Local Living

July 24, 2017

Going to cafes and coffeeshops has been a nice way to meet the locals around here. The baristas have been very friendly and fun to talk to. The people I see on the streets do not feel as approachable just because it seems that people are less expressive here than in America and do not really talk to strangers as easily. I sometimes will flash a smile at someone I pass and they just look at me with a blank stare, so I am guessing that is just not part of the culture here.

In regards to the currency, things feel cheaper here but I think that it’s only because the pound is more expensive than the dollar so I am still actually paying a similar amount that I would in American for things like food and clothing. I have seen that most people here use cash more than card so I usually take out a certain amount of cash every week and try to budget that and it makes it easier for me not to overspend without realizing it. Having a kitchen and being able to cook in the apartment also helps with staying within a budget since going out to eat every day can add up pretty quickly.

Written By

Trusha Patel

My program while on this DOC is Field Study of Economic Integration. My biggest study abroad goal is just to become culturally aware of how different everything is in Scotland. I hope to learn lots about the traditions and customs of the locals and just to see how their way of life is. This opportunity is more than just the classroom experience, it is something that I hope will shape me into a more aware and open-minded individual. I chose to study abroad to push myself out of my comfort zone. I live relatively close to Northeastern so I have never really had to adapt to a new environment when I came to college. This experience will hopefully give me the responsibility of adjusting to a new location graphically and culturally.