Starting with St. Patrick's Day festivities, my group of friends and I wanted to celebrate but not to any extreme. We hopped on the bus into town and unanimously agreed to go to the one irish pub in Stirling. Given that the holiday is for the Irish, the pub was packed. When walking in the door we were greeted with beer being spilled on some of us by those who were well into their drinking by 9. After pushing our way through, we made it to the very back of the pub that had a bit more light, room to sit, and hats similar to the garish Nivea hats that every New Year's Eve-er in NYC wears. The evening was good fun, and I had my very first Guinness! I did it more out of obligation to the holiday rather than my choice of a drink. I've never cared for beer. Into the evening a relatively inebriated woman stumbled over to our crowded table in the corner of the pub and asks me if I was from Ireland. I'm assuming she asked because my apparel, a genuine Guinness shirt from Dublin (Thanks, Kate & Tim!), but nothing mattered anymore once I told her where I was from. After some vulgar remarks she stumbled back into the crowd and wasn't heard from again. Our group of 6 people was ready to go around 11:15, so we could catch the last bus back to campus. My Argentinian friend, Barbara, had had a bit much to drink, which only added to the humor of the evening. On the bus she insisted, quite loudly, everyone speak to her in Spanish. I couldn't stop laughing due to the fact no one else spoke Spanish. I could understand what she was saying, but because I haven't taken a class in over 4 years I'm a bit rusty with my conversational skills. Oh well! All in a day.
Midway through the week I was asked if I would be interested in traveling to Edinburgh in the evening to watch a 'Found Footage Festival.' As the name suggests the event was a showing of various and random found footage. I was hesitant to travel out that late because the show was at 9. The last train back would be 11:30, which put me in Stirling at 12:30. Buses stop at 11, so I knew I'd have to walk back to campus or cough up eight pounds for a taxi. I soon decided that going out would likely be fun, so I went with two friends I take Experimental Cinema with. It was my first time in Edinburgh, and I freaked out. There's a feeling I've only experienced once before in my life, which was once again surfacing. When one drives into New York City for the very first time, it's magic. The lights are tantalizing and unescapable, and the atmosphere is unlike anywhere else. There's nothing that can be said to do justice to something as special. Exciting the train station in Edinburgh brought about this feeling again. Had I charged my camera before traveling, I would have taken a picture or two to share. Unfortunately it died right once I turned it on. The city, however, is a gorgeous combination of the 12th century buildings and modern energy. The castle sits at the top of the city with every other building resting on a decreasing slope. The taxis flying by were all an old style of car, and the lights illuminating each castle, government building, and eatery did so with elegance and mystery. My amazement of the city was spectacle to one of my traveling companions from Denmark. What is so interesting is that no matter where you travel in the United States, there is nothing like it. Buildings are only several hundred years old at most. Europe is a different story.
Once we arrived at the cinema we bought our tickets and sat for some coffee in the cinema's cafe. Around the walls of the cafe were framed posters of every well-known film of all time. Mixed together to show the beauty of film for its purpose rather than its technological development, Casablanca hang right next to The Artist. Soon after finishing our coffee we headed into the theatre. Once again, I feel in love at first sight. The plush, red-velvet chairs spaced generously from one another gave enough seat room for one to cross his or her legs if desired. Well... enough unnecessary exposition. Even while I write I can tell it's a bit overdone. So this found footage was the funniest thing I have ever seen. Seriously. My 'funniest moments' list is pretty packed and includes a list of brilliant moments (My mother using the f-word while gardening, my friend Chris tripping with a tray of fake glasses during a Follies dress rehearsal, or even my sisters trapping me under a mattress in the most foul-smelling hallway in Kentucky). Yes, this film festival had me laughing non-stop for 90 minutes. The two hosts go around the US searching for funny training videos, work-out videos, safety videos, and any nonsense material they can find. One of my favorites was actually a prank they pulled when they convinced a good friend to act as a 'yoyo extraordinaire.' Since most local television studios are desperate for material, there were eight that agreed to have Kenny on the show without knowing anything other than he is great with a 'yoyo.' The two hosts taped all the morning shows, which were awkward to say the least. Click HERE to view one of his videos. I ended up buying the DVD because I was closer than ever to wetting my pants. Once I'm back in the states, I would love to share it with whoever would like a good laugh.
Once I got back from the show I walked into my room and you won't believe what I saw. Crumbs on the window sill, an overturned box of opened Ritz crackers, and a fresh loaf of bread now with a hole through it. The damn squirrel got in my room. Just when I had thought I was safe because there's no tree directly outside my room, the sneaky little critter crawled along a ledge that can't be more than 2 inches and slunk
As for the rest the other exciting part of my week, on Thursday RyanAir (A European travel company) was having a sale on flights around Europe. These super-cheap flights go all around and cost close to nothing. So, several floor-mates booked tickets to Dublin and asked if I wanted to join. Did I ever! Round trip tickets for one weekend came in at a whopping 26 pounds. I really can't wait to visit Ireland and even more so to get my Passport stamped a couple more times. Maybe if I have time (and money) at the end of the semester I can travel to France or Spain for even less. (Those flights run 10 pounds one way.)
Spring may be here officially, but Scotland is the coldest it has been. It snows every day, and while there's rarely accumulation, it still snows and snows and snows some more. Contrary to Rosemary Clooney's opinion, I'd rather not wash my hands, hair and face with snow. I just want it to be sunny. Or rainy. I'm over snow. Snow is for winter.
Note on culture:
One last thing! The most controversial topic of the week. A little something that many people say that offends a great deal of people in the world. When talking with my friend Barbara we were discussing the term 'America' and its constant misuse. As she is from South America, there's a great lack of respect from South America, Canada, and the southern parts of North America when the term is used in place of 'United States.' When asked where one is from... try to avoid saying 'America.' Brazil is in America. Quebec is in America. Honduras is in America. You will never hear someone say they are from America if they are not from the United States. Unfortunately, the same isn't true for those from the United States. That's a thinker, isn't it! I blame Stephen Sondheim. Blast his catchy West Side Story tune!!!!!
Beauty is worse than wine. It intoxicates both the holder and the beholder.
-Aldous Huxley
Your posts always have me laughing. I'm sure the squirrel was simply paying you back for almost killing its cousin with a shuffleboard stick. Also, I'm glad that my "foul-smelling hallway" has made the blog :) Love you - Have a great week!
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