In a Dear Green Place

Well, it’s a sunny and cool day here in Glasgow and I lived here long enough that I actually feel drunk from walking around in all this sunshine. I think the best part of almost-spring is the fact that the days getting noticeably longer. I often forget just how far north Scotland is until I’m here in Dec or June; then the days are freakishly short or long respectively. I’m feeling more upbeat and productive these days. It still starts to get dark around 5:30 or 6 but that’s leagues better than the weeks at the end of Dec or beginning of Jan where you wake up and go home in total darkness.

An upshot to January here in Glasgow is the wonderful Celtic Connections music festival. I really wish I’d had more money and time so I could check out more shows. (Although that’s not new. I always wish I had more money and time.) I didn’t get to see Idlewild’s show because it was sold out but I did see them at the Ballads of the Book gig. It’s a really interesting project where Scottish writers came up with lyrics which were then passed on to Scottish bands to turn into songs. It’s a really eclectic and fascinating album. The gig featured 7 or 8 bands that had contributed and they played the song from the album as well as some of their own stuff.
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Happy 2007 everybody! Did you have a nice holiday? Mine was mixed. It’s been awhile since I last wrote but I think I can condense almost everything (pseudo-) interesting into one long run-on sentence. I spent most of last six weeks researching and writing an essay on the influences of theology and literature on the art of Marc Chagall which is about as exciting as it sounds (which is to say not really except to really geeky people like me). So since that made up most of my life for the last couple months I decided to spare you although if you’re really interested I can send you my essay for the low low price of $5. I know that seems exorbitant but I’m working with an exchange rate that is seriously stacked against me.
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I’ve been a barely employed student for so long that I can’t really imagine what it would be like to have money. And I don’t think I’ll be faced with that prospect for awhile. Just a week ago I was again reminded of how much education costs these days. I’ve tried not to let it get me down however. I’ll continue living in sweet denial. Before I start cashing in those massive checks that teachers get I can still live the good life while being totally skint. Here’s some stuff I’ve enjoyed over the last couple of weeks that has been free or nearly free.
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If traveling has taught me one thing it is this, no matter how far you go you still bring you with you. This can be both a good and bad thing. When people ask me if I miss home my response is always mixed. Of course I miss my family and friends. I love my roots and the history I have with wonderful people. At times I intensely miss those people and the blessing of having to say very little to get myself understood. It’s a comforting familiarity. At the same time, I can’t deny that I was feeling very restless the last year I was at home and I knew that I needed to get away for awhile. There’s something very liberating about being in a new place where no one knows you.
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I’ve no idea where to begin. I’ve been busy which has been a treat but it also means I have very little recollection of my life. Luckily I keep Cliff’s Notes in my planner which is constantly with me and without which I would possibly cease to exist. Anyway, here are the highlights.
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I am someone who craves her alone time. I enjoy going to dinner by myself and I love going to movies alone. Tonight, however, was the first time that I’ve ever been to a concert alone and I must say it was a bittersweet experience.

I just got back from seeing Embrace at the Glasgow Carling Academy. What an amazing show!!! I’ve been to see them twice before, both times in Minneapolis. They are not as well known in the States so they’ve played small club shows at home. This is nice because it’s a very intimate venue and both times my best friend and I have been up front and center. Last time, Danny McNamara even put his hand on my shoulder for a few seconds. I knew I‘d be in Glasgow for this October show so I ordered my ticket months ago. I knew it would be a larger venue and a much larger show.
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I’m sitting in my room (groovin’ to B.B. King because I felt in need of some blues) at the end of the first week that I’ve felt like a proper student. Since we finished orientation I’ve been left pretty much to my own devices. I was looking forward to things being a bit busier and this week it got busy, relatively speaking. I only have two classes and both classes meet at 4 in the afternoon. This makes my friends with much heavier loads look at me with envy and loathing. I feel like a slacker too. However, reading lists for both classes are quite impressive so I’ll have plenty to keep me occupied. It’ll be a lot of work, just not a lot of time in class. We don’t have any exams for these classes. All my grades will come from the two essays I write for each class and then my dissertation this summer. This makes me a little nervous. Class here is very self-directed which also makes me nervous because I have a tendency to be a horrible procrastinator. I’ll either learn to conquer that or suffer I guess.
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Expectations are a tricky thing. It’s fun to look forward to things but it’s also dangerous to let expectations get away from you. I’m a planner (as I said before) so some expectations are bound to arise but I try to avoid holding on to them too much or disappointment must occur. This week, however, my little internal optimist has not been squashed.

I think I’m in love. I have found my cheese monger. Perhaps you think this is too strong but I’m addicted to cheese and a good cheese shop is a necessity. I heard about IJ Mellis months ago and I was really looking forward to checking it out. Here in Glasgow it’s up on Great Western Road and I finally made my way over earlier this week. I could tell it was going to be good when I walked up. You can always tell a good cheese shop by the very rank odor emanating from within. They have cheeses from all over and they specialize in farm cheeses from the UK. I went the French route for my first purchase because I saw a Pyrenees chevre I just couldn’t pass up. They offer plenty of samples (very important if you want to be adventurous) and they are very knowledgeable. I love being in a place with people who love their cheese and I could tell that this was it. I’m looking forward to a regular and tasty relationship with this place.
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First some business, sorry about the loss of comments for the last few entries. There were some computer problems chez Bootsnall but I save everything (except for comments obviously) so I’ve been able to repost the missing entries.

On to more (hopefully) interesting things. I’ve passed some major milestones over the last couple of days, at least major in my book. There’s nothing quite like the enjoyment of a new place becoming a more familiar place. I love finding favorite places to eat and favorite museums and parks and streets. I love establishing a new rhythm and I passed some of my personal steps in that process this week.
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It’s been a long week with a lot of information being thrown at us. Over the last few days all the international students at the University of Glasgow went through orientation. We learned about Scotland, about immigration, about advisors, about banking, about student unions, about nearly everything to get us ready for school in a new place.

All of this information is wonderfully helpful but hours of sitting in a crammed, hot lecture theatre was still exhausting. The best part was the first day when one of the professors of Scottish Literature told us stories from Scottish history and recited some Scottish poetry, both in Scots and in English.
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