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Day 23, 17/9/09

I met with my Director of Studies today to sign up for classes. It went… okay, I guess. I have very little faith in my DoS. She was telling me about things she could do, but then qualified it with, “well, I’m supposed to be able to do this, if you want me too I’ll have to check it out.” UGH. Also, we couldn’t get in contact with the course secretary who would tell me why I had not been approved for the class a few months ago, since it did not conflict with my other classes and I am qualified for the class. The one lady we could contact said that she really didn’t think there was any reason why I wouldn’t be able to take the class, so I signed up for it and emailed the course secretary (side note, he still hasn’t emailed me back, and it has been 5 days). I was kind of depressed after that, and also having homesickness issues, so I laid low for the rest of the day.

Day 24, 18/9/09

Today I went on a tour of the Scottish Parliament. So – the system is kind of weird. Things that have to do with, say, education and health, go through the Scottish Parliament. But things that have to do with national security and policy must be dealt with at Westminster. So… it’s somewhat confusing. The building is also… interesting. I don’t really like it, but I can appreciate it for its architectural value. After that, it was sadly too late for me to visit the zoo or this farm that supposedly had a cat, so I decided to just head back to my room. I did go a new way back to Pollock Halls, and I saw some interesting places I could go for lunch (if I’m ever up near George Sq – not likely).

Day 25, 19/9/09

I climbed up to Arthur’s Seat! It was harder than I thought, mainly because there were stairs. What kind of self-respecting mountain has stairs, I ask you. It was worth it for the views, though. Afterwards, I was really tired, so I came back and rested. I was also starting to get a sore throat, which made me less than happy.

Day 26, 20/9/09

I had a sore throat when I woke up, so I decided to stay in and drink lots of water.

Day 27, 21/9/09

No sore throat today! Woot! Still going to take it easy, though, just in case.

Day 28, 22/9/09

First day of class. Wore a skirt! I was rather adorable, but of course it was the windiest day we’ve had yet. The Dynamic Cell (the class everyone was warning me was SO difficult, “Seriously, people have failed this class”) seems rather… easy. Sigh. It is slightly distracting that my lecturer sounds like the priest from the Princess Bride. At least there isn’t much opportunity to say “twu wove” (true love) in a cell bio class… Immunology was frustrating in that online it said the class started at 2, but in reality it started at 1:30, so I was half an hour late. Luckily, I only missed the “Don’t Plagiarize!” part of the lecture. It seems fine enough. I couldn’t understand a thing that one of the lecturers was saying, but luckily that was the only lecture he was giving. We then had to get our pictures taken so that the lecturers can actually recognize who we are. (Also, I keep on saying “lecturers” because the term “professor” is actually reserved for a higher class of educator and I’m not sure who is who yet.) I don’t know anyone in Dynamic Cell, but my friend from the Butler program, Abby, is in my class so I’m pretty happy. She’s the only other truly sarcastic person I’ve met so far. I enjoy her greatly.

So, my first impression of Edinburgh as a student? Dog poop. It’s everywhere. Seriously. People do not pick up after their dogs. I literally have to walk with my head down in order to make sure I’m not stepping in mess. I almost did a couple of times, but luckily the smell alerted me in time. This? Does not make me happy.

Day 29, 23/9/09

I was SO worried about Wednesday’s. The schedule online says that I have the Dynamic Cell from 10 to 5, but thank the gods it turns out that I only have to show up early a couple of weeks for tutorials, class itself is only from 1-2, and then some weeks I will have lab from 2-5, which is totally doable. Phew. Dynamic cell is seeming easier by the day, though I do have a test in two weeks…

Day 30, 24/9/09

Proteins proteins proteins! UGH. So, first problem: class starts at 9. This wouldn’t generally be a problem, but the King’s Buildings (where all of my classes are) are a 40 min walk away (30 if I rush). Since they are pretty strict about being late, I don’t want to leave any later than 8:10. I also want breakfast (hey, I’m paying for it, I’ll take it), but the dining hall doesn’t open until 7:45. End of story? I have to wake up far earlier than I want to. I have also calculated that I walk about 2.5 hours every day. Who needs the gym?

But I digress. Structure and Functions of Proteins (SFP) is counting as my biochem requirement at Scripps, so I need it. The problem is that I am totally unprepared for this class. I walk in the first day and the lecturer says that he’s not really going to talk about the slides today since it should all be review. It was brand new material for me. Mainly it was that I needed to memorize the names, abbreviations, structures, and chemical properties of all of the amino acids, which has never been required of me. I also needed to know all of this by Monday, which was essentially going to be impossibly as I have a family stay in Insch this weekend. I’m kind of panicked, but I think if I put in a lot of work I will be okay… maybe…