Finishing up

I am now three days away from leaving Edinburgh. I am sad to go, but also anxious to head off – the extended exam period is starting to wear me down (I have only one more exam to take, and I have had quite a few weeks to prepare for it and my other exams). The exchange rate also makes life a little difficult, and I feel the need to start working again. I have begun to pack up my things and say good bye to people who are leaving. In my spare time I have been using up my Moviebank card watching Sopranos episodes, and reading “The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay.” On Thursday I am flying out from Glasgow to Paris to meet Miguel and Ashley, where I will be staying for 3 nights, after which Miguel and I are off to Amsterdam. The day after returning from Amsterdam, I am going on a three day Scotland tour that a friend from Chamber Choir won in a raffle and couldn’t use, and kindly gave to me. So there is plenty to do before I actually fly to Baltimore on the 26^th, but I am ready to get going. In the past few weeks I have done some cool things as well – I finally got out to the amazing Forth Rail Bridge two weeks ago with Rae, Sarah, Anna and Eric. The bridge, which resembles a massive rust colored erector set, was constructed in 1890 and has been a symbol of Scotland ever since its completion. Being a fan of bridges and other such large manmade landmarks, it was among the first things I had intended to visit while in Scotland. We took a boat underneath the bridge, and proceeded up the Firth of Forth to beautiful Inchcolm Island – a small rocky outcrop where an old 12^th Century abbey is located, along with a lot of aggressive nesting seagulls. We also had a picnic on meadows a few weeks ago, and I am hoping to do a final Indian food blow-out either Tuesday or Wednesday to properly end a semester that has been filled with curries and lentils. Things are closing up, and I am ready to get back, but it has been an amazing semester. The calm of Edinburgh has been extremely refreshing – specifically the beautiful city / surroundings and the more laid back academic atmosphere. Even though I like the US education system better- it is more structured – my classes have been worthwhile. Composition pushed me in some directions, and the seminar of Wagner was quite interesting, even if Wagner is a completely deranged wildman (perhaps that kept it entertaining). Chamber Choir (we had our final concert – a benefit – last week) has been one of the best musical things I have ever done – very high standards, excellent repertoire, and fun people. I have also had quite a good time with everyone I have met here, both the Americans and the local UK folk. I know that I will see a number of the Americans I have met here when I go back to the states, and I am hoping that some of the UK locals will drop in as well. My travels – around Scotland, to London, and to Spain – have also been most excellent, and I think my time here has given me more of a desire to travel. I may even take up a new language or start German again next year at Columbia (Id forgotten how cool languages really are). Never the less, I still feel as if I am most at home in the US. Sometimes people seem to feel more at home abroad, but I don’t think that has been the case with me. Perhaps that is because I have romanticised America for too long – “the plains” and all that sort of ridiculousness. I think Aaron Copland is at least partially to blame ;). The UK is also something like an alternate reality United States – the differences are real, but generally quite rather subtle (accents, expressions, humor, history – well history is a big one but still…). Anyways I guess that’s about it – I am really glad I decided to come abroad, and Edinburgh was an excellent choice. I do hope that I will be back someday, especially to see the famous Edinburgh Festival, which is happening in August and which I will unfortunately have to miss. Its nice to know that I will know people in Edinburgh at least for the next few years.