I Have Arrived!

Hello blog followers!
I am in Scotland! So far it has been extremely rainy and freezing. But there's gorgeous countryside to look at, and we've been busy. I've been to a rugby match, which was everything you'd imagine it would be, haha. I've done a tour of the site today, which was awesome. And we hiked in the nature reserve, Dr. Shefveland and I. It. is. BEAUTIFUL! I love it! If only the weather were nicer. But I did take tons of pictures and I will try to put them up soon. The internet here is a bit dodgy; I have to walk to the hotel next door to use the wi-fi at the moment. Also, pay-as-you-go phones here SUCK. Ugh they're more trouble than they're worth, and there's no reception anyhow. But at least there's wi-fi and thank goodness for Skype. All is well though, and I'm excited to start work tomorrow! I shall blog about that when I can. Take care all! Stay tuned for pictures! --Catherine

19 Hours!

Hello!
Here is my 19 hour post. Nineteen hours until I leave! I'm excited! I'm packed and ready. Can't believe it's already here. I'm super excited to make some videos tomorrow and see some new airports/people/places! Stay tuned!

P.S. Here's a picture of my readiness! (And my new kindle for the trip!)

72 hour countdown!

Oh my. Three days until I leave for Scotland. THREE DAYS!!!! I'm so excited! I'm already packed, aside from what I'm still using everyday. Note to all those taking long term trips, your clothes will NOT all fit in a carry on size suitcase. Don't bother. Trust me. No matter how well you think you pack, there are just too many "what-ifs" that you begin to ask yourself. What if it's hot, what if it's freezing, what if I need nice clothes to wear, etc etc. Just pack in your normal sized suitcase, and be done with it. Aside from that, I'm starting to feel a bit nervous along with the excitement. I'll be gone for 6 weeks to a foreign country, basically on my own. However, that's the adventure part of it! It's the unknown that makes it exciting! My mother always told me, "Do it afraid." So here I go. At 21, going to Scotland for 6 weeks, and I'm nervous but I'm doing it because I know how much this will change my life. I will be much more worldly, and I hope I will not only gain field/career experience, but also life experience that I can pass on to everyone. This will be the highlight of my college career (aside from graduating from grad school after what will probably seem like an eternity, haha) and I can't wait to go on this adventure! It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in the apartment with my wonderful boyfriend saying "Babe, look at this internship. Can you believe it's all-expenses paid?? And it goes to Scotland!" It was funny because I had just been telling him how someday I'd like to go there, because that's where my ancestors hail from, and then this internship just fell into my lap. His response was "Apply for it. You'd be nuts not to, and you'd be the perfect fit." Yeah right, I thought. I thought so many people are going to apply for this, I don't stand a chance. I thought who wouldn't try for this? It's such a great opportunity. But most of all I thought, I'm sure there's someone older, better, and that has more experience than me, who I'm sure they'll find to be better-suited for this than me. However, as I sat there looking at the .pdf file of the flyer, I began to get more and more curious and excited. The next day I called my cell-phone company to see if my phone would work there, and I had already started looking at what's over there, and looking up Scottish etiquette so I would know my manners. I wanted this so bad, and I decided that I was going to fight hard for this. It said you got to choose a faculty mentor, and the first person I thought of was my professor, Dr. Kristalyn Shefveland. I could not and still cannot, think of a better person to be doing this with than her. We get along so great, and she's so knowledgeable and passionate about her field, and I can only hope that my passion comes across like hers does. She has helped me tremendously in getting ready for this, and when I told her about this opportunity, she was on board immediately. She will no doubt be my greatest advantage when it comes to this undertaking. I'm so thankful she agreed to come along with me, and I'll forever be in her debt. Now we are three days away and I couldn't be more thrilled! This will be the adventure of a lifetime. Stay tuned for videos. I will try to take some at all the airports we visit (i.e. Indianapolis, Chicago, London, and Glasgow) just so you can see where I am and how our surroundings change between the US and Europe. Personally, I can't wait to have some Chicago pizza! (if I have time)! See you Thursday!
---Catherine

London!

Hello lovely blog-followers.
I'm in the library, it's finals week, and there are 11 days separating me and my Scotland Adventure. Clearly, I am not at all focused on finals. My professor, who is accompanying me to New Lanark for 10 days to help with the public search room project, is also going to London with me on May 17th. She messaged me via Facebook today to let me know that flights and hotels have been booked for our day trip to London and side trip to Glasgow. I am EXTREMELY excited. We plan to visit the British Museum, so expect to see tons upon tons of pictures from that, as well as some pictures from whatever other site we visit. Personally, I'm hoping for the Tower of London. I am DYING to see where Anne Boleyn was beheaded, and possibly see where she's buried. As well, I want to stand where the great Henry VIII once stood, to be in the presence of a greatness that is so absolute and that was such a catalyst for change. Needless to say, I'm excited, if you can't tell. Stay tuned my lovelies. Okay. Back to reality, and unfortunately, finals. 11 days people. Eleven days.

Thirteen days

There are only 13 days until I leave for Scotland. Why am I going to Scotland? Well. I was lucky. And people must like me. I was awarded an all-expenses paid six-week long internship to New Lanark, Scotland, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. (www.newlanark.org) I will be helping to create a public search room for their collections. My God. A dream come true for me. Truly. The idea that I will be working at a WORLD HERITAGE SITE, being a history/anthropology major with aspirations of being a historical archaeologist, still blows my mind and I was told the news two months ago. I can honestly say that had it not been for my wonderful boyfriend who told me I'd be nuts not to apply for the internship, I don't know that I would have had the courage on my own. But now here I am. A mere 13 days away. Thirteen. I can't believe it. For the past two months, everything has seemed sublimely dull in comparison to this impending adventure I'll be going on. It's been torture. Really. I'm DYING of anticipation. I started researching Scotland before I'd even APPLIED for the internship. That's how much I want to go. I am even excited to pack! Packing means the time is close, usually for me the night before, and I will pack like I have never packed before! SO excited. Can't even describe how excited I am. Thirteen days people. THIRTEEN. I will be blogging throughout my entire trip about everything I am doing and all the awesome places I visit. Stay tuned.