

All humor aside I am almost done packing. I'm actually not bringing half of what you would imagine (or maybe that still means double what you imagine b/c this is me). The next few days I will be running around quaint Westport seeking out my last purchases, such as power converters, internet cables, and hopefully a good book on etiquette . My flight is on Tuesday night...which seems like both a blink and a year away.

My Prayer right now is that the remanding time with Mom would be sweet, and that God would be preparing my heart for this nearing adventure! Till next time....