10 Things I Will Miss About Scotland

Alas, the final installment of the Black and Abroad Blog Series. I'm writing this from across the pond, but by the time you read this, I'll be back in the states suffering from a severe case of culture shock and jet lag. These 10 things I'll be reluctant to give up once it's time to come back to the US of A:

1. Fish and Chips

I lived about a 20 minute walk away from some of the best fish and chips I'd ever had while in Scotland. I will miss this deliciousness wholeheartedly, as well as the availability of them. You can get them at pretty much any restaurant (unless you go to a pizza place or something), and they're always a solid option when you don't know what else to eat.

2. Ice Cream and Gelatto

Hands down, the best ice cream I've ever had was in St. Andrews at a shop called Janetta's. The Allanwater Cafe in Bridge of Allan came in as a close second. The ice cream here is so much creamier, sweeter, and just all around better. Nothing in America can come close to comparing. If I could've brought some back for you all to try, I honestly would have horded it all and eaten it myself.

3. The Greenery

It rains all the time, so everything is green and growing. Plus, the amount of people who garden here is incredible. It's completely different from the typical shrubbery and flower arrangements you'd see in the States.

4. Traveling with ease

It cost me less than one hundred bucks to get to England, and just over one hundred to get to Belgium, and from Belgium to The Netherlands? Around thirty USD. Trains, buses, and public transport are the norm here. Plus they have discounts for students or young people (18-25 years) for most modes of transportation, as well as attractions.

5. The people

I've met some awesome people from all over the States who are going on to do awesome things. The woman I met at the train station coming back from Edinburgh? She reminds me of my Aunt Genny who passed away last year. The right people are put in front of you at the right times, and I'm grateful for everyone I've come across over the past couple of months--from the people in my program to the coordinators and interns to the locals (except for the bouncer who went on forever about Trump. That was an unpleasant interaction).

6. The pubs

The drinking culture in the States is obscene and obnoxious. People drink to get drunk, especially young people. But the only reason why is because it's seen as taboo, and so people don't talk about it, and people don't know how to drink responsibly. Over here, it's completely normal to have some wine or a beer with lunch, to go to the pub with your professor or superiors, and just talk over a drink. Drinking is almost completely calm here, and usually revolves around conversation rather than going out to get completely wasted. Plus there are probably quadruple the number of pubs here than there are in any place I've ever been, so you get your pick of atmosphere, drink flavours and events such as pub quizzes, karaoke, and open mic nights.

7. The history

Everything has history. Even this university, which is only 50 years old, has an immense amount of history because of what was here before it. For instance, the woods behind the university is called Hermitage Woods because the villagers who lived there paid a man to live alone in the woods, and come out to spook their visitors from out of town for fits and giggles--maybe not the visitors' giggles, but their hosts.

8. Primark

So many clothes...such low prices. And you know I had to grab some UK fashion from this place before leaving.

9. Double decker buses

Before coming over here, I'd assumed that double decker buses were a tourist attraction in London when they're actually the norm in all of the UK.

10. Maple pastries

I had them on my first morning here, and haven't looked away from them since. They're typically flaky pastries filled with maple and topped with pecans. Delishhh.