I received an email from both exchange offices here and in Edinburgh regarding an exchange fair that was happening at UNSW asking whether I would be available to help out at the “Edinburgh stand”, I had an hour in between classes so offered to come then to meet Sandra and lure any potential exchange students to Scotland’s beautiful capital.
After locating Sandra [Edinburgh’s rep] and the little Burg set up, I put my “Edinburgh head” on and prepared to big it up. There was a UNSW student there helping out as well, she had been on exchange in Edinburgh for a year so it was cool chatting to her about places and things she would miss and what was different and all that jazz. Inevitably with any conversation about life in Edinburgh, our chat soon led to a discussion on the “Filling Station” cake shop on South Clerk Street. That soaked up a good ten minutes or so and whilst she wistfully complained how much she was going to miss it, I relished in the realisation that in but a few short months I would be able to return to that sacred oasis of sweet sensations. It’s literally like stepping into Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory – good times.
I proceeded to rave about the quirky metropolis that is Edinburgh, from the funky little shops that you find in the old town ranging from crafts to full witchery, to all the pubs in the grass markets especially when the rugby’s on and the men whip out the quilts, the bars in Newtown, 50p drinks in Massa and the greatness that is Potterow. One of the things that people always ask me over here is about the castles in the UK.
“So do you live in a castle?”
“Do you go to uni in a castle?”
“Is it like Harry Potter?”
“Do you know Prince William; didn’t he go to uni in Scotland?”
So a fair amount of time was chatting about the amazing architecture in Edinburgh as a whole, buildings like the Law and archaeology departments, but then of course I did mention that we also have structures like the great Appleton tower to dampen the view just slightly. But the Edinburgh castle, Arthur’s seat and general picturesque view of the city seen on the various brochures on our little display table seemed to grip imagination more, thankfully.
As I could only stay for an hour I didn’t get a chance to chat to that many people. What it did make me realise though is how much I am looking forward to getting back into life at Edinburgh. I love it out here but I am so pleased that I’m excited about my last year at Uni back in Scotland. Raving up all the things that characterised my first two years of university life got me thinking about all the things I have to look forward to when I get back in September including those freezing mornings and bitterly cold wind!
