Do you ever wish that technology was advanced enough to make time go by slower?
Because I do.
Time is a funny thing. It rushes by when you want it most to stay, and it takes its sweet time when you want it to race away. It somehow slips away when you're busy doing one thing, and then sneakily makes it seem like none has passed when reuniting with old friends from long ago.
Since being back in Aberdeen, I've seen a slew of lovely faces from 2 years ago, and I've met some new ones as well. Everyone has been so pleasant, and it's been a happy realization that awkwardness isn't a factor in any of the conversations I've had. I think there's something really special about the first time you see someone after not seeing them for a long time. That moment when you open the door and see their smiling face, and you don't care what they're wearing or what the weather's doing or how much of an idiot you'll look like if someone witnesses the sound that comes out of your mouth - some puzzling mixture of a scream, a whimper, an "aww" and an excited squeal (frightening, really).
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| Heather and Mal - stunning as always! |
Yesterday I met up with Heather and Mallory, and we caught up over cocktails, supper, and bowling. I re-learned some very important things:
-Heather's dimples make me smile
-I am NOT a size 8 bowling shoe. A size 8 is about a women's size 11 at home. Apparently I'm a size 5. Maybe even like 4.5 . Way to make me feel like a munchkin.
-Bowling is way more fun when you try to do it with T-Rex arms. I felt like we could be featured on T-Rex Trying
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| Cocktails and supper at TGI Friday's at the beach |
Today I met with Adele for lunch at Kilau, where we caught up on the past 2 years and made plans for tomorrow. Meanwhile, Kilau's lunch special delightfully refueled my preference for lentil soup. After a good catch up there, I met up with Kathryn, who hasn't changed a bit! I was walking down Belmont street when I saw a bobbing blonde head of hair running at full tilt towards me. Kathryn was one of the very first people I met here, in G block halls, and is perhaps one of the sweetest people I know. She's from Ellon, just near Aberdeen, so her accent is one of my favourites, and as if that isn't enough to convince you how awesome she is, she's running a half-marathon to raising money for a charity! MY FRIENDS ARE AWESOME!
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| Kathryn and I trying on ridiculous/I-actually-think-they're-cool glasses at Primark |
Speaking of awesome, Alex continues to be a fantastic hostess, and I've enjoyed nice long lie-ins (but not 'lions') every day. I like the British version of that term, because it can be used as a noun, like in the previous sentence. 'Sleep-ins' just doesn't have quite the same ring; it sounds like a type of pyjamas to me. She's been wonderful at planning things to do, making sure I fit lots in, and truly making me feel at home. On Tuesday her friend Anna came over and we spent literally 5 hours making cupcakes. But not just any cupcakes, Easter cupcakes. With lots of sugar. I'm talking like 5 different kinds of icing, sprinkles, those little silver balls you're never completely sure if you can eat or not, mini eggs, jelly beans, oreos, strawberry lace, chocolate buttons (milk AND white)...the list goes on. I also enjoyed an empire biscuit to bring me back to the many nights in halls where Alex and I devoured them. Needless to say, it was a TON of sugar (that may or may not be an exaggeration). I can feel my blood sugar rising just typing about it.
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| Hoppy Easter! |
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| I think I've had my fix of sugar for the next month or so. |
Remember when I came here 2 years ago, when Aberdeen had the most rain they've had in 55 years? Yeah, good year to come, Becky. Good choice. Well NOW, apparently I've brought the bad weather back. Last week I guess it was around 22 degrees and people were in shorts! Now it's windy and cold and rainy for the most part. But then yesterday it was legit PMS weather: blue sky and sunny, then 5 minutes later a hail storm. Then 10 minutes later grey overcast, then warm breeze and then rain, and then SUPER windy, and then sun again. Craziest, fastest, most dramatic change in weather I've ever seen. Leave it to Aberdeen. I wish I'd taken pictures to prove it.
Today I admittedly teared up a little, during one of my *Scottish moments*. The thought of returning home has been in the back of my mind, but I've been pretty good at reburying it every time it pops its head up, like one of those Whack-A-Mole games. Just as Alex and I were sharing a comfortable moment of silence as I sipped my tea, she began to strum a familiar chord progression and sing her version of Caledonia. I remembered how much that song reminds me of here, and then I thought of how long its been since I've actually been here. And then I suddenly remembered that it's Wednesday, and that I leave on Saturday, and that Saturday is only 3 days after Wednesday. And since a=b and b=c, the transitive theory proves that a=c. For the non-mathematically-nor-philosophically-inclined readers, that means that I have to leave in 3 days. As if that realization wasn't enough (I just got a shiver thinking about it now), I was sitting on the couch, with a cup of tea in one hand, a yum-yum in the other hand, listening to Alex sing her version of Caledonia. Scotland encapsulated in a moment. It literally brought a tear to my eye.
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| Tea and a Yum-Yum (so delicious, one 'yum' just isn't enough) |
Thank you so much to everyone who's been reading - you all keep on surprising me when I tell my stories, and you smile and nod and sometimes even finish my sentences. My confused looks are then met with "yeah, I read it in your blog". You'z da best!
Tomorrow's plan: Slains castle ruins, the Blue Lamp (to see if Burt and/or Ernie still work there) and perhaps take some more photos of town or campus, since I've been so wrapped up in visits that I haven't really done much.
One more amusing thing I think I forgot to write about before:
As I'm reflecting on Sweden (I think Alex has heard most stories at least twice now...), I've been teaching anyone who's interested (and lots of people who aren't...) some basic Swedish. One of the funniest words is "bra" (roll the r). According to Jason, a teacher at IESS, he remembers the meaning like this:
"Bra" in Swedish means "Good" in English.
"Bra" obviously makes you think of boobs
Boobs are good.
Therefore, "Bra" = "Good"
Easy peasy.
Sorry this was so long - just so much to say about so much!
Until Next Time,
B. <3
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