Day 3: Classes and Exploring

Classes started this morning.  The International Summer School (ISS) interns walked us to the building where our classes are being held because most of us don't know our way around yet.  On the way to class we passed Airthrey Castle, Airthrey Loch, and the golf course on Campus.  Along the entire walk, we could see the Wallace monument and the large hill behind the campus.  It is absolutely beautiful here.  Pictures don't do it justice.

Airthrey Loch with hills in the background

Airthrey Castle

My first class, Scotland on Screen, went well.  It seems like an interesting class.  We will have to do a little bit of reading and write a 1500 word essay by the end of the class, but that doesn't seem too bad.  After class, a couple of us went to the library to try to read the books we were assigned.  We had a little bit of trouble finding the books because the library covers three floors, but we figured it out.  The library also had an interesting way of checking out books.  They have a bunch of self checkout stations where you scan your Student ID and then place the book you want on the thing and it somehow recognizes the book and checks it out for you.  I don't know how they work, but I think we need to get some of them in America.  Catherine, a girl who is in both of my classes, and I went to a cafe for lunch in the annex, the student union.  I wasn't really hungry, so I just got some chips, called crisps here, and a Fanta brand Lemonade.  The chips tasted like what we have back home, but the lemonade tasted completely different.  It was no where near as sweet and it was carbonated which gave it a strange effect.  I think I will avoid lemonade here in the future.

My next class, Scottish History: The Covenanters, also went well.  After class, Clare, a girl I met on the first day at the induction ceremony, Catherine, and I used our bus passes to go into Stirling.  We walked around for a little while and shopped a bit before we stopped for dinner at a little place called No 2 Baker Street.  I decided to wait and try haggis some other time.  Instead, I ordered the Mac&Cheese which came with a side of garlic bread.  It was delicious, so I am happy with my choice.  We were a bit confused about how tipping works here, so we left a very small tip and hoped that they wouldn't think we were rude Americans.
After our trip to the city, we went back to our flats exhausted.  Tomorrow we will probably explore the city some more and maybe see some more sights.  I can't wait!

We saw this Loch Ness monster made out of candy  at a sweet shop in the city.