As of today I have been in Scotland for one month. Spending a little under 2 months in Scotland has caused me to really think about my role here. As I am teaching during the week it is very easy to feel as though I am living here, but then I wonder if I am not using my time in this amazing country as I am kind of a tourist. Am I a tourist? Am I living here for a month and 3/4? I've decided that I am simply a college a student living my life, I don't need to fall into a category of living day-to-day life or tourist. I love that I have a purpose here. I get to teach 9 year-olds during the week and on the weekends I get to experience things I can't experience at home.
Two weekends ago my host dad took me to two castle ruins. We went to Tantallon and Dirleton Castle. Both were incredible! Just to stand in the middle of what remains of these fortresses is humbling. I try to imagine what it would have been like to walk the halls of the castle, to live there, to eat the foods that were prepared in the fireplaces that were the ovens. I wondered how cold it would be in the winter, or hot in the summer.
I would love to spend just one day, as that is probably all I could handle, back when these castles were thriving. Just to experience the atmosphere of the great halls and the routine of everyday life.
I worry that I am not taking advantage of my time here, but I spent some time today reflecting on everything I have done and learned so far. I have been immersed in an amazing culture that I now understand better than I did before. I now have some idea of what it feels like to be the "other" all the time, to constantly be surrounded by things unfamiliar to me. I have learned to adapt and to ask questions when I am unsure. I have learned that not always seeing the next step can be scary, but when you look back it is so empowering. I'm a little over half way on my journey through Scotland, but already I have learned so much.
Two weekends ago my host dad took me to two castle ruins. We went to Tantallon and Dirleton Castle. Both were incredible! Just to stand in the middle of what remains of these fortresses is humbling. I try to imagine what it would have been like to walk the halls of the castle, to live there, to eat the foods that were prepared in the fireplaces that were the ovens. I wondered how cold it would be in the winter, or hot in the summer.
I would love to spend just one day, as that is probably all I could handle, back when these castles were thriving. Just to experience the atmosphere of the great halls and the routine of everyday life.
I worry that I am not taking advantage of my time here, but I spent some time today reflecting on everything I have done and learned so far. I have been immersed in an amazing culture that I now understand better than I did before. I now have some idea of what it feels like to be the "other" all the time, to constantly be surrounded by things unfamiliar to me. I have learned to adapt and to ask questions when I am unsure. I have learned that not always seeing the next step can be scary, but when you look back it is so empowering. I'm a little over half way on my journey through Scotland, but already I have learned so much.