Just under a year

I am apparently quite poor at maintaining a proper blog. I might try to claim that nothing interesting has happened to me over the past year–that it was merely a blink of the passage of time and suddenly, I’m here, unchanged and undaunted. That’s not true. Truth be told, the past year has been exceedingly difficult in a number of ways. Between fighting over scholarships, trying to start a business, and surviving on little to no income, it’s been fraught with obstacles. The worst of which I’ve yet to mention.

Sunny days are here again

The sun is shining, I’ve moved into my new (to me) large room in McIntosh Hall, and everything is just coming up roses. Today was a sunny day–surprisingly as it started off threatening drizzle. What does one do in Scotland on a warm Sunday? Why, you go to church, roast a chicken, and play catch at the home of golf, the Old Course.

Oh and my view from my room. Well, it’s kinda nice:

That’s the North Sea and the Old Course in the top left, in case you were wondering. I’m very happy with my new living accomodations.

Outside standards have deemed me somewhat acceptable.

This past week brought a number of acceptances in my looking forward to next year and beyond. That is, I was accepted to a sub-warden position at a hall here in St Andrews, which is nice because it means my flat will be nicer, warmer, and closer into town next year. The downside, of course, is that the very undergraduates that I spoke of with contempt in my last post will be under my charge. (I still haven’t heard back from “Hurricane Steph” either).

Actually, scratch that. I hope that having regular contact with them outside of
drunken parties will improve my impression of them. In other news, I was accepted to the PhD Program here for next year, provided my marks are sufficiently high. This may sound like big news, but actually, it’s the standard deal they give all the M. Litt. students, so I haven’t actually accomplished anything yet. Funding, however, would be nice, and those decisions are made this week.

Contempt is such a harsh word, but surprisingly accurate.

Yesterday was the DRA ball–my opinion of a good portion of the undergraduates was, well, to put this kindly, dashed against the rocks of selfishness and pounded by the waves of drunkenness and idiocy. I love these crappy metaphors.

Photos From One Spot

I thought of this ongoing photo project I might try to do when I go traveling: go to one place and from that one position, take pictures of everything you see. What inspired this was a beach in Marseilles, where I was just able to take pictures of so much stuff. Anyway, I think it’s interesting and since blogs are the ultimate expression of narcissism, what interests me goes. First up, that beach in Marseilles:

In keeping with a rededication to my blog

I’m trying my best to make regular entries. Even if such entries consist only of photographs:

Rotary Report

So, I had to submit my Rotary Report of my time here in Scotland. Given that I haven’t been writing at all, I figured I would post it here, along with pictures in near-ish future. It’s a little hokey, a little deferential, but it was what needed to be written. In its entirety:

An american (with good luck) in paris

I know, I know, it’s terribly cliche, but I just had to do it. But, like the title says, I’m currently in Paris, crashing on a couch and looking forward to seeing the City of Lights. Getting here, though not terribly expensive, was of course somewhat of a trial.

Trio o’Pictures

Not actually a weird Irishman. I promise. These are just three pictures I took around St Andrews. I’m trying ot learn how to actually use my camera, I promise.

Excuse me, put it in your mouth or give it back to me.

I went to church today, and we had a Nigerian priest give the liturgy. He was quite good and talked about the peace that we need to try to make and find in the world. Peace in regions of outright conflict (Sudan, Iraq), places of opression (North Korea), and places of internal conflict among peoples (Cultural Conflict in the West).