A Busy Week

This past week has been full of all sorts of excitement. From celebrating a holiday I had never even heard of before to hosting one of my dearest friends in the city, it's been pretty hectic (but in the best way possible!).

On Wednesday, I was a bit surprised to find out that it was actually a holiday. There were still classes (though I typically don't have any on Wednesdays), but everyone seemed to be buzzing with excitement about what was to come that night. 

Guy Fawkes Night, also called "Bonfire Night," is an annual commemorative holiday observed throughout Great Britain. It celebrates the failure of the Gunpowder Plot that aimed to blow up the House of Lords on the 5th of November, 1605 during the opening of English Parliament in order to Assassinate King James I of England (aka King James VI of Scotland). Guy Fawkes was among 8 members who were hanged and quartered. 

But you probably know this Guy (punny, right?) from a scene from the film V for Vendetta (which I actually have not seen) in which the main character recites this British folk poem: 

Remember, remember,

    The fifth of November, 

    The Gunpowder treason and plot; 

    I know of no reason 

    Why the Gunpowder treason 

    Should ever be forgot!  

Oh and he's wearing the mask that resembles the face of Guy Fawkes. It freaks me out, to say the least. Here's the famous scene: 

I liked that Guy Fawkes Night was a low-key holiday. My friends and I decided at the last minute to go up Calton Hill to watch the fireworks. The thing about the fireworks, though, is that it's not just one big display- there are fireworks going off all around the city at all times. There was never a moment when the sky wasn't lit up. Not only were there fireworks, but we also lit sparklers and watched other people set paper lanterns off into the sky. It was truly beautiful. I apologize for the lack of pictures, however, since my phone died the minute we got up the hill. 

Sparklers were a must on Guy Fawkes Night.

But this weeks activities didn't end there! On Friday, one of my closest childhood friends (we've known each other since we were only two and a half!) visited me in Edinburgh. I was thrilled to be able to show her around the city and play tourist for a bit. 

While Friday was spent mostly eating and settling in, Saturday was our big day out. 

The day started off late- we slept in until noon because my friend had just returned from three weeks in South Africa. She was on three different time zones so I didn't blame her for the sleepiness! To perk ourselves up a bit, we grabbed a quick coffee and set off for Calton Hill. 

When I had been up the hill on Wednesday night, it was my first time and I was just dying to see the views of the city during the day. So I used my friend as an excuse to make another trip. What I love about Calton Hill is that it's not much of a climb (just up a few sets of stairs) but you still get to see stunning views of the city. Seeing Edinburgh from way up there made me really appreciate the fact that I live in such a beautiful and unique place. 

Our next stop was the National Galleries. But on our way there, we got a bit distracted by the poppy display outside the Scott Monument on Princes Street. The "Field of Remembrance," as it was called, was made up of about 11,000 symbols of remembrance (featuring, of course, poppies) in order to honor both past and present members of the Armed Forces. This setup was for British Remembrance Day, which is much like Veterans Day in the States. We spent a few minutes admiring the field, and then made a donation and received poppy pins to put on our jackets. 

Family members were able to write personal messages on the symbols.

A wider view of the field of 11,000 poppies. 

After our little diversion, we continued to the National Galleries for some good ol' fashioned culture. Since I take History of Art now, I was obviously an expert in all of the pieces at the gallery. Not. But at least I got to pretend like I knew a little something when I saw a work by Giorgio Vasari and told my friend how he was basically the first person to document art history. That is my #FunFact for the day. 

Now that we had checked climbing and culture of the list, we settled down for lunch at one of my favorite girly spots, Eteaket. 

So. Much. Tea! 

The design of the restaurant is too cute- I mean, wall-to-wall turquoise, pink, and white... what more could you ask for? But the food is even better. This place specializes in a more casual, no-fuss version of high-tea. While I think fancy-schmancy tea parties have their place, sometimes you want the experience of high-tea without the price and the frills. A pot of tea, half sandwich, and ginormous scone? I'll take it. 

I love how they use mismatched tea cups! 

The perfect little meal. 

A girls' day out isn't complete without a little shopping, of course! The two of us headed up and down George Street, ducking in and out of various stores to keep warm and keep out of the rain. It was a great excuse to explore some new stores while also popping into some old favorites. 

Anthropologie always seems to have the best displays. 

Barbour jackets are a British staple. 

While it started to get dark around 4 o'clock here, it made for a nice setting to see the city light up with all of the Christmas decorations. Yes, I said it- Christmas. Since there's no Thanksgiving to be had in the UK, we go straight from Halloween to Christmas- and fast! 

The Dome on George Street all decked out for Christmas. 

The day ended after our shopping trip, and then our night out began! (but that's another story). 

I love to show friends around Edinburgh because not only does it make me seem like the expert that I'm not, but it helps me to appreciate the city that I live in. So, if you're thinking about doing study abroad or have a few thousand dollars to spare, this is your invitation to come visit me! 

*wink wink, nudge nudge* 

P.S. 

Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out my survey! I really appreciate all of the feedback and sweet comments you guys left me.  

   

Healthy Distractions

The past week and a half has been a blur of PDFs, Google Docs, and footnotes. It's essay writing time for many of us here at the University of Edinburgh, and I'm sure many of you are even thinking about exams already. One of the hardest parts for me when I'm trying to write or study, is staring at my laptop screen for too long, or being far too distracted the entire time I'm trying to be productive.

Sometimes, you just need a little bit of a diversion to get yourself back on track when you're spending hours upon hours on schoolwork. Here are four of my most tried-and-true methods for healthy distraction: 

Making tea - or coffee, or hot chocolate- is the perfect way to get yourself out of your chair when you have writer's block. For me, it forces me to leave my room and go across the hall to the pantry. There's nothing like the feeling of a warm drink in your hand to make you feel like you can conquer the world (or at least that essay). When you return, you can sip your drink while you write. 

Tea-time essentials.

Tidying up a bit or even doing laundry can easily get you out of your rut. It's productive, but also a way of procrastinating just a bit. While deep cleaning your entire room might be a bit much, taking the time to put away the clothes strewn all over the ground may be the productive ten minutes you need to get back into the swing of things. Laundry is a perfect little distraction for me since it takes about 40 minutes to wash, and 50 minutes to dry. That way, I can work for a chunk of time, go downstairs and move my clothes to the dryer, and then work for another chunk of time before bringing it back to my room. 

Painting my nails leads to instant relaxation. If you know me at all, you're probably aware that I used to be a serial nail-biter- "used to" being the operative phrase of course. I like pretty nail polish colors too much to bite my nails anymore. Sometimes, I'll take a break to do my nails because it's the best way to prevent any type of working or browsing of the internet. This way, I can just have a think about whatever my next task is (Pro-tip: go out and buy essie top coat right now. It will save you time and it practically guarantees a perfect manicure every time). 

My current favorite and the little miracle worker. 

Skyping a friend or family member that I haven't talked to in a while not only takes my mind off of working, but it almost always boosts my mood. Sometimes, I'll even use the opportunity to ask for advice on my essay (actually, this only applies to when I talk to my mom). Plus, we all know it's super important to keep in touch with friends from home while away at college. Just make sure it's not a marathon of Skype sessions or an hour long conversation.

The most important thing to remember when taking a study break is to set limits. Otherwise, you're not taking a study break- you're full-on procrastinating. Oh, and just be sure to avoid Netflix like the plague.        

Alrighty, this post is over but I do ask for one thing from you, my dear readers. I am looking for feedback about my blog so if you like mostly-multiple-choice questions and voicing your opinion then step right up. Please- for me?

You can find this lovely survey here. 

Running After High School

During my senior year of high school, I told myself that I wouldn't run at University. I didn't want what defined me for the past four years to continue to define me for the next stage of my life. Not to mention, I was injured, tired, and in full-on slump mode. Enter the Hare and Hounds.

I never would have thought that I could even begin to match the experience that I had running in high school for Newton South Cross Country. But this past weekend that I spent with the University of Edinburgh Hare and Hounds running club (aka the Haries) in Manchester (England!) for a race convinced me that being part of a running community is always a good decision.

Before I get to telling you about any Manchester antics, however, let me tell you a little story about a scared high school freshman named Leda.

Back in 2010, I joined my high school's cross country team, because, well, my brothers ran in high school and I ran in middle school. I trained for about three weeks when my coach told me I seemed ready enough to go on an overnight with the team (mostly older girls, and just one other freshman). To say I was terrified is an immense understatement. I cried to my mom, to my dad, and to my brothers over the phone. When the weekend came, though, I boarded onto my coach's blue minivan and headed to Hartford, Connecticut.

I think we were showing off our painted nails in this picture.

And whaddya know? It was the best weekend of my freshman year, by far. I bonded with the team, and from then on, I really felt like a part of NSXC.

Even though I felt incredibly nervous prior to going to Manchester this weekend, I kept reminding myself of that experience. And, just as I thought, Manchester (or Madchester as it is fondly nicknamed), was the absolute best experience of University I've had thus far.

The weekend started by waking up at an ungodly hour on Saturday morning. It was pitch black and freezing but of course the day to come was incentive enough for such torture. Five hours on a bus and we had successfully made it to Manchester.

We arrived at the course about two hours before the race. #Throwback to running for South when we were always the first ones there and the last ones to leave. The course was only 3K, so it wasn't much of a struggle for anyone on the team. And to be honest, we were all too excited about the post-race rewards to even be nervous about racing.

I accidentally took this picture from the wrong side... but you get the idea!

What were those rewards you ask? Two words: Cake & beer. There is nothing better than sweets after running. And while the thought of a beer after crossing the finish line initially made me sick, I made the smart (and unconscious) decision of picking up a can of hard cider instead of Tennents.

So many baked goods in one place. 

Never thought I'd see something like this at a cross country meet. 

Once all food and drink had been consumed, we changed into army gear for the upcoming social. And, I must say, we all looked fabulous. Facepaint was a must, of course.

The lovely Manchester team got us all settled into our respective host-houses and the craziness ensued. There were card games, party poppers, green (Haries!) and orange (Manchester!) balloons, and sparklers.

Sparklers provided by our hosts added much spirit to the night.

After we had exhausted all of our party accessories, we headed over to a curry house for what else but... curry! Oh, and lots of chanting. You see, the competition between teams doesn't stop at racing. It continues at the parties in which we must demonstrate our social prowess through both shouting and drinking.

Immediately following our dinner at the curry house, we took to the streets of Manchester and headed to a club. There was dancing, cheesy music, and lots of fun club photos. The clocks went back early on Sunday morning, so we technically had an extra hour at the club. But, alas, we were all exhausted and so we made our way back to the house for some much needed sleep on the floor of a living room. Not the comfiest, but it did the trick. Plus, we had the whole bus ride back to sleep.

Aren't we just the cutest? 

By the end of the trip, I felt so much closer to my team. Nothing like a "cracking weekend" away with the Haries to help create bonds that will last a lifetime.

Things I'm Glad I Brought

This post could more accurately be titled "lifesavers," since so many of these items have saved me from inclement weather, boring lectures, and homesickness. I didn't get to pack much on account of luggage weight limits and my family's limited ability to lug around suitcases, but of the things I did bring, I'm sure glad I brought these.

Rain Gear 

If you come to Edinburgh without any rain gear, you're either crazy, optimistic, uninformed, or some combination of the three. I think it's important when coming to a rainy, windy city such as Edinburgh to have a multitude of different rain-ready items so that you can not only change it up, but be prepared for anything.

{Field Jacket // Rain Jacket // Bean Boots} 

This jacket is probably my favorite thing in my closet. Ever. It's practical, classic, and essentially a knock-off of the Barbour jacket I can never afford. However, it doesn't have a hood.

That's where this guy comes in. Oh, L.L. Bean, you never fail us, do you? This hooded number is the rain jacket to end all rain jackets. I passed on the navy and opted for yellow because while I generally dislike the color, I thought it would look absolutely adorable on gloomy days when it is, as they say here, "chucking it down." Plus, it's so bright that everyone looks at me when I'm walking (or running!) down the street.

L.L. Bean really kills it with the rain gear. I can't recommend them enough, especially since their Bean Boots are #MadeInAmerica. These boots are perfect for rain, snow, hail, you name it. But I've found them most useful for hiking up Arthur's seat. Want to know a secret? I bought them in the kid's size. They run huge. I consider myself to have average-sized feet, but even I was swimming in the women's version. I was hesitant at first, since the kid's version was brown on brown and not the traditional brown on tan combination. But I must admit, I love them all the same.  

 

Climbed all the way up here just for this photo- just kidding, I love the outdoors!

Oh, and don't forget an umbrella!

School Supplies 

Am I the only one who gets excited from having pretty school supplies? There's just something about having color-coordinated, customized paper-goods that makes me that much more motivated at the start of the school day.

{Notebooks [similar] // Agenda // Mug [similar]}

I had been eyeing Moleskine Notebooks  since the beginning of the summer. They're high quality notebooks designed in Italy that are the epitome of professionalism. I decided that since I was going to University, I'd splurge on a two-pack from Staples. They don't fall apart or have annoying spirals- the only downside is you can't remove the pages. I'm nearly done filling in the first one, and can't wait to get started on the second!

Buying an agenda each year is always a big commitment. I mean, you're stuck with one notebook that you'll use every day for the entire school year. Usually, I'll order an agenda with a cool design from Amazon, but when I heard about May Designs, I just had to try it. Here's how it works: You choose a print from over 100 designs, monogram it (or write any text on the front), and pick your inside pages (blank, agenda, lined). And there you have it- your own, totally personalized agenda. I love how they design templates suit any style and are hand stitched down the side! My only complaint is that they're a bit flimsy for the price. They're incredibly functional, nonetheless.

While this isn't exactly a "school supplies" item, it certainly is one of my favorite things to have around. My ceramic travel coffee cup has been my best friend when it comes to long nights of readings and essays. It has seen the likes of tea, hot chocolate, and some very cheap wine. The colors always brighten me up whether I'm heading off to class or just holed up in my room. I bought mine from J. Crew a few months ago, but it seems to be sold out. A more simple option can be found here, but if you're looking for something more artistic, I'd suggest looking at Etsy.

Photos from Home 

Hate to say it, but I didn't hang my photos up on a string with clothespins. I went off to University later than my friends in the States, so I decided to do something different (I'll let you know when that project's done, but for now, they're just stuck up on my closet!) But no matter how you choose to display them, I believe that bringing pictures from home (and pictures of home) is the best way to alleviate homesickness. It can make a lifeless dorm-room look far more lived-in and homey. And the best part? When you have people over you can spend far too much time explaining each photo to them in great detail- whether they like it or not.

What are your favorite things that you brought to University or College? Let me know in the comments! 

P.S. My friend Grace who goes to UCLA just started a blog! You can follow along with all of her adventures here.