It is late.

I’ve been very busy today, and none of it had to do with a pub, so I feel like I have a valid excuse for keeping this short. Our first lecture was today. It was interesting. I hope the other continue to maintain my interest. Also, the course requirements were revealed to me. I have one presentation and one 10-page paper per term. Easy, yes. When will I write the paper (no idea, probably a weekend). I’m trying to figure out time to write, etc. It is hard, after a day of classes, to go right to work, and even more difficult to sacrifice a weekend where so much promise lay.

There are some people in the program I dislike immensely. The five 19 year-olds from Cyprus drive me nuts. They are loud, and… stupid. On the other hand, I’ve met a VERY smart French Parisian who is only 18 years-old, and changing some (not all) of my preconceived notions (oh, lets face it they were intentional adoptions). Regardless, Celice has been a pleasure to talk to, as have several of the older Arcadia students and a few Spaniards.

Today, after class, I walked around Edinburgh again, only this time I showed people what I have seen over the past three days. Mariah will roll her eyes, knowing that I just gave myself an opportunity to teach/explain things to people. Well… yeah. After 3 hours, we went back, I skipped dinner, favoring Cornish pastie I picked up on the way home. Yesterday’s meal was the worst thing I have placed into my mouth since arriving in Scotland (besides my foot).

At seven we went on a bus tour that was top notch. So much info was crammed into my head that half fell out on the other side. I’ve written down (and already framed in my head) at least half a dozen shots I want to take once the camera is fixed. While on the tour a truly awesome thing happened. Edinburgh has quite a few private gardens where communities pay to keep it up. In the states, however, these always remain run down. During the tour, however, one of the donors of the Garden let us into Dean Garden under Dean Bridge, which stands over the river Leith. I can’t tell you how much of a shame it is that most people do not get to see this. It was gorgeous, and seriously had me contemplating breaking in (I won’t) later in the week. To stress how rare this is to have the ability to see it, our tour guide (a very studious architectural historian working for the Royal Historical Society, who would insist if at all possible to see this garden which has several significant structures inside of it) lived in Edinburgh for 30 years and has never seen the inside (only peaked over the gate like a child). It was quite amazing.

A good day, in all.

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Scottish word/slang of the day

• greeting -- An update
  

I found some more evidence on "greeting." While visiting the Writer's Museum, I found a quote carved in the ground. Also, I've attached a section of dialog from a short story by Neil Munro that uses the word too.

Context: (A captain of a ship suggests that a women quiet her children by placing chest (barrel) plugs in their mouths) "Ay, Chest plugs," said the Captain emphatically. "You'll see them often. They are made of kahouchy, with a bone ring on them for screwing them on and off. It's the only thing for stopping them greetin'."