How Time Flies

So I woke up this morning raring to go...but before I got out of bed I realized that I'm marking the end of my third week in Edinburgh. That shocked me. It seems like yesterday that I was packing feverishly and dreading the plane ride through the night. Then there was the pain of separation, and the struggle of getting adjusted--finding food and cooking; feeling like a freshman all over again. While I can't say that all of those feelings have dissipated, things have gotten a lot better. I've started trying to picture myself not being in Edinburgh, mainly because I seem to always be yearning for home. Yet the thought of leaving is not a pleasant thought as well. While this is not the constant party vacation from the mundane that most people describe study abroad to be--there are some really nice changes, more regular, everyday changes, which make this experience memorable and nice. There's getting to watch TV at night, getting to sleep in at times, really diving into my reading, not having to talk in class, getting to go to pubs, watching constant football (er...soccer) and so many other things that I will not soon be wanting to give up.

Today I got up for Philosophy, which has been really good lately. The lecture--about intrinsic value--was good. Yet it's very cold today, so I treated myself to an Americano in the Library Cafe. I must say, as a quick anecdote, not having coffee has been really rough. Since there's no coffee maker in the flat I made the conscious decision to not buy one and try and break my addiction. I'm definitely not dependent on caffeine, but the speed in which I was able to readapt leads me to believe that I never was "addicted." Instead, I just miss the taste. I don't casually list coffee under my interests on Facebook--I genuniely love the drink. Anyway, I digress.

So I'm here on the 3rd floor of the Library, just surfing the net and trying to kill this awkward hour in between classes. Then it's on the Welfare, Justice, and the State, a Social Policy honors class. It's a bit too theory based for my liking, but I'm learning so much in that class, as well as in my Social Secuirty seminar. I'm learning about poverty, both practically and theoretically, and more importantly, how governments can react to poverty and possibly fix it. While the classes are not easy--this is a world Top 20 unveristy after all--I'm learning so much. Hopefully that will translate to a better thesis--on the subject of government social welfare programs--and a successful career. Yes, I know that maybe I shouldn't be looking that far ahead, but no one who knows me well would be surprised.

Anyway, that's about it. 20 minutes till cass, then back home for lunch and packing. It's off to Bridge of Allan for the weekend. I'm staying with some friends (more like surrogate parents) who are putting me up, feeding me, letting me use their laundry facilities, showing me tons of movies, and giving me an overall place to relax before my birthday. Oh, yea, my birthday. That's on Monday. I can't say I'm all that exicited right now, for a myriad reasons. But I hope by the time that I post on that day, about what it really means to me, my tune will have changed.

Until then...