When I first arrived in Edinburgh, I was immediately taken by the cool air and all the historic, older buildings. What I did not anticipate, though, was the number of stairs and hills I would have to walk up and down. On the very first day, I walked around 20,000 steps! I felt so tired. Our group left the United States at night and arrived in Edinburgh around 11 a.m., and we were told to stay awake to help us adjust and fall asleep at a normal time that night.
The first picture I took was right outside my flat to send to my family as proof that I had arrived safely. My favorite thing about my host location was all the historic sights and being right by Arthur’s Seat. I also loved hearing the Scottish accents!
My academic classes involved performing every day. That was a lot of fun but also really hard, especially after full days of touring and walking around. It was tiring at times, but I still had to be at my best for performances.
The first “excursion” I went on was to the National Museum of Scotland! I went with three other girls, and we were drawn to it because the museum was ginormous, and it was free! We got there right before it closed, so we didn’t get to see everything, but what we did see was so cool. My next excursion was a purse-making class at The Islander! I got to pick out the bag style, straps, and tweed. The hardest part was deciding what color bag I wanted. Honestly, screwing the bag together was the easiest part! One of the most unforgettable experiences was going to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Our entire group went together, and although it was very cold, the show was amazing! The Tattoo features performances by the British military and international groups, with lots of dancing and instrument playing. It was definitely a highlight of the trip. Another big highlight was visiting Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the Monarchy in Scotland. Mary, Queen of Scots, once lived there, and her friend David Rizzio was murdered by her jealous husband. The palace was stunning and still preserved with historic tapestries, paintings, and furniture. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take photos inside, but it was absolutely breathtaking. A group of us also went to Mary King’s Close, which was a cool and eerie experience. We also attended several Fringe Festival shows throughout our time in Edinburgh.
One of the locals I met was named Scott! He was our tour guide and bus driver for a day trip to the Highlands. He talked a lot about his wife and kids during the tour, and I genuinely got the impression that Scottish people are very happy and tend to live to work, not work to live, like it often feels in the States. One major difference between Scott and me? His accent! He had the thickest Scottish accent I have ever heard. While English is the main language in Scotland, some people also speak Gaelic. There weren’t any major language barriers, but some accents were definitely hard to understand at times. For example, they say “take away” instead of “to-go box,” and “cheers” instead of “thank you.”
The city was filled with old historic buildings and crowds of people, and it almost felt like New York at times! As for food, I was a little disappointed overall. The best meals I had were fish and chips, Asian cuisine, and gelato. Walking around Edinburgh, I would hear taxi horns and thick Scottish accents. Passing by restaurants, I would smell haggis being brought out to tables and people smoking cigarettes. I felt cold most of the time. I actually overestimated how cold and windy it would be when packing.
As the trip came to an end, I started preparing to go home. I wanted to make sure I brought back souvenirs for my family, after all, they helped make this trip possible for me. I picked up t-shirts, magnets, shot glasses, mugs, and more. I had mixed feelings about going home. Scotland and Alabama are vastly different, and I knew I would miss the sights, sounds, and experiences of Edinburgh. This trip was the longest I had ever been away from home, so by the end, I was ready to return, but I also knew I would carry these memories with me forever.
