...but there can be multiple visits.
That's right: I went back to the Highlands this weekend.
But other things came first.
Classes are over. I'm done as of 3 October. I still can't believe it. And I've taken two out of my three finals: British Politics a week ago, Scottish Politics this morning, and I have a final essay to write for this Friday. Then all I will have left is my research project to complete while working in Parliament.
Last week was my first week in Parliament. It's actually really great.
The MSP in the office next to mine is visually impaired, so he has a guide dog named Mr Q. Mr Q definitely thinks he's an MSP. Our offices are conjoined, so when the MSP is working in his office and doesn't need Mr Q, he gets to hang out with us. Besides myself, our office consists of my MSP, Rob Gibson, his assistant, then, beyond the half wall, there is Dennis Robertson, his assistant, his intern, and Mr Q. It's a grand old time.
I get to go to the political functions in the building; so far I've been to a Rural Affairs, Environment, and Climate Change Committee meeting (of which Rob is the convener), a photo-op for First Minister Alex Salmond with seeing-eye dogs in training, and the budget hearing. If you've never experienced Scottish politics (or Westminster politics) in action, it is definitely worth watching. So much more entertaining than in America. They openly insult, heckle, boo, cheer, and accuse each other. And people are welcome to sit in the gallery for it.
This is last week's First Minister's Questions (when MSPs and citizens get to ask the First Minister any questions about policy or what is happening in Scotland). Rob asks a question. It's an interesting watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDzziw_i0As
It's a lot of fun there, I really like it. And the food served for lunch is pretty good (although I suspect it might actually be Sodexo...).
I'm still really hoping that working with Rob will allow me to attend the SNP conference and go on a constituency visit to the Highlands. Yes. Another visit to the Highlands. I promise I'm at least going to different places. This would probably be the more northern Highlands and Islands.
This past weekend we went to Inverness with everyone else in Scotland through the same programme. Over one hundred twentyish-year-olds. The group I was in was lucky enough to be led by the same tour guide we had our first weekend here. Seriously, if you are in Scotland and need a tour guide, get Ross Tillbrook. He also apparently won the jackpot of £11,000 on the UK game show Pointless a few years ago and used the money to travel to Africa, South America, and New Zealand. He's a rad dude.
Friday morning we had a twenty minute walk to get to our bus by 7:30. Obviously, we didn't get a lot of sleep. We stayed at a youth hostel in Inverness for two nights without Internet for the whole weekend (I didn't miss it much). On our way there, we stopped at The Hermitage, which had a really cool waterfall that is allegedly so powerful that ladies swoon just by looking at it. Next was Blair Castle, which had gardens like the books about fairies I used to read and the only privately owned army in Europe, lead by the Duke of Atholl (who lives in South Africa). Finally, Lault Farm to see a sheepdog performance by the man who trained the dogs in the movie Babe. Fun fact: his wife is actually from Colorado and about twenty years younger than him; she had a similar visit to his farm when she was studying in Scotland and took a liking to him. She wrote to him when she got back asking if she could work on the farm. They now have four kids.
That night we all fell asleep around eight p.m. because we're hip, happening young people. The next morning we departed for Dunrobin Castle, which also had a beautiful garden and where we got to see a falconry display. The display included an owl and hawk besides the falcon and was his last display before winter. According to the falconer, it only takes two weeks to train a bird of prey. From there we spent an hour in Dornoch, the town where the last woman to be condemned to death for witchcraft was killed in 1722. But, more importantly, the town where I was finally able to buy some Highland wool yarn for knitting. I'm ridiculously excited. Knitting in Scotland is the best. We then had a tour of a whisky distillery, including a free sample at the end. Whisky is a crazy thing. I can't believe anyone actually enjoys drinking it straight. I prefer orange juice. That night we were able to stay awake long enough to go for a walk through Inverness and see a rainbow-lit bridge over the River Ness and trees wrapped in lights. It's a pretty town.
The last day we visited Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last battle fought on British soil in 1746. The Scottish Jacobites were bitterly defeated by the British after trying to return Bonnie Prince Charlie (the Catholic heir to the throne) to power after his father had been exiled. As a result, England then banned the kilt, bagpipes, and the speaking of Gaelic and deported or killed all remaining Jacobites. This is also where I finally found my Highland cows! Or Heery Coos, as they call them. There was double fencing so I couldn't get close enough to touch them, but I got some good pictures. The next stop was Loch Ness. I was expecting it to be foggy and mystical, but it was a sunny, unimposing day. I took off my socks and shoes and waded into the cold water for a while. It was definitely worth the experience if I end up with pneumonia. The rest of the day was mostly a long bus ride back to Edinburgh, during which they made us watch Braveheart. We all know I love that movie. I'm just not a big fan of movies on buses. So I mostly slept. They will never take our FREEDOM!!!
And the rest of the night was dedicated to studying for the following morning's final. I feel pretty good about it. I had enough time to draw an octopus on the back at the end.
I also discovered my official favorite part of Edinburgh today: Fleshmarket. Lots of really cool little shops like Swish and Fruitmarket Gallery. I reread Dracula for Halloween and am now starting Frankenstein. Planning a trip to London in November, hopefully the weekend after the SNP conference. I also voted in the midterms last week. My absentee ballot arrived on Monday and I sent it back on Tuesday. If I voted, none of you have any excuse not to. Please vote.
Parliament is now on a two week recess, so I have that time to create Rob's Christmas calendar that he sends out to his constituents annually and start figuring out what would be feasible for my research project. It will probably have something to do with blue carbon and ocean biodiversity in Scotland. Average stuff.
A few more parting fun facts about Scotland: Once Nikola Sturgeon takes over as the SNP party leader from Alex Salmond in November, all three of the main Scottish party leaders will be women, which also means that Scotland will have a woman First Minister. The Conservative Party (the most conservative party in Scotland) leader Ruth Davidson, is an out lesbian (unrelatedly, she also kick boxes). (Could you imagine if John Boehner were a lesbian? It's directly comparable.) Most food products here have the Free Trade logo on them, meaning that no slave labor was used in the creation of the product, something that is actually extremely difficult to find in America, even if you are specifically seeking it out.
I love it all.
And with that, I'm going to bed.