Parents, friends, and even total strangers always have a million questions about my next steps in life when I tell them that I'm going to school in Scotland this coming fall. I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the curiosity, but sometimes I think I sound like a broken record. It's gotten to the point where I've abbreviated my once long-winded explanations to one-sentence answers.
The longer, more detailed answers, however, are much more interesting- don't you think?
So here are a few of the most popular questions I have been asked ever since I made my decision:
What made you choose the University of Edinburgh?
This is a tough one. I initially knew about the school because my oldest brother (who's now 25) applied to- and got into "conditionally"- the school when he was my age. My mom suggested I apply as to "cast a wide net." I never imagined myself actually going there, but since the application process was fairly simple, I decided it was worth a shot. Once I was rejected from my ED school, I looked into UOE as a definite possibility. Quite frankly, I was just worn out by the whole college process and the uber-competitive environment that I was trained to live with. I felt (and still feel) that I was ready to go somewhere completely different. When I went to the info session for UOE I was actually kind of intimidated. The lack of class-time and emphasis on independent work is certainly not something I'm used to. But in the end, I figured that I'm up for the challenge.
That all being said, my major reason for deciding on UOE is that I have always dreamed of living abroad. And now, at an age where I have very few responsibilities to anyone else, is the perfect time to live that dream.
Are you Scottish? Do you have any family or friends who live in Edinburgh?
Nope. The closest I am to Scottish is Irish. And I have no family in Edinburgh. In fact, I don't have any family living in all of Europe that I know of.
Here's the real kicker- I've never visited UOE. I've never even been to Scotland. So I'm pretty much going on a whim, crossing my fingers that I like the school and the city. Surprisingly, though, so many people I know have been to the city- and every single one of them absolutely raves about it. So let's just hope I feel the same way.
Do you have a roommate?
Nope- I'm flying solo my first year at school.
*gasp* But, Leda- you're missing out on the quintessential college experience! How are you ever going to make friends?
From what I've heard (from siblings and friends), most people aren't BFFs with their college roommate(s). So I don't really think I'm missing out on the whole "making friends" thing. I'm a social person- I like to get out of my room and do things. That being said, I also need some alone time. Living by myself will allow me to have the privacy I need to study, sleep, and just relax.
Plus, at UOE the majority of freshman dorms are, in fact, singles. So I won't be the "odd one out."
Why did you decide to start a blog?
Mostly so that my family members who don't have Facebook or that I'm not connected with online can see what I'm up to. Also because I love writing, and I miss writing for my school paper.
Oh, and so my friends back in the states can stalk me of course!
Why is your blog called "Little Girl, Bigger World?"
Not actually a frequently asked question, but in case you don't know me, I'm really small. Like the under 5 feet tall kind of small. Hence, "little girl." And the last part? Well, with the big move abroad, my world's just about to get a whole lot bigger.
