As I believe I had mentioned in the post previous to this, it took little time for me to make a good amount of friends and to head to a pub. The one located in the university that I had written about was a great starter. I had gotten a whiskey and coke along with a bottle of wine for the table. Now I know it sounds odd to drink those together, but the UK doesn't let you buy alcohol past the hour of 10PM on any day, and so when I tried to buy a bottle from the store they wouldn't let me. While engaging in a slight plan of chicanery toward the British government, I bought a bottle of wine at the bar in the hopes to take it out with me. However, the bartender took the cork, refused to give it to me, and proceeded to ask how many glasses I would need. The six of us surrendered our plan of drinking back at the dorm and basically chucked to bottle to finish it (A mighty waste of 5P). The next night came and low and behold there were plans to go out to a club. I'll admit that I stayed behind that night for several reasons. For starters, I wasn't willing to pay for the bus, the admission fee, the coat-check fee, drinks from the bar, and the taxi to get back to campus (buses stop at 10PM. It's quite unfortunate). I wasn't missing out though. I later found out that the next night would be bigger and better than the night I missed.
It was now Monday night and a large group of decided to go out after hearing of all the good clubs to go to on a Monday night (MONDAY. As in a weekday. As in why are we clubbing?) So we started with a drinking at an in-town international's flat. (Some live on campus and some live in town near the shopping and clubs, which is about 4Km from the school) We drank a bit there then headed to the a pub, this time led by an actual Englishman. His name was Robert, and he was a 4th year at Stirling. At 6'4'', he was rather intimidating, but he knew his way around, which was a help for all of us internationals. At the pub I had gotten one small drink and was enjoying the a spanish conversation between Barbara and Alissa when Robert came down to sit at the same end of the table. He had three very large glasses (more like a vase in reality) of Australian beer. After basically gulping down one, he slid one across the table to me and said they would be warm by the time he got to the 3rd. His logic for buying three at once was so he wouldn't have to stand up and walk to the front of the pub multiple times. (They may be lushes, but they sure know how to reason!)
Okay, so the bar closed at midnight, which was unfortunate, but after we left the group - not unanimously - wanted to go to another pub/club. (I forgot to mention that the entire time we were at the last pub there was a television above us that was playing a BBC interview with a British nudist colony. They were showing EVERYTHING. I mean, I saw more of the human anatomy on complete, uninhibited strangers than I ever imagined I would on a TV) I felt like going back to the university and setting down, but this was not the popular idea. So, we traveled down the street and across the way to a dance club called Fubar. *For my older readers, Fubar is an acronym for Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition.* You now know why I'd be hesitant. I didn't want to be 'Fucked up.' I just wanted to dance a bit then go to bed. That, however, was out of the question. It would be 3 more hours until I was in bed. Don't get me wrong, though. The club was incredibly fun. At first it was a bit dead because while the Scots love to drink, they're a bit awkward when they need to get a party going. So the Canadians and Americans headed to the club floor and started dancing. It didn't take long for others to join in, which was great. Nothing is more embarrassing than dancing by yourself... in a foreign country... with all the locals staring. The night kept getting better, but eventually it had to end: drinking and all.
Like an altered version of Groundhog Day, there were once again plans to go out drinking on Tuesday night. These people are beasts at drinking! I passed at the offer, giving my liver a day to catch up, but I'm almost certain there's either a party tonight or Valentine's-Day themed clubs come Thursday. By then I'll be ready to go again, and hopefully by the end of the semester, I'll be able to drink like a Scot. It'll take a bit of work and may involve a nasty hangover here or there, but it's all a part of the culture... right? (some more English reasoning for you.)
While some of you may worry or freak out from what you've read (Oh my goodness Jakob's partying too much and losing any scruples he once had), I can assure you that there is safety in numbers, and I will never travel alone. The University of Stirling recently had a student go missing around 2 in the morning, and while the school has done a fine job making it sound as if the student is well and being held somewhere, the students at the school tell the story much differently. There's a great sense of awareness here because of what students believe to have happened. - Again, I'm not typing all of this to scare you all but rather assure you of the meticulous efforts to staying safe on campus and not overdoing it. - David O'Halloran was apparently drunk as could be and on his way back to the University was kicked out of his cab for announcing he didn't have enough money to pay the driver. Because he was extremely intoxicated, it is believed as of now that he fell into the river. The school has since made measures to insure this won't happen, so if ever students are short on money, they can borrow from the hall's porter (a doorman) and pay him back at a later time. All of it is a bit surreal, but I'm glad the school is working to help students out.
