Orientation Weekend - First Weekend at Dalkeith!

Well, I have survived the first four days of the frozen tundra! And I don't mean Wisconsin! ha! This weekend has been the most exciting weekend ever. On Saturday I had to ride the "bus" for the first time. It is a good thing we went with a group. Riding the bus is very confusing:you have to be at the stop at the correct time, so you don't have to wait forever at the stop, have to make sure you have your ticket ready for when the bus does get there, you have to know what stop to get off at, and also when you leave the city you have to remember to get on the other side of the street to go back to the castle. A lot to remember the first time out, but I made it back. Our whole group took a tour of the Edinburgh Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots was born and crowned at the age of nine months. It was beautiful! So much to see. After the castle tour some girls and I walked around the Royal Mile and did some window shopping. Too bad I can't buy everything. I also ate my first meal out on the town. We stopped at a quaint cafe, so exciting. I think have decided that I am not going to be trying Hagis while I am here, though. On our way back to Dalkeith a group of us stopped at the pub to warm up. When we walk in everyone stares at us because they can tell we are from America. We also dress very casual compared to them. It is interesting to compare our lives to theirs. Today we did an "Amazing Race" a.k.a scavenger hunt. Once again we had to take the bus into Edinburgh and walk around the city. Our groups were given direction on how and where to find things. Our group and a few others only did so much of it before we decided that we had enough and just wanted to walk around. But itwas fun at first because I got to see a lot more of the city and lots a cute, small shops and cafes. I saw where Harry Potter was born (first thought of)! Tonight we did a dance where we learned how to do Scottish Ceilidh. It was very entertaining and a good work out. I loved it because we got to warm ourselves up. So I am very tired tonight and hope to sleep well before my first day of classes tomorrow! Good night!