Hello from Edinburgh!
I’ve finally settled into my apartment, and I can already tell I love this city. Three of my biggest goals for studying abroad are to gain a greater sense of independence, meet new people, and learn more about another culture. I’ve only been in Edinburgh for three days now, and I am already well on my way to achieving all of these goals. Traveling to Scotland was the first time I had traveled solo, so that alone pushed me to become more independent and self-sufficient. With Edinburgh being such a global city and the university being so diverse, I’ve already met people from around 10 different countries. On our first night here, I attended an event called ‘Taste of Scotland’ where there were people playing bagpipes, a traditional blessing of haggis, and then a taste test of the haggis. Scotland is known for haggis, but it isn’t the most appetizing dish. But you have to try it if you’re here.
My main reason for studying abroad ties in very closely with my goals. I really want to become more globally aware and learn about different types of people. I’ve also been really interested in learning about the Scottish culture because my family is from Scotland. Additionally, with the University of Edinburgh being a top engineering university, it was the perfect school for me.
My biggest apprehension about studying abroad was adjusting to the different styles of teaching and learning. Although I’m very excited to see how Scotland approaches civil engineering topics differently than the US, change is also a little bit scary.
I can’t wait to starting exploring more of the city, Scotland as a whole, and the rest of Europe. I’m so excited to share more about my experience and travels within the next couple of weeks.
