And the semester begins...officially

What better way to start the semester than with a party, or to be more precise and more Scottish—a ceilidh? Classes started on Monday morning, but Sunday night Dalkeith House hosted a ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee). The ceilidh reminds me of a square dance with an accordion. A lovely woman named Annabelle was the caller, explaining and demonstrating the dance steps. One interesting dance utilized groups of three instead of the more common couple or group of four. Even though we did not do-si-do in any of the dances, lots fun was had by sweaty students, faculty, staff, and family alike. Some students enjoyed the ceilidh so much that they went to a local one a few days later with the dance teacher.

Karla Zhe, the dance teacher, spinning with Dutch Shultz in the center

My family decided to celebrate the day before the first day of classes with a hike up Arthur’s Seat. This crag of 350 million year old volcanic rock (makes me feel infinitesimally small) rises over 800 feet above sea level. The panoramic views are spectacular! So was the wind on the day we hiked up it. Honestly, I was worried that the kids would get blown off the top – or me with my coordination. Seryahna and Djanko were troopers, insisting that we go up the steep way and asking to go back up Arthur’s Seat just a few days later. 

Beginning to climb Arthur's Seat

A really windy day on Arthur's Seat

The view

Looking down the mountain

Seryahna and Djanko waiting on the rocks

The views

Almost blown away on top of Arthur's Seat

As we trekked down, we viewed the ruins of St. Anthony’s Chapel, which dates back at least to the 15^th century. Possibly more spectacular to me, though, was St. Margaret’s Loch. The little pond itself was nothing extraordinary, but the 50+ mute swans were quite incredible. I have not seen that many swans in one place before, so I was amazed to see such a large game of swans. Yes, game is one of the terms for a group of swans. Another term is bevy. We also saw graylag geese and tufted ducks. The tufted ducks look like they have little ponytails. 

Mute swan

Greylag goose

A bevy of swans

Tufted duck

The kids helped me on a trial run of measuring the trees

Old oaks that students will measure

Okay, okay, okay…after all of these adventures, I was ready to start classes. I even heard students say that they were ready to start classes, too. I am teaching Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence, and Behavioral Statistics. The students in each of these classes seem motivated. I am excited about utilizing the rich cultural and societal experiences to further learning. For example, I am working on some field trips to Edinburgh College and to the National Museum, and statistics students will gather their own data in the old oaks on the grounds.  

Another beautiful old oak

Students & my kids waiting for the bus

Waiting for the bus with the castle in the background

Almost the whole of the house took a field trip this past Friday to Cramond Island, a sometimes island west of Edinburgh. Cramond Island lies in the Firth of Forth (the narrow inlet of the North Sea where Edinburgh sits). About 40 of us piled onto public buses and made our way to the village of Cramond. From there, we walked across a bridge that was less than a mile long. We had to go at low tide because the island is exactly that, an island, when the tide is high. There are many stories of people getting stuck on the island until the low tide or of trying to make it across the bridge as the tide rushes in and requiring rescue services. There are old abandoned buildings, loads of trails, an unbelievable amount of trash and broken glass, excellent beaches, and reminders of ancestors from unfathomable times ago. Cramond Island boasts some of the first evidence of humans in Scotland – hazelnut shells dating from 8500 years ago (“Cramond Island,” 2010-2014). More recent evidence of human use can be found in the crumbling remains of a farmstead from the 1800s and military buildings and structures used for defense during World Wars I and II. All of us on the field trip enjoyed beautiful weather for trekking around the island. For more on Cramond Island, see http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/edinburgh/cramondisland/. 

The walk out to Cramond Island

Cramond Island

Cramond Island

View of Inchmickery Island

The family on Cramond Island

Djanko & Seryahna with friends Vince & Renae on the beach

 Some of you may have seen in the news that areas of Great Britain have been flooding. So far, we have been lucky. Areas of southern England have experienced massive flooding, but Scotland has had less rain than average. Of course, it is hard for me to tell when we do have rain almost every day. However, we may be in for a taste of the big rains when we head south to London this weekend.   

Feeling disoriented? Time for orientation...

At last, more bodies in the Dalkeith Palace. (That means it is a little bit warmer.) The rest of the faculty arrived on Wednesday, 22 January. I feel quite lucky to be teaching with a great group with broad interests and specialties. Teaching with me are professors in engineering, dance, and oral communications (Mike Momot, Karla Zhe, and Mike Wartman). This week I will meet the Scottish professors who will also be teaching in the program.    

