In a Dear Green Place

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.

First, as I was walking down the street a few days ago a couple of people who sounded Scottish pulled over to the side of the road and asked me for directions. And I knew where to send them! Granted in was right in my neighborhood and they would’ve seen a sign with directions if they’d driven a couple more blocks but still. Not only did I look like I knew where I was going but I gave correct directions. I was so pleased. I’ve been walking around a lot over the last week because I haven’t had much to do except a few meetings with advisors. It’s paying off and I’m starting to feel more at home. I have a library card and everything.

The second milestone is a bit more important. I had my major freak out. I was standing outside my course director’s office in this tiny little hallway on the top floor of my department’s old building waiting for her to finish with the students before me. I started thinking about the year in front of me and I had a moment of panic. All kinds of thoughts started running around in my head… What am I doing? Why did I choose to come here? I’m never going to find a job when this is done! Did I just totally screw up my life?… Most of these thoughts are completely irrational and stupid but that’s why they call it a panic. This is a milestone for me. I expect to have a moment like this at the beginning of a big new change. You know how they talk about steps of culture shock? Well, this is kind of like that.

I remember when I arrived in my first apartment in France. I had been looking forward to it for months and the first few days were filled with excitement and everything was exotic and enchanting. Then I set my bags down in a tiny little apartment in Perigueux and I started thinking… Oh God, what am I doing? What ever made me think I could do this?!! …
Things got better of course and I had a great time (most of the time 😉 ).

Whenever I make a big change like this a moment of sheer panic is par for the course. I’ve learned to breathe and keep going and things will soon get rational again. Now that it is passed I can really start to get on with life. I may have little freak outs again later but once the big one is passed it is a good sign. I’ve gotten it out of my system and I can enjoy myself. And indeed I have been.

I decided on my two classes for this semester: Methods and Theories of Biblical Interpretation, and Literary and Artistic Approaches to Sacred Texts. They sound like so much fun don’t they? Excuse the geekiness but I think so. Now I just have to wait until class starts on Oct 2. (Not so good at this waiting thing.) There’s nothing that makes me feel more at home than being in class. Sad but true.
I’ve also gotten to know my local library which is a welcome thing for my wallet. Without classes or other scheduled things to keep me occupied I have been plowing through a good stack of books and I just can’t afford to buy them all the time.

I also had a nice treat by going and having afternoon tea at the Willow Tea Room. It was designed in the early 20th century by a favorite local son, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and there’s a festival going on at the minute celebrating all his designs. I don’t know whether this festival contributed to the packed house at the Willow Tea Room but it was a busy place. It was a nice little meal with sandwiches, scone, cream and preserves, cake and tea. I love having a full tea every once in a while. Ever since my English teacher in high school took us for High tea at Murray’s in Minneapolis after seeing a play at the Guthrie I’ve enjoyed the whole ritual of afternoon tea.

But the Willow Room doesn’t knock off my top choice for afternoon tea. That would have to be Puddleduck’s just outside Stirling. When I was at Stirling University a couple of years ago I would go there every couple of weeks and have the full shebang outside on the porch. It was a great tea in a beautiful place with a view of their elaborate gardens and the rugged Ochil hills behind that. It hasn’t been beat so far. I don’t know if I’ll be back in Stirling this year. It’s not far on the train and if I do go I’ll be sure to make the trek out to Puddleduck’s.

Another thing that would draw me back to Stirling: a great used bookshop. I stumbled upon it one rainy afternoon in the covered Arcade in the centre of town. I got to know the shop owner very well. It was exactly as a used bookshop should be in my mind, a little cluttered with books piled over every available surface and with that wonderful used book smell. I would buy two or three books, read them, sell them back and buy some more. I miss that place.

So, as I’m getting to know this new city I am searching for some favorites. I haven’t yet discovered my favorite café where I will spend hours doing my reading for class. And I really need to find a good used book shop, a place with great atmosphere and good prices. If any readers know a place like that in Glasgow, do drop me a line. Finding those places will be personal milestones as well, familiar markers in a new adventure.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 23rd, 2006 at 10:04 am and is filed under Glasgow. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.