On to some better stuff... today we get a tour of the city and it's absolutely gorgeous out. It snowed overnight and now there's about an inch covering all of campus. It's remarkably stunning. And before you wonder... no the weather isn't as bad as people say. It has been sunny for two days, it is sunny today, and is expected to be in the upper forty's and only slightly overcast the rest of the week. While it's not always clear skies, the weather is pacifying and unique. I am enjoying it very much and cannot wait to see what the spring brings. There have been snowdrops (the flower) all over campus. There as widespread as the American dandelion, and show that winter is winding down here.
Before I end this post, I'll leave a picture of campus. I'll also inform you of my plans to write a post every Wednesday and Sunday. No specific times, but that's when I will likely have time. This could likely change throughout the semester, as I am beginning to feel classes could be a bit more challenging here.
It was now Monday night and a large group of decided to go out after hearing of all the good clubs to go to on a Monday night (MONDAY. As in a weekday. As in why are we clubbing?) So we started with a drinking at an in-town international's flat. (Some live on campus and some live in town near the shopping and clubs, which is about 4Km from the school) We drank a bit there then headed to the a pub, this time led by an actual Englishman. His name was Robert, and he was a 4th year at Stirling. At 6'4'', he was rather intimidating, but he knew his way around, which was a help for all of us internationals. At the pub I had gotten one small drink and was enjoying the a spanish conversation between Barbara and Alissa when Robert came down to sit at the same end of the table. He had three very large glasses (more like a vase in reality) of Australian beer. After basically gulping down one, he slid one across the table to me and said they would be warm by the time he got to the 3rd. His logic for buying three at once was so he wouldn't have to stand up and walk to the front of the pub multiple times. (They may be lushes, but they sure know how to reason!)
Okay, so the bar closed at midnight, which was unfortunate, but after we left the group - not unanimously - wanted to go to another pub/club. (I forgot to mention that the entire time we were at the last pub there was a television above us that was playing a BBC interview with a British nudist colony. They were showing EVERYTHING. I mean, I saw more of the human anatomy on complete, uninhibited strangers than I ever imagined I would on a TV) I felt like going back to the university and setting down, but this was not the popular idea. So, we traveled down the street and across the way to a dance club called Fubar. *For my older readers, Fubar is an acronym for Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition.* You now know why I'd be hesitant. I didn't want to be 'Fucked up.' I just wanted to dance a bit then go to bed. That, however, was out of the question. It would be 3 more hours until I was in bed. Don't get me wrong, though. The club was incredibly fun. At first it was a bit dead because while the Scots love to drink, they're a bit awkward when they need to get a party going. So the Canadians and Americans headed to the club floor and started dancing. It didn't take long for others to join in, which was great. Nothing is more embarrassing than dancing by yourself... in a foreign country... with all the locals staring. The night kept getting better, but eventually it had to end: drinking and all.
Like an altered version of Groundhog Day, there were once again plans to go out drinking on Tuesday night. These people are beasts at drinking! I passed at the offer, giving my liver a day to catch up, but I'm almost certain there's either a party tonight or Valentine's-Day themed clubs come Thursday. By then I'll be ready to go again, and hopefully by the end of the semester, I'll be able to drink like a Scot. It'll take a bit of work and may involve a nasty hangover here or there, but it's all a part of the culture... right? (some more English reasoning for you.)
While some of you may worry or freak out from what you've read (Oh my goodness Jakob's partying too much and losing any scruples he once had), I can assure you that there is safety in numbers, and I will never travel alone. The University of Stirling recently had a student go missing around 2 in the morning, and while the school has done a fine job making it sound as if the student is well and being held somewhere, the students at the school tell the story much differently. There's a great sense of awareness here because of what students believe to have happened. - Again, I'm not typing all of this to scare you all but rather assure you of the meticulous efforts to staying safe on campus and not overdoing it. - David O'Halloran was apparently drunk as could be and on his way back to the University was kicked out of his cab for announcing he didn't have enough money to pay the driver. Because he was extremely intoxicated, it is believed as of now that he fell into the river. The school has since made measures to insure this won't happen, so if ever students are short on money, they can borrow from the hall's porter (a doorman) and pay him back at a later time. All of it is a bit surreal, but I'm glad the school is working to help students out.
On to some better stuff... today we get a tour of the city and it's absolutely gorgeous out. It snowed overnight and now there's about an inch covering all of campus. It's remarkably stunning. And before you wonder... no the weather isn't as bad as people say. It has been sunny for two days, it is sunny today, and is expected to be in the upper forty's and only slightly overcast the rest of the week. While it's not always clear skies, the weather is pacifying and unique. I am enjoying it very much and cannot wait to see what the spring brings. There have been snowdrops (the flower) all over campus. There as widespread as the American dandelion, and show that winter is winding down here.
Before I end this post, I'll leave a picture of campus. I'll also inform you of my plans to write a post every Wednesday and Sunday. No specific times, but that's when I will likely have time. This could likely change throughout the semester, as I am beginning to feel classes could be a bit more challenging here.
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