 

Dutch Shultz and me approaching Edinburgh Castle

Okhan (intern), Lauren (student), and Trevor (Assistant Director)

The Experience Scotland program strives to provide support for all participants, including faculty. Our orientation included information not only on academic policies and our duties but also a bus tour of Edinburgh. The Resident Director, Patty Waters, has a strong background in student development, local resources, and the program, so she is a great resource for faculty as we all face the invigorating challenge of planning a semester of cultural activities that are appropriate for our course outcomes. Students and faculty alike are also assisted by the Academic Director, Sherri Johnson, Assistant Resident Director, Trevor, and program intern, Okhan. 

The students began arriving on Tuesday, 28 January. From Thursday through today (Sunday), they have had full schedules with their own orientation. They have attended informational sessions on the rules of the program, kitchen safety and hygiene, Scottish culture, traveling around safely, time management…pretty much anything that will help them be successful in the program and have a good time. 

One skill-building activity that was enjoyed by all was a visit to the Edinburgh Castle. Faculty, staff, and students piled onto various public busses, and we made our way into Edinburgh. We walked up the Royal Mile and to the castle. Edinburgh Castle sits atop an extinct volcano. That is enough to wow me. However, the breadth of history that the castle has seen is mind-boggling.

Castle in the background

Look at that volcanic rock!

Part of the Edinburgh Castle

Legend has it that the original structure on Castle Rock, as the extinct volcano is known, was known as “The Castle of the Maidens” (Edinburgh Castle, n.d.). One of the nine maidens to whom it was dedicated was Morgan le Fay. The castle as we know it now was built in the 12^th century. The castle’s strategic placement overlooking Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth, and the surrounding areas has been key in its role as a military base and as a royal residence. Of course it has been involved in battles and sieges with control of the castle being integral for victory. The castle was rebuilt in 1578, the last Scottish king to live in the castle was Charles I in 1633, and part of the castle was turned into the Scottish National War Memorial in 1927. Of course, there is much more to tell, and if you are interested in the castle, check out http://www.edinburghcastle.co.uk/history/ or http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/. 

Djanko in the wind.

Seryahna and some huge, heavy cannonballs.

Now that's a fireplace! This was in the set of chambers that was redecorated for King James VI of Scotland when he came to revisit his birthplace in 1617.

The Great Hall

The Great Hall

The Great Hall

One of my favorite parts of the castle was not the Scottish Royal Jewels, which had been locked away in a box for years until Sir Walter Scott was given the key to open it. Next to the Scottish Royal Jewels is a big chunk of sandstone, not very interesting to view. However, its history is fascinating. The Stone of Destiny is also known as the Stone of Scone or the Coronation Stone. Various legends give the stone different origins: the promised land, Scotland, or Ireland (“The Stone of Destiny,” 2014). The stone was used for the coronation of Scottish monarchs prior to 1296 when it was captured by England’s Edward I and spirited away to Westminster Abbey in London. There it was placed under the coronation chair for English and later British kings and queens. Excitement erupted when the stone was stolen by three young men and one woman from the Westminster Abbey on Christmas in 1950. They did return the stone, but in 1996 the Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland. Now it sits behind glass in the same display as the Scottish Royal Jewels. For more, see http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/about/arts-culture/uniquely-scottish/stone-destiny, watch the movie, Stone of Destiny, or read the book of the same name by one of the young men who swiped the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey, Ian Hamilton.

Image from http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandshistory/warsofindependence/stoneofscone/index.asp. You can't take pictures of the Scottish Royal Jewels or the Stone of Destiny.

Djanko and Seryahna at the National Museum before the incident.

Although Edinburgh Castle was fascinating, the most memorable adventure for my family was our first encounter with the National Health Service for Scotland. Earlier in the week Ahmyn, Seryahna, and Djanko had gone to the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh to meet up with a homeschool group. All was going well until they actually started going around to see the exhibits. Within the first five minutes, Djanko bashed his head on a corner of one of the explanations of the displays. Blood gushed, tears were shed, and Ahmyn knew that he would have to take Djanko to the hospital. The museum provided a taxi free of charge. Djanko went to the A and E, Accidents and Emergency, of the Royal Infirmary. There was some concern that they would have to send him to “Sick Kids,” or the Royal Hospital for Sick Children. Fortunately, they were able to glue Djanko back together. By the time I reached the Royal Infirmary, Ahmyn, Seryahna, and Djanko were waiting for me on the curb. In all, they estimated his time in the A and E at about 20 minutes. Not too shabby. For those of you who know Djanko may remember that this is not Djanko’s first trip from a museum to the emergency room. Yes, he has done almost this same thing about 2 ½ years ago while visiting the Children’s Museum in Madison, Wisconsin. I think that he may have to start wearing a helmet when he visits museums.  

We hope that we won’t have to visit the hospital again on this trip. The next adventure should be just as exciting but without the blood and the tears. Classes start on Monday, and students and faculty are ready to dive into the semester.