A Misty Day in Edinburgh or, A Month In

I warrant it's time for another post.

I've now been in Edinburgh for an entire month, though it's hard to believe. Time is already passing quickly, though it also seems like things move very slowly here. An odd conflict in perception.

After being here for a month I am still trying to finalize the opening of my bank account. A word of advice to anyone thinking of living in Scotland, the Scots, although they have many marvelous qualities I am sure, are neither quick nor efficient. The post can take months to work its way across a single city. And bank accounts apparently routinely take weeks, if not months to open. And never hire a plumber. It's much faster to learn to do the work yourself.

All that aside, life at the University is far from slow. Though I only have three courses to attend, I find that I am up dawn til dusk nearly every day of the week reading and researching just to keep my head above water. And it's marvelous! A bit tiring, but I am taking in so very much real knowledge and being exposed to so much new thought. And I feel that what I am learning here has real applicable value in the world, a nice change from the realm of theory. I met my director of studies on Friday afternoon, and was greatly relieved to hear his warning against relying too heavily on my theoretical background in the world of international law. International law may seem theoretical in the States, but I assure you, it is a real, living thing....even when one's own country doesn't want to acknowledge it as such.

Edinburgh is rainy once more, having enjoyed a full three days of summer this last week. I wore my sandals, that I had feared I had brought in vain, on Friday and basked in the sun and balmy temperatures. And then the rain returned and the temperature dropped. Followed closely by the leaves. October has arrived and is refusing to go unnoticed. Today I took a short break, just before the evening rain and walked through Greyfriars' graveyard, through the misty centuries-old stones, past the place where the National Constitution was signed over three and a half hundred years ago, tramping through the wet gold of leaves.

My camera battery is dead once more, and once I get it recharged I will post some photos of the short Autumn here, and of the pirate's graves cloaked in mist.