Happy Easter!

Alyssa's visit to Edinburgh was really nice...it was wonderful to spend time with a lifelong friend and share my experience in Scotland with her! Also, as my first visitor, it was a good excuse to do some touristy bits around the city! We went to Edinburgh Castle to see the 1 o'clock gun (fired every day at 1), the Crown Jewels, and War Memorial Museum.  We also went into St. Margaret's Chapel (dating 12th c.) making it the oldest building on-site and the only one not destroyed in Sir Thomas Randolph's siege of 1314! There is so much to see at the castle..we only left because they were closing!

The 1 o'clock gun

St. Margaret's Chapel


We also went on a ghost tour, and were a bit overwhelmed by the number of options! We chose one, but it then sold out- but on our way home (figuring we'd give it another go tmrw) we joined a tour that was just beginning, which ended up being a great choice and really interesting. My perception was that ghost tours were kind of lame- people jumping out at you in costume, fictional ghost stories etc. But it ended up being one of my favorite things that we did! Our tour guide, Pete, was a very knowledgable historian...we learned quite a bit about the darkest times of Scottish history, and went to see a collection of torcher devices from 15-17th c (nothing more terrifying than some of the things human beings have done to each other). We then went to the South Bridge underground vaults- historically home to the homeless, murder, disease, and pitch black darkness. Haunted and creepy. 

 

Torcher Devices

 

Alyssa left on Sunday, and Monday began my last week of taught classes! My sexual and reproductive health class did a field visit to Caledonian Youth Centre, which provides youth-friendly sexual health services here in Edinburgh.  Scotland is a global leader in sexual healthcare (all free of charge) and so much of my coursework has focused on developing countries of Africa and Southeast Asia that it was a nice contrast to learn about services here in the UK.

I visited two Rotary clubs this week.  On Tuesday, I went to Linlithgow and Bo'ness where  I was hosted by the Jamieson's whom I met over Christmas.  After the lunchtime talk, Bruce (who is a historian) gave me the best, most informative tour of Linlithgow palace.  We walked around town and stopped in the Four Mary's for a 'pre-dinner dram' where I met his minister who happens to be a Barclay (my grandmother's surname!) We bonded over discussing how terrible the family tartan is (bright yellow!) and the possibility that we may share similar ancestry way back when...neat stuff! We had a wonderful dinner before some friends joined for drinks and conversation late into the night!  Such a neat little town full of wonderful, friendly people-I couldn't stop smiling the whole train journey home the following morning :)

Linlithgow Palace

 

Like Thanksgiving and Christmas, Easter was a tough day to be away from family.  Alysha was good to send lots of photos throughout the weekend, to keep me posted on the family Easter egg hunt, egg dying, and Aunt Nan sharing her famous chocolate eggs.  I decided to try and make said eggs to share with my flatmates and friends during our Easter lunch.  If it is possible to mess up chocolate, sugar and peanuts- I did it...they tasted OK but looked terrible!

Aunt Nan's eggs

My "eggs"

Missing Easter in PA

My last class was on FRIDAY and since then, the IIHD students have been social butterflies! Drinks in the Union on Friday to celebrate our last class, followed by a night out on the town.  We had a celebratory social on Saturday, and last night our SRH module coordinator had us all round to her house for Indian dinner! DELICIOUS food followed by Bollywood and African dancing :)  Tonight (Tuesday) is the IIHD end-of-year party...I'm really looking forward to it!

Today I bought a kilt...FINALLY!

Fun Fact:  On Easter Monday in the UK, many families participate in 'Egg Rolling'.  Hard-boiled, decorate eggs are rolled down a hill, the winner being the one whose egg goes furthest or lasts the longest.  In Edinburgh, Arthur's seat in Hollyrood Park is the most popular location to roll eggs! Some say the practice has become symbolic of rolling away the rock from Jesus Christ's tomb before his resurrection.