Over Easter break I took a 3 week trip with one of my friends visitng from the States.  It was fantastic, but a bit rushed!  We first spent a couple of days in the Isle of Skye- which was beautiful.  Here we met some amazing people who took us to the Fairy pools.  We also went to the Bigtop celtic music festival where I was able to see one of my favorite bands- The Civil Wars.  After Isle of Skye we then made our way to Amsterdam where we spent three days exploring the city- canals, red light district, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank house, the zoo and more.  My only regret was that we didn’t take a bus outside of the city to see the large tulip fields.  I will have to go back there soon if possible to see this!  Amsterdam is a very bike friendly city.  There are thousands of bikes and several times I feared I would be run over by one.  You have to watch out more for the bikes than you do cars or trams! From Amsterdam we then flew to Prague and stayed for two days.  Of course visiting the castle and the towers, and the easter markets.  I also discovered the Mucha Museum (he is my all time favorite artist) and was very excited to go and see different works of his.  We also went to the State Opera and watched Aida!  They provided English subtitles which was really nice!  From Prague we took an overnight train to Krakow, Poland.  The overnight train was a fun idea, but we quickly found there was just no way to sleep on the train.  Even with our own cabin it was a night of tossing and turning.  In Krakow there was another Easter Market we attended and one more thing I wish I would have done, but didn’t have time.  I wanted to see the salt mines!  I suppose that will have to go back on the list.  There is one thing I was able to do in Poland, which was to visit Auschwitz.  I think everyone should visit Auschwitz at least once in their lives.  This was such a recent event and a terrible place, but we all need to remember what took place there.  The Auschwitz Museum is comprised of the first camp and there are exhibitions set up inside some of the buildings that show either pots and pans, suitcases, clothing and in one even human hair from those killed in the gas chambers.  That was a pretty shocking sight.  The 2nd camp is Birkenau and is the recognizble one.  I knew it was large,but I had no idea exactly how big it was until I saw it.  It was a lot to take in.

After Poland we then flew to Romania and took a train to Brasov.  From Brasov we then took a train to Sibiu which was a nice day trip, but a bit different that anywhere I had gone before.  We had to walk across train tracks in Sibiu to get to the station which showed they don’t have the same facilities as in other countries.  The main square of Sibiu was nice though and had been restored. Brasov’s main square was really nice too and it would have been great to explore the old ruins around these cities, but there just wasn’t time.  My favorite part though was visiting Bran Castle which was a quick bus ride from Brasov!  After Brasov we took the train back to Bucharest and explored the city there for a day before moving on to Istanbul, Turkey.  Turkey was one of my favorite places on the trip.  The shopping and food is great fun!  A word of advice for the ladies though- dress appropriately in Istanbul, it is a muslim country and if you wear anything too lowcut, see-through, short, etc., you will recieve attention and you will not like it.  Our first day there my friend accidently wore a shirt that was slightly see through and we were getting calls to us, horns honking, and a few men even followed us.  This was a bit scary, but they were harmless.  Just make sure you pay attention to your surroundings and be smart!  Overall though the people in Istanbul were friendly and helpful.  The service in restuarants were different than anywhere else I had been before and there are places that will take great care of you-even going so far as to vaccuum the crumbs off your table.  While in turkey I suggest getting a turkish bath and massage.  We went to Cemberlitas Hamami and it was quite a unique experience.  You (ladies) are given bikini bottoms and a wrap and are led to a bath which is a large room with a granite slab in the center that is warm and you told to lay down with about 20 other people and relax until you start sweating.  Once you have started to sweat an attendent comes to scrub/wash you.  This feels wonderful, but also slightly uncomfortable as you are mostly naked and so are they.  The scrub exfoliates your skin, but the best part comes after that.  They place bubbles on your and wash you which feels wonderful.  Then you are taken over to a basin where they pour hot water over you to wash the soap off.  It is a strange feeling having someone wash you, but I HIGHLY suggest you experience this.  I opted to get an oil massage and facial afterwards which was very relaxing, but becareful.  It is extremely difficult to walk after getting the oil and sometimes there are not people around to help you, but that was my experience at the place it went.  Overall I think it was a fantastic and relaxing experience.  Istanbul was extremely interesting and the Grand Bazaar was HUGE!  There are thousands of stores and I doubt I saw even half of them, but most of the time we just got lost in the sea of shops.  We also went to Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, but unfortunately there are several prayer times in the afternoon where you are unable to enter and the entrance lines for the first to were extremely long so be prepared to wait.  Another thing to keep in mind is bring ear plugs.  I mean this with great respect, but the mosques air their prayers over loud speakers and two of those prayers are before 7am so unless you don’t want to be woken up at 5 am every morning you may want to bring a pair.

