Said goodbye today...

[bloogrssgrl]

I'm equal parts and .

My 18yo DD is on a plane that is just about starting to head over the Atlantic at this moment. She is on her way to spend the fall semester of her college freshman year at Stirling University in Scotland. She will be in London for two weeks and then off to Stirling.

I'm so excited for her.

I'm trying to talk her into goint to see The Waterboys (anyone recognize that musical group?) if they are playing while she is there. I doubt I'll ever make it to Scotland to see them so I have to live vicariously through her. Anyone ever been to Scotland? Anything particularly cool I should tell her to see?

[AngieM2]

Wow, how did she get to go to college in Scotland? What an adventure!

Angie

[cider]

Wow! Freshman first semester in Scotland. That's a big deal. You're a good mom to let her go.
My 2 DD's went to Scotland a year ago on a school trip. They loved it.

[mrpink]

I lived in Thurso Scotland for two years. I agree with rose2005 see the country side, go to the highlands and just enjoy the beauty. I would say the Edinburgh castle is a must see, the military tattoo at the Edinburgh castle.got to Thurso and take a boat to the Orkney's, must go to one of the highland games. must have a bar lunch at different pubs. geesh there's so much to do with all the castle's and history in Scotland. when I was there ('90-'92) the trains were cheap transportation to get anywhere in the mainland of the uk. I think she will enjoy it very much, I know I have tons of very fond memories from my time there. to this day I still go to you tube to listen to the Corries. I have yet to find a decent snooker table in the USA.

greg

[CIW]

Make sure she takes in a livestock herding trial while there.
Bring back at least 1 Border Collie. The British Isles were where they originated.
A down line of Wiston Cap is a good line to get.
I've imported several from both Scotland and Wales. They seem to have a style that is just a little different than the domestics.
If you bring back small pups they don't cost alot to get over here. You can put 2 in a small dog box. The disease control requirements are so high over there, that they can come to the states really easily without any quarentine time.

[Selena]

Originally Posted by rose2005

Oh yes, the Orkney Isles are a must. My friends (Orkadians) were born there. Lost of history from Stone Age to the Picts and Vikings. She must go and see castles, crofts, and even see how whisky is made!

Not to forget a good Haggis supper!

Hope she has a wonderful experience. Folk are very friendly.

Rose

Seriously I hope you're suggesting she only watch it being prepared!!

[3ravens]

The Edinburgh Festival if she's there at the right time, especially the Fringe. Some strange stuff sometimes, but lots of good cutting edge music. That's why it's the Fringe, right?
Definite second on the Waterboys, ot Mary Black if she's still performing, or any of the Fishers, or any group with Kate Rusby, or.......
Will she be there for Hogmanay?

[bloogrssgrl]

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone! I am going to put them all together in an email to her.

The plane landed safely and, I am guessing, they are getting settled in at the dorms in London for now.

Angie, the university she is going to in the US is very big on studying abroad. If a student doesn't opt to study abroad for the fall or spring semester, they go over to Europe for spring break. I think it's an amazing program and I told her to take advantage of it as much as she can. She apparently can study in other countries as long as the course of programs fits in with the credits she would need to graduate on time. The best thing is that the tuition is the same as if she were still at the school in the states.

3ravens, our musical tastes are pretty similar! I love Kate Rusby. What an angelic voice. I had to look up Hogmanay. No, she will be coming home December 20th. I checked on the Edinburgh Festival and it apprears that it is going on now until the end of August. I don't know if she will be able to make it there as the first couple days of their stay is full of orientation programs and some tours. But that festival looks amazing.

Thanks again for the list of things to see!

[MarleneS]

Thanks for sharing your and your daughter's adventure with us -- it's inspiring to say the least.

I was just over reading the thread about the Jr. High student who's mother helped her die her hair pink - even after been warned about not going beyond the streaks she had prior to going "pink"....and I'm thinking I bet bloogrssgrl and her daughter are the other end of the spectum.

Hugs,
Marlene

[bloogrssgrl]

Originally Posted by MarleneS

Thanks for sharing your and your daughter's adventure with us -- it's inspiring to say the least.

I was just over reading the thread about the Jr. High student who's mother helped her die her hair pink - even after been warned about not going beyond the streaks she had prior to going "pink"....and I'm thinking I bet bloogrssgrl and her daughter are the other end of the spectum.

Hugs,
Marlene

Marlene, I just got done reading that thread too. The funny thing is, my DD was one to push the limits of the dress code. Her public HS put a uniform policy in place when she was going in to her junior year. Talk about a tough transition! I wish I had pictures of some of the things she used to wear to school! Nothing revealing - more in the opposite direction. She loved to wear can-can petticots (over leggins or shorts, of course) as skirts. I don't know how she fit them through the doorways!

What a kid. My policy with it was this: You know the rule. You can try to change it or break it. You break it, you suffer the consequences.

She was a straight A student who also did her fair share of time in detention - some from dress code infractions, some for being tardy. I figured this is all part of finding her way into the adult world. I just tried to keep in mind she was a really good kid that was just testing her boundaries.