holla, scotland

reasons why scotland is bomb

1. really, really beautiful
2. amazing architecture
3. i am in LOVE with every single accent here
4. delicious cheap panini sandwhiches (like, 2 quid)
5. (mostly) excellent pomona people
6. so far pretty excellent weather, as in hasn't really rained, i've seen the sun a few times, and i only need a light jacket
7. pubs are delightful
8. really cool vintage shops (haha, i finally got a coat)
9. amazing places to see
10. just being in europe, and knowing i can go anywhere

reasons scotland is lame

1. mad expensive: everything costs the same, but pounds are uh, TWICE a dollar. what the hell, american economy. stop ruining my life.
2. knowing that this weather is considered really great, and it's only going to get worse
3. that awkward little thing called 'anti-americanism'
4. right now there are only weird french teens and grownups for conferences at uni, so thats kind of awk
5. classes technically don't start until sept 14, but we started class today because pomona thinks that we wont be challenged enough, or whatever.
   
6. the fact that i didn't get internet until TODAY. as in one week after i got here basically.
7. random stuff is really expensive, like hangars and water.
8. after my first choice for my sociology course got canceled, i get here and they cancel my second choice. so i'm kind of screwed right now, but hopefully the director will sort it out tomorrow.
9. water pressure in general is awful
10. my mattress is lumpy?

ok well i wanted to give a list of ten for pros and cons, but in all honesty there are far more pros and they totally outweigh the cons. like, yesterday, we went to leith walked around anstruther and ate at this super famous/delicious fish and chips place, and then walked this hike up the coast to crail, which is so beautiful. well all of it was so beautiful. and people are so friendly and just start talking to you everywhere you go. then we went to st. andrews which i'm definitely going back to because we only got an hour and my camera died and it's just so incredibly beautiful there. i did get some good pictures of the cathedral and castle ruins though.

other than that, it's just been a lot of walking around edinburgh and trying to get acclimated to the city and how to get places, and buying everything i didn't bring, which was everything. i think i'm done with essentials now though, i just need to get some more warm clothing, but i have some time before that's necessary. i think some of us are going to try to go to amsterdam before classes start, which would be so tight. and we're talking about oktoberfest, and when's best to go. basically, everything here is just so much more beautiful, but then you pay for it with prices, so i guess it evens out? something random: so mercedes benzes are everywhere, but they're like, the dumpster truck, the taxi, the shuttle, etc. it's hilarious. i've seen only a few 'nice' benzes. i've only seen one american car (ford), but a ton of hondas, acuras, vw, jags, etc. edi had its own version of 4th of july last night, where they have an orchestra and set off fireworks at the castle, and everyone in the country comes out for it as it marks the end of the festival. it was funny, because they had an 'american' theme for the music this year, and one of the announcers was like, oh, i hope that american music goes well with fireworks. back to you dingo dave. haha, i LOVE scottish people. also, i was at this pub/club a couple nights ago called frankensteins, and it is amazing. first of all, on mondays and wednesdays its a rocky horror theme, but also, they only play like, early 90s music, so i heard a lot of like, hanson, backstreet boys, etc. i was obviously really pleased. ok, to end it, scotland has SUUCH tight history, and it's amazing being in a place with buildings from like, the 16th century and whatnot, and i think i want to stay here forever, or move back.

cheers!! and i love you all and i miss everyone very much and life was hard without internet but yes i have it now so plz skype me (just search kristin.fukushima@pomona.edu), im me (fookaroo8), or email me at above address. love!!!