Day 0

Day 0 (Saturday the 18^th of September)-- I arrived on Sunday, around 2pm in St Andrews. It was about an hour drive from the airport. Scotland is just what you think it looks like. I saw some cows and lots of sheep. It was also gray and raining. After receiving a warm welcome from the staff of David Russell Apartments. I found my "hall of residence"- Fraser. I was a bit upset to learn that there was no elevator. I am on the top floor- floor 5. After hauling 4 bags up the stairs, one so heavy I could not lift it, I found my room. I am in flat 10, room 5. There are 11 flats in Fraser, all with 5 people. And there are quit a few buildings like this that make up DRA, which is right next door to Fife Park. When I got to my room no one was there, so I was very happy to have 2 people from the other flat on this floor knock on my door. After unpacking a little, I drove to town with one of their dad’s. It was a longer way into town then I thought it would be. I knew we were one of 3 dorms very far away (I am not happy about) but it was further then I had anticipated. We went to the union and I got a ticket for a party tonight (Wednesday) for 5 pounds. Then I walked around, bought all readymade paste for dinner, and decided to walk back, since things were beginning to close. It is a very nice walk, if you take your time and enjoy the scenery. When I got back, there were 6 people in our flat’s kitchen talking. I felt very left out; especially since one of the guys ignored me. Even now, Wednesay, he is never around, friendly, but I think I have had 3 conversations with him. And one was about hamburgers, the other 2 were about the military. The other people in the kitchen, however, were very quick to include me. 4 of those people live in my flat, and the other 2 they had met the day before. Later that night, we went to the hall meeting. It was different from KU’s meetings in that the head of this hall kept telling us to drink as much as we want. (But don’t make others drink). After dinner, I am glad I bought the pasta, because there was not enough food for me, around 9 or so, we went back to the main building to check out the people getting ready for that night’s party. It was tribal (warfare). Everyone was wearing out dorms colors, black and white, there were balloons, t- shirts to write on and wear, and face paint, lots of face paint. The people that had tickets then went to the union (about a 30-40 minute walk) to have a “war” with the other dorms- although I think it was just a regular party. People are very nice and friendly around here. At the meeting and tribal, people just come up to you and start talking to you and try and get to know you. I went to bed around 11pm, which is pretty good since I had been up basically since Saturday morning.