After Istanbul we flew back to Aberdeen where my friend and I parted ways as she flew back to the US and I began to prepare for the 2nd half of my term.  I’m still going through photos and gifts and trying to remember everything that we had done.  Thankfully I took a journal with me and wrote everyday about the places we saw and anything else remarkable.   I suggest everyone who takes a trip to take a journal, even if you write just a few things it will help you later on remember details you may later on forget.

I’m already planning my next trip!  5 days in Munich next month.  I have a friend staying in London who is going to join me in Munich where we plan on doing a few day trips, such as to Salzburg, Nuremburg and Neuwachstein castle.  I can’t wait!  I am so glad that I took this chance on coming here to the UK to recieve my Master’s.  I’m recieving more than a higher education, but also experiencing more of the world!

Until next time!

Caitlin

Ever since Vienna I’ve been bitten by the travel bug.  I have planned an amazing Easter Break trip where a friend from the US will visit and we will go to Amsterdam, Prague, Krakow, Bucharest, Brasov/Bran and Istanbul.  I can’t wait to give you details on that.  But I’m not done yet!  I’ve been thinking of taking weekend trips to different cities across the UK and Europe.  I just need to make sure I can keep up with my schoolwork!

On a different note I recieved a fiddle for Christmas and have started taking lessons.  I am so terrible, but lucky for my flatmates a music room is offered for people to practice outstide of their flat here with unverisity accomodation.  I know I just need to keep up with it and practice everyday, but I’m so terrible I may just stick with singing!

The other day several of my classmates and I went bowling and played mini golf!  It was so nice to just get out and have some friendly competition.  Bowling and mini golf is exactly the same here as in the States.  Apart from playing games this month I plan on going to several concerts to see Shinedown/Halestorm as well as Band of Skulls!  It’s just an exciting time.

I’m sorry to make this so short, but I have a bit of makeup work to do!

Stay Safe,

Caitlin

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and happy New Year!  Welcome to 2012..  I really feel that this will be a great year for me and my friends.  There are many things I will (hope to accomplish) such as getting my Master’s Degree and travelling to many more places.  I even wrote a list of New Years Resolutions!  What are your resolutions?

Being able to spend Christmas in Vienna was quite an experience.  The city is just beautiful.  Vienna is a clean city and the people are very polite.  The architecture is just gorgeous on most of the buildings in the main city centre.  The only downside is I felt Vienna was fairly expensive and went over budget while I was there.  Just something to keep in mind for those wanting to travel there.  If you go out most meals were between 10-20 euros in a pub/restaurant and if you want a coffee or hot chocolate those ranged from 3.50-6 euros!  It adds up really fast.  Plus the museums are not free, but most do offer a student discount.

I only had 8 days in Vienna, but I felt like I saw almost everything I wanted to (granted I was definitely a tourist, and if I go back I want to be a traveller next time-yes there’s a difference).  I first went to the Upper Belvedere which has been converted into an art Museum and houses the works of Klimt and many many others from different art ages.  I didn’t have time to tour the Lower Belvedere which houses their special temporary collections.

I also was able to see Sleeping Beauty Ballet and the Vienna State Opera!  The building was just beautiful, but it was hard to see the performance from my seat on the upper level because everyone was leaning forward blocking any view I would have gotten.  But I made due and enjoyed a fantastic evening.  It really is a must and a great excuse to dress up.

Then there were a couple of days spent touring the Hofburg which has numerous museums (you have to pay for each seperate one) so I picked to see the Armoury/Crown Jewels and musical instruments as well as the Sisi Museum/Imperial Apartments and Silver Collection.  There were many other’s that I wanted to see, but just did not have the time this trip.  The Hofburg was great and is in a wonderful location.  From here you are in the Museum Quarter with the Natural History Museum, Parliament, and Rathaus and here are were some of the best Christmas Markets are located (at least the largest from what I found).

The Christmas Markets were wonderful. Shops with different items such as pottery, ornaments, paintings, toys, pastries, and more.  Here I bought hot chocolate that comes in a christmas mug that you can keep if you want.  I did, but I love collecting mugs!

I also went to a mozart performance at the Mozart House.  There are several performances you can go to including one in the Hofburg, but I thought it would be neat to hear his music played right where he played it when he was alive!  It was a small intricately painted room in the Mozart House, but the acoustics were beautiful.

For Christmas Eve I attended Midnight Mass at St. Stephans Cathedral.  It was one of the most beautiful cathedrals I have been too.  The The choir singing, the organ playing it was amazing!  The service was mainly in German, but they did offer a prayer in English for visitors.  I feel so lucky to have been able to experienced the service.

On Christmas day I went to the Schonbrunn Palace which seems a popular place for families to go on Christmas since it is one of the few things that are open.  The palace was huge and the tour was quite extraordinary.  Though when I went quite a bit of the palace was being restored.

Before leaving I went to the Prater which was a small amusement park.  Here I rode the Wiener Riesenrad and the Prater Turm.  The Prater Turm was scary!  It is a swing type ride but climbs 311 feet in the air!  I’m a tad bit afraid of heights and I hate ferris wheels but I survived both rides and am so glad I sucked it up and went!

I’m sure that I am missing quite a bit of detail here, but lets just say Christmas in Vienna is worth it.  Especially if you don’t have the opportunity to spend Christmas with your family.

I still have exams coming up towards the end of January and then begin my second semester!  I better get back to studying!

Stay Safe,

Caitlin

The Belvedere!                                                     The Hofburg!

St. Stephans Cathedral!                                   Rathaus Christmas Market

Main Shopping Streets in Vienna                           Schonbrunn Palace at Christmastime

Then on Tuesday my other flatmate and I took a little trip to Edinburgh to attend the welcome event for International Scholarship Students being held at the National Museum of Scotland.  It was amazing.  I didn’t get to see much more of Edinburgh other than the Christmas Market, but I will definently be making a trip back down in the next couple of months.  While at the event I was able to meet the Cabinet Secretary for Education Mike Russell.  It was a very welcoming event and truly made me feel that Scotland is committed to it’s international students from all over the world.

Speaking of international… my other American flatmate and I decided to celebrate Thanksgiving dorm style.  Thursday of course we actually went out to dinner and then to watch Dreamboats and Petticoats.  Friday though was the big feast day which included a delicious potato casserole, stuffing, corn, rolls, and since we didn’t have oven space to have a turkey we improvised and made breaded chicken.  It was wonderful.  While preparing dinner we played christmas music and had chocolate mousse for desert.  It could not have been better!  Even if you are away from home on Thanksgiving you can still enjoy every minute when you have good company and good food.

I suppose I ought to get back to my essay..I just wanted to send a quick update!

If I don’t write before Christmas then EVERYONE HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

-Caitlin

Some photos from Glasgow and Edinburgh

I recieved my first graded paper back and feel so relieved.  I now have a better understanding of the grading system here and also what I need to do to recieve high marks.  The first paper is always the worst especially if you’ve been out of school for a couple of years as I have been.  My next couple of assignments involve a 4000-5000 word essay on India-Pakistan Nuclear Doctrines and a team presentation on Counterinsurgency.  Should be a busy month!

Back home my parents just got a new puppy and ended up having a litter of puppies.  Of course they wait until I’m gone to have a house full of puppies!  I recieve picture updates and those Akita puppies are just beautiful.  If there is one thing I miss about home that I don’t have here (other than a car) it’s being around dogs.  Man’s best friend for sure!

This month for me is bound to be one of the busiest.  I have a friend visiting next weekend and two weekends after that I will be heading to Glasgow for ALTERBRIDGE (just to get a little taste of home), not to mention working on the assignments due just a little bit after that.  I keep forgetting I’m not just here to have fun!  I am here to recieve a degree and learn as much as I can!

Back home my friends, VanMarter Project, released their second single, Guaranteed Tomorrow.  The video was shot on a short tour they took to Utah.  On this tour to Utah they stopped at a Junior High and helped raise money for the school’s arts/music programs.  I was so proud of them.  Here is a link to their video.  I suggest you guys check them out!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLPHMFyoC6Q

Stay Safe!

Cait

I also had my first in-class essay exam.  I’m a bit nervous to find out my grade.  I’ve never had an exam like that before, even in my undergrad.  I will just be glad to see how my professor marks his papers so I will know how to improve my writing.    I now can get back to normal with studying for both classes and learning Russian.  I wish I knew a Russian speaker so I would be able to practice more often.

Last weekend my flatmate and I traveled to St. Andrews with the International Society.  St. Andrews was very pretty and had a very nice small town feel to it.  The North Sea appeared alot more calm than here at Aberdeen, but St. Andrews was very very windy!  We visited St. Andrews Cathedral and Castle and walked around the town for the day.  I can see why Prince William decided to attend University there.

Photos from St. Andrews..

and because I couldn’t load any last time… here are photos from London

Very excited for my Christmas plans as well…Here I come Vienna!!

-Caitlin

It’s getting late here, but I thought I would share a quick update of what I have been up to.  Currently I am a quarter of the way done with my first semester here in Aberdeen.  A pretty scary thought considering I am getting closer and closer to essays and exams!  I really need to start buckling down and studying more.  There has just been so much to see and do since I arrived.

For example I spent last weekend in London visiting a friend who is attending Kings College.  This was my first trip to London and for the most part I loved it!  I really am a city girl.  Which is funny that I chose to attend a University in a city not much bigger than my hometown.  Don’t get me wrong I love Aberdeen, the coast it’s just wonderful.  But there is nothing like a big city.

London was fantastic.  The attention to detail, down to the park benches along the Thames River just adds to the overall charming character of the city.  The weather was wondeful for being the middle of October.  The underground system is great for getting around the city even if the Tube gets a bit crowded at times.

The first day of exploration started down by Parliament.  I of course had the photo ops near the Eye and Big Ben.  Next stop parliament where we just happened to wander by right when Her Royal Majesty the Queen drove in for an anniversary to a charity.  I couldn’t believe it!  My first time in London and I see the Queen!  That pretty much set the day in motion for stops at Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus and so on.

The next day I attend a Chocolate Festival near Borough Market.  I never thought I could ever have to much chocolate…but as it turns out.  I have a limit!  It was fabulous.  After that I spend several hours at the Tower of London and seeing the crown jewels before making my way to Harrods.

I unfortunately only had two full days in the city and didn’t get to see any of the museums or shows.  My ‘must do’ list for my next trip down will be the British Museum the Imperial War Museum, a show at the Globe Theater and maybe a symphony.

I have to get some rest for class tomorrow.

Stay Safe!

Caitlin

P.S I was going to upload some photos from London, but I can’t get it to upload any on here.. I hope it works by next time so I can show you!

I am slightly frustrated with my housing situation though.  I love my flatmates, otherwise I would move.  The place I’m staying at in itself is alright, but because it is so cheap the rest of the buildings surrounding mine are filled with Freshman.  The maturity differences because 18-20 year olds and Postgrads who are 23 and up is huge!  I am trying to have patience! Just have to be thankful my flatmates are wonderful.  I guess it’s just all part of the campus living.

The weather is starting to change here.  It started out being in the high 50′s to mid 60′s and now it is dropping.  The wind is bitingly cold now as well.  Time to start bringing out the winter jackets!

I have had a little more time to explore as well.  Today I went to breakfast at a place called Archibalds and then wandered on over to the Aberdeen Maritime Museum.  The museum was wonderful!  I was surprised how fascinating it was and how large.  From the outside you wouldn’t think it would have been that big.  Makes sense considering Aberdeen has a large oil industry from the North Sea.

Tomorrow I will be going to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle!  Very excited to see more of Scotland.

I better get back to studying.

Here are some pics from the Museum.

Today was a beautiful day, sunny and 59 degrees.  My flatmate and I decided to finally make it to the beach.  It was exactly as I knew it would be.. Perfect.  One of the reasons why I wanted to come to Aberdeen was to be near the coast.  There is nothing quite like being near the water.  The sound, the smells, everything.  I will definitely be going back as much as I can.

I start my classes on Monday.  I only have two this semester and next, but I feel that I will be plenty busy with self-study.  I met my advisor/professor the other day and am quite excited to take his classes and be apart of the program I am in.  The campus is gorgeous and you almost feel like you are in another time.

This weekend I am going to plan out what socieities I will have time to join.  There are so many such as riding, snow, tai chi, ju jitsu, sailing, diving, etc.  The list goes on and on.  There’s also traditional scottish dances and the fiddle, plus the foreign languages.  I almost wish I had more than a year that way I could try all of them.

Tomorrow I think I’ll stay in most of the day and do chores, such as laundry and getting organized for classes start. I still can’t believe I finally made it.

Caitlin

I arrived to Aberdeen on the 17th.  I have been so busy since I got here I only now realized I never updated my blog with my arrival.

After arriving at the airport I was able to shuttle to the University with other students.  I picked up my key and a student volunteer helped me with my bags to my flat.  My first impression was how small the bedroom, bed, closet, kitchen and shower was.  I knew right then it would take a slight adjustment to get used to everything.  I did see alot of charm in my flat though, with the windows.  I love how they open outwards and my view isn’t too bad either. 

So far I have four other flatmates, two from Africa, one from South Africa and the other from America.  All see nice and we are getting everything situated and figured out especially in the kitchen area. 

I’ve been able to see a little bit of campus and the city centre.  It is still confusing getting around, but I think it won’t take too long to have it all figured out.  The people here are very friendly and I have not had a bad experience yet.  Well as long as you don’t count the person I caught peeing on a doorway in an alley, but I found that pretty funny.

I completed registration today and met with my advisor.  I am very excited to start working with him and to meet other Strategic Study students.  I don’t begin classes until next week, but I have a lot of preparing to do in the mean time.  I’ll update with more detail later, but instead enjoy some photos from the city!

Here’s my little room for the year! (and yes…the curtains did come with the room)

This is King’s College part of University of aberdeen.  I have a couple of classes here   

This is the brand new Library.  I LOVE it.  So excited to study here.                  

           Small section of the City Centre

I will be taking a walking tour of Aberdeen tomorrow and will hopefully be more acquainted with the city and have more to share.

Take care,

Caitlin