Have you SEEN our SHEEP?!

When I lived in New York, there were all these tours you could go on to see all the different places in the city that various television shows and movies shot scenes. I've started thinking about maybe trying to do the same in Scotland. How fun would that be?! I can say things like, "Mel Gibson stood right here and screamed!! How cool is that?! Hey Mel!" Or, better yet, I could gather all my groupmates together and we could re-enact those scenes in the very spot they were originally formed. Oh, Lord, I have just reached a new level of excitement. Get hyped. It's all going down.

Research: begun!

On the Bonny Bonny banks of Loch Lomond

I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with the folk song referenced in the title, but if you aren't then it is likely that you did not have a childhood. I pity you. I think that song may have been my first real connection with the Scots. I must say, though, it always pissed me off that I had to take the low road. Mama always said it's best to take the high road. Singing this song makes me feel like a scoundrel.

Actually, that's not true. I actually don't have anything to post today, but I was in a blog-posting sort of mood and it's good to get in the habit, so I thought I would share my stunning visual representation of my new favorite mythological creature, The Lochness Monster.



So, there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. I am so excited about finally having an opportunity to come face to face with a real-life, imaginary monster. I can only hope that I may also run into Big Foot and the Easter Bunny this summer as well. One can only dream.

xoxo
Haylezzz

And I Would Walk 500 miles

Are you aware that The Proclaimers are from Scotland?! Glasgow, to be precