With a day to go in the land of haggis and whisky...

I'm always a sap when it comes to saying goodbye, and in less than 24 hours I'll be bidding farewell to Scotland. Bear with me, because this post will be gushy.

Before I talk about what this experience has meant to me in general, I'll fill the readers of this blog in on what has transpired since I returned home from Rome. Not anything too notable last week, if I'm remembering correctly. On Tuesday night we celebrated an intern's birthday at the Filling Station, an American-like pub I've mentioned here before. And on Thursday I went to the Southsider, a local pub that's supposed to have great fish and chips. Naturally, I got the fish and chips -- the first I've had here and an experience I wanted to check off my list. Very greasy, but very tasty. Oh and chips = french fries. The British can make some good chips.

On Saturday, I went with another intern and another intern's friend (but not the one who came with us -- confusing sorry) to St. Andrews. The three of us were the southern triumvirate - one from Mississippi, one from Alabama, and me from Louisiana. They are very nice girls, and we had alot of fun chatting about the South and its customs that are befuddling to so many. A crawfish boil? What? One of the other interns referred to it as a less classy lobster bake.

St. Andrews: what a beautiful little town on the sea. It's the home of golf (boring!) and also home to St. Andrews University. We picked a great day to go -- lady luck was on our side -- because the Kate Kennedys (from what I gather a club of St. Andrew's poshest students) were doing their annual procession through town. We happened upon a group of lads on campus decorating a buggy in yellow flowers and got the scoop. The whole town came out to see the students dressed convincingly as historical Scottish figures walk through the streets. St. Andrews students wear red dress robes that are right out of Harry Potter. It was a really neat thing to see.

The rest of the trip centered around walking through the town and visiting its castle and cathedral. St. Andrews is very small; we could see the whole thing from the cathedral tower. 

[caption id="attachment_372" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The Kate Kennedys decorating the buggy on university grounds."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_373" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The sea!"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_374" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Ruins of St. Andrew's Castle"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_375" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The town from the cathedral tower."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_376" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Kate Kennedy procession."][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_377" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The oldest golf course in the world -- it takes years on a waiting list to be able to play here."][/caption]

And that plus some mandatory gelato at B. Janetta's was my St. Andrews experience. I'm glad I was able to see it on my last weekend here.

This past week has been full of intern romping through Edinburgh and some formal goodbyes. On Tuesday night we had our "graduation" from the parliamentary programme. I have a certificate and everything! Paddy gave a surprisingly brief speech followed by others who were involved with the program. When it was the interns' turn no one else spoke up so I told Paddy I would say a few words. 

[caption id="attachment_378" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="PADDY!"][/caption]

Yesterday was my last at Parliament, and while it's been a really good internship I'm glad to be done.  I finished up my project and did a few other things before cleaning out my desk and saying my goodbyes. I will miss that cafeteria food and its custard covered desserts.

[caption id="attachment_379" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The interns minus two on our final day at Parliament."][/caption]

Last night was the INTERN BLOWOUT, but it didn't turn out to be much of a blowout at all. We're all really, really tired. We started at an apartment and went to two bars/pubs before calling it a night.

I realized last night that I probably won't see some of the people who I've shared the last 15 weeks with again; it's a saddening thought. The interns spent an exorbitant amount of time together -- we saw eachother every day and most nights. It was a great group and we had had alot of fun. (Yes, I did cry a little when I was hugging everyone goodbye). 

Now I'm starting my last day in Edinburgh, and it's cold and dreary as it should be. I wouldn't have wanted to go out any other way. I really am ready to go, but I'm still a mix of emotions. 

Four months has been a long time to be cold; I will not miss the weather at all. What I will miss: the interns and other people who have made this experience, being able to walk everywhere I want to go, lovely Scottish music in pubs, pubs, being able to drink legally (my 21st birthday is in July), cider, Scottish accents, kilts as normal dress, train rides, Parliament gossip, I could go on...

Tomorrow I'm flying to Paris with Lilly and two other girls and thus will start my 3-week European adventure! I'm doing a week in France, a week in Germany, and a week in Austria. I'm ready to see some more of this world.

Thanks to those of you who kept up with this blog; it was fun to write and I hope fun to read as well. I may not be able to blog so much in Europe since I'll be at the mercy of hostel computers, but I'll try to do some if I can. 

One last time from Scotland, with some Deep Scottish Love!