Wednesday: On Decadence

Most of the day was a waste; I’d planned on spending the day finishing up the last assignments of the semester, so I’d just have class readings remaining. However, that wasn’t meant to be; I woke up at 11 (as I’d been going to bed around 4-5 the last few days). Then, I spent most of the day dicking around on the internet (mostly playing SongPop on Facebook). For supper, we ordered out as the groceries had not yet arrived. Yay for Vegetable Foo Yung!

So, by 9 o’clock, I was ready for relaxing and possibly sleep within the hour. But that didn’t go according to plan either. Instead, Richard – a friend from the Stonehaven trip – messaged me and got me to agree to go out for drinks in town.

We met up at uni with Richard and Anna’s roomie, Maeve, and walked to town where we met Anna, Wibke, Wibke’s sister and Wibke’s sister’s friend (the last two who are visiting from Germany). We hung out at Slain’s Castle for a few hours and had a blast. Then, walking home, some weird, very drunk man starting youhoo-ing at me. It was both funny and odd – therefore, as you can imagine, I loved it.

As I was walking home through Seaton – it’s not all that creepy now, I actually rather enjoy it – I was treated to quite a sight: the star-filled sky was indescribable!

Departure Countdown: 16 days left

Tuesday: On Sleeping

Went to school early today; I was meeting with Seònaid and Phoenix to have them sign release forms for interviews I conducted with them *smirk*. While being at uni early, I got to hang out with various friends, classmates and other departmental “colleagues”, if I am allowed the arrogance to consider them such.

Aside from that brief time of camaraderie, classes went without a hitch and I was back at my flat in no time.

The days of not doing much are such that I have a lot of free time to think. Also, it gives me very little to record here, so I can add other asides that I feel interesting or pertinent to my own sense of catharsis. One such topic is my sleep cycle.

As most who know me from Montreal know, I have suffered from insomnia since I was 11 or so. My body has become quite adapt on dealing with little sleep. However, since moving to Scotland, I’ve not had this issue, and I have been THRILLED to start sleeping like a ‘normal’ person. These last two weeks, however, have been a pain because my insomnia is coming back with a vengeance. I do not like this development in the least! I want to start sleeping normally again! (Not my normal, but the traditional normal!)

Departure Countdown: 17 days left

Monday: On Happy Accidents

Feeling stir-crazy and having a serious case of cabin fever from the weekend spent indoors, I was more than ready to hit the uni for a little bit of research in the Institute’s library. By happy chance, Richard B – a distinguish gentleman who happens to be a classmate of mine, was there. Richard had agreed to let me interview him for an assignment, and I decided to set that appointment with him then. He blew my mind when he offered to let me interview him right then and there!

The interview went very smoothly, and we discussed the Christmases of his youth, as the North Eastern Scots celebrated it very differently in his childhood than my family did in the same years in Canada (Richard is of my father’s generation). It was truly a privilege to listen to him speak and I learned quite a bit!

Departure Countdown: 18 days left

Sunday: Of Homework

Technically, I knew a Masters degree would be a lot of work, I did. I mean, I have more than one undergrad, and there was a fair share of work with those too. However, it seems I was idealistic in the amount of work I’d have to do for this. Stayed in and worked on school stuff again today... blagh

In other news, I am slowly turning blue. Not from the cold, but my skin is achieving a dark blue hue. Which is really odd, as I have nothing really blue in my wardrobe, nor are my sheets dark blue. Oh well, ay least it’s not green like in the past...

Departure Countdown: 19 days left

Saturday: The Day After

Spent the day at home working on more assignments for school. Hung out with Edi, Sam, and Ernest today. It was a pleasant day.

Departure Countdown: 20 days left until I'm home

Friday: On Birthday Drama

Met up with Kerri in the morning to go shopping. As her birthday was the day prior, she was holding a party with a fairytale theme. I needed a costume, so off we went. We managed to get me something early into the outing, so that was good. We then went shopping to see if I could find a decent winter jacket, but without any luck.

Instead, I bought Kerri lunch (a crepe and a Smoothie). We hung out and then I went back to mine for a while. I got to the party pretty early on, which was a good thing because I at least had some good times then. The people there thought my costume was pretty funny: I went as a preacher complete with white collar. The fact that my Kobo has a leather case (thanks Aunt Eileen!) meant I could pass it off as a pseudo-Bible.

The party was, unfortunately, like a flashback to my CEGEP years: lots of drama and drunken mishaps. Naomi got utterly sloshed and then tried to set me up with 4 different people. One was a single gay man, Patrick; one was a taken gay man, Adam; one was a straight man engaged to one of her friends, John; and the last was a straight woman, herself. It was awkward and funny at the same time.

A section of us even ended playing “Never Have I Ever”. It was funny as hell to see everyone’s eyes goggle out more and more as I kept having to drink (I think people have some sort of misconception about me being kind of a stick in the mud, someone who never did stupid shit). The irony was that I, who isn’t interested in drinking, drank the most in that game.

I walked Maria home after the party, as she’d had a few drinks too many and I was worried about her getting back safe. Thankfully, she seems to have had a good time.

Thursday: Chilling and Eating

Back at classes today. I handed in my essay (a day early!) and hung out with Alison, the professors, and the PhD students for an hour or so before class started.

I got to try a Macaroni Pie for lunch. It was interesting. Not my favorite foodstuff, but not too bad.

Wednesday: On More Outtings

I went in to the Institute again to see about finding some more information on a part of the essay that Tom and Ian suggested needed bulking out, but had no real success that gave me lots more to write about. Instead, I hung out with Wibke and Alison some more.

That evening, I went to Nat’s for the first time (it’s awesome and I can’t wait to crash there at Christmas). I was able to help her a little to tweak her citations now that I had the feedback on mine, and she seemed happy for it (I still find myself in a nebulous area of not knowing if I’ve overstepped the bounds of our friendship and went too far – it’s hard balancing between friendly feedback and professional essay grader).

We met up with Carleigh and the three of us ate at this pub called The Athenaeum. The food was amazing, and I feel we’ll most likely be returning there at some point soon.

The lecture was a bit of a letdown after the awesome meal, but it was still good. The only embarrassing thing is that I kept nodding off during it – I can’t help it, I’ve not been sleeping as well as I should be.