First Entry: Welcome to Scotland!

Hello everyone! If you are reading this, thank you for reading my blog and keeping up with my abroad experiences. This blog is to help my friends and family keep up with what I am doing, as well as for me to evaluate why I am here, what I am experiencing, and above all, have a record of all of my adventures.
I arrived in Edinburgh three days ago, and I have been taken aback at the beauty of the city, as well as the interesting medieval layout. Unfortunately Arcadia, the program I am on, is very hands-on and kept us locked in a room lecturing us instead of letting us explore the wonderful city that we will be calling home for the next five months: Edinburgh. I, as well as the other 30 students on my program, were very resentful of Arcadia and took the first free moment we had to go out last night. We all ventured out to various pubs and clubs in the Old City area. I had a great time and am excited to explore more nightlife that Edinburgh offers. Last night we went to a pub/club called the three sisters, then went to a nearly empty pub with live music, and then to a discotheque-type club.
Today we were taken by taxi to our living accommodations. I am in a dorm with several other students from my program including my friend Christine, who I came with. It is much farther removed from the center of the city than I anticipated, but I am sure once the other dorm residents return from their holidays they will give us pointers on how to travel around the city.
Tomorrow is the first full day I have to myself and I expect to find campus and run some errands before classes start on Monday!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
Laura

 Cahrissa and I in the parking lot of Edinburgh Castle (the castle is in the background)

Some other Arcadia students and I in a pub with live music (not all the glasses are ours--I promise!)