Call of the Wild

On a scale from 1 - 10 of how outdoorsy I am I'd say I'm a 4 or 5 (unless drinks on the patio or laying by a pool counts, in which case I'm a solid 9). It's not that I hate being outside, it's just not often that I'm inspired to get in my car and drive somewhere to hike or climb or parkor on things. Alas, that inspiration has finally struck now that I'm in Scotland! Maybe it's the river, or the hills, or that the sun is up until 10pm so I have all the time in the world. Regardless, I'm spending a surprising amount of time outside.

New Lanark is nestled in the bottom of a gorge next to the River Clyde; this means in order to get to Lanark (i.e. the store, restaurants, shopping) you have to walk about a mile uphill. But it's not a regular uphill. It's like... the highest setting of incline on the treadmill, uphill. The way back down is even difficult because it's so steep that my legs don't know what to do. I've adopted this kind of squat-jog for the worst parts that I'm sure is one of my more attractive talents. I voluntarily climb this to town instead of waiting for the one bus an hour because I feel good once I've completed it, the views are perfect and I know the way back will be less torturous. Except the other day when I walked back to New Lanark with three bags of groceries from the store.

I've also hiked the 5km trail up to the Falls of Clyde a few times, and it's spectacular each time. On my first trip, there were all those dandelion puffs floating around in the air, which can be obnoxious if you tend to walk around with your mouth ajar like I do, but when I finally got up to the viewpoint and stood in awe of the falls it seemed like they were suspended in mid-air. It was magical. Sort of like in Avatar when all those bouncy sea urchins swirled around Jake and ceremoniously landed on him. Only I wasn't blue or naked.

The Falls of Clyde attract visitors just as much as the historical site does and they offer a pretty good photo op too! Enjoy!

And a hiking selfie just to prove I was there.
Note: When you travel alone, you selfie alone. This can be awkward, but the woods aren't here to judge.

My arrival was a bit like "Welcome to Scotland, now get to work" which I'm happy about. Six weeks isn't long to really get involved and have a grasp on the numerous projects that are going on. I've been pretty busy already and I haven't even finished week two! Today I helped install part of an exhibit for a joint exhibition we're doing with the Lanark Library for their centenary. I'll be posting more about it next week when we finish the New Lanark portion.

Tomorrow I'm attending my first "hen-do" (the equivalent of a bachelorette party). But for now, I'm hearing a live band outside my room which probably means a reception at the hotel, which definitely means there's cake. And I just so happen to need some dessert.

Cheers!
TGT

Welcome to Scotland!

Let me start this post out by saying thank you! I've had over 100 views on this blog and that makes my palms all sweaty from 4,000 miles away!

As you may have guessed, I arrived safely in Scotland! First things first, I'll get my list of unfortunate mishaps out of the way before I obnoxiously gush about how great things are. So, after my flight delay and not taking off until midnight or so...

1.      I got detained at immigration. I'm not really sure what the lady wanted from me since I had every document, form of ID and proof of being a student/intern, but I didn't have the answers she was searching for. Shoutout to her for doing her job, but the holdup caused me to chase my luggage around Edinburgh airport, nearly miss my contact picking me up, and almost unleash my inner Jason Bourne.

2.     After getting out of the shower, prepared to look fabulous for my first day of work, I realized that although my phone charger fits the adapter, my hair dryer does not (a tragic case where one of the little prongs is bigger than the other). Needless to say, I looked very adorable for day one in New Lanark... Also, I have bought another hairdryer, I know that was the pressing issue on your mind.

3.     I was service and wifi-less for over 24 hours. Recall my last post where I predicted I may get mad at my lack of phone capabilities? I checked that off the list right away. I mostly just wanted to get word to my family that I made it off the flight and broke out of custody at immigration. I now have wifi access in my room and have FaceTimed with Bella for her birthday, but that was a rough day and a half!

Enough tragedy.

The people in Scotland are magnificent. I have to stay focused or I have no clue what anyone is saying, but everyone I encounter seems to gladly go out of their way to chat, help or include me. I've been thrown right in to the mix at work; day one I helped conduct a workshop at a primary school where a little boy asked me what language I was speaking, and day two was spent doing archive work in Lanark's library. I'm noticing how perfect the timing of my internship is because there is so much happening at the site right now that I get to be a part of.

I have already experienced some frustration with trying to write or proof content. The sentence structure, acceptable lingo and grammar style is far different here and it's difficult to shy away from the ever-looming AP Stylebook that is the Holy Grail in so much of my coursework at school. It'll take some getting used to, but I'm already learning that training doesn't necessarily cross boarders that well.

I'll end with a little Scotland weather. I was welcomed to the UK with...

...this perfect weather! (I'm staying in one of the far houses) After work, we raced to the store, along with the rest of Lanark, to buy grilling necessities. I'm told that you can't plan for a barbeque in Scotland so when the weather is perfect you drop everything to take the opportunity to spend the evening in the garden - which we did.

However, I was warned that it was just a trick and the sun wouldn't stay around like that for long. They were right. Every day since then has looked a little something like...

...this. A bit dreary, but with the River Clyde right outside your window and hills in the other direction, you can't really complain.

I’m headed to Glasgow tomorrow for exploring and perhaps casually kidnapping a member of One Direction since they’ll be in town.

Cheers!
TGT

Layover Saga

Layover Saga

It happened! I've been hit with a delay. Woe is me. 

My 9:45pm flight has been pushed back, but it's all part of the fun, right? Currently, I'm taking the opportunity to analyze the difference between the way the American couple next to me is handling it, and the way a Scottish man across from me is dealing with the news. Observations so far boil down to: Americans fretting, nagging and walking around like life is over and the Scotsman spreading the "it's out of our hands" mentality. Just a coincidence? Or will the laid back nature be a trend I notice in Scotland? I'll never know unless I get out of this airport. But for now, I'm trapped in a land of overpriced coffee and salads... it could be worse.

Layovers do have an upside; they create ample time to sit around and reflect on my expectations for this trip. Undoubtedly, I will experience culture shock, homesickness, and annoyance with spotty/lack of wifi (typical generation X) but none of that will trump the experience of learning how business and society function, first hand, in another culture. I don't even have to have my first day of work to know that this experience will be invaluable.

At USI, I've taken classes that have strengthened my skills in communications, advertising, public relations and more. From this internship I hope to expand on those skills as well as broaden my scope in marketing and hospitality. The New Lanark World Heritage Site is currently rebranding and I'm beyond excited to be able to be a part of the expansion and promotion of the new brand. Since I already work at the Visitor Center in New Harmony, I''m already fimiliar with New Lanark's history since the two sites have connected pasts. I'm presented with the unique opportunity to be able to work at both ends of the spectrum  and apply techniques and ideas from both sites to the other. I wonder if visitors to New Lanark come from far and wide, the way they do in New Harmony? It's always special to see the draw such a small place can have.

For now, I'll blow up my inflatable neck pillow and go stand in the middle of the airport corridors so the workers driving the ten person golf carts yell "beep beep beep beep beep beep beep". Talk about wild fun.

Also, enjoy this "beginning of the journey" photo my fabulous mother insisted on taking this morning.

Cheers!
TGT

36 Hours... But Who's Counting?

If I wasn't buried alive in clothes and packing essentials then I would start this blog off right with a witty "welcome to the blog world" to myself. However, all my brain power is currently occupied between packing for two separate trips and pouring over as much pre-internship info as I can so I'm tossing it out the window and getting right to it!

It's about 36 hours until departure right now which means, being the chronic over-packer that I am, I have 36 hours to unnecessarily cram more clothes into my stuffed suitcase. Packing for an internship at the New Lanark Mill and then packing for a trip where I'm constantly on the move and only carrying a backpack is, to no one's surprise, pretty awful. Luckily, there are humans inhabiting the European continent which means anything my little heart desires can most likely be found over there. 

I'm not looking forward to attempting to fight off jet lag, but as long as I don't have the seat next to the bathroom (my previous international flight experience) then I'm hopeful that I'll survive it. I've also been nervous about the amount of rain I'll encounter while in Scotland and have even been told by friends: "your hair isn't gonna make it". But I purchased a fabulous raincoat and it successfully covers my lions mane so I'm just a regular old problem solver.

I've been asked about my upcoming travels so many times, especially now that I'm back in my hometown for a few days, that when I tell people about it, I come off nonchalant like this is an average summer... when really I'm just holding back the urge to swing people around and sing about how excited I am. I'm so grateful that my school, the University of Southern Indiana, has opportunities available for their students such as this internship program. With their help and support, along with guidance and knowledge from my co-workers at the Visitor Center in New Harmony, IN, I'm feeling prepared and honored to embark on this journey and thankful to have so many cheerleaders back in the states.

Watch for more posts which will include more photos and less nervous rambling! 

Cheers!
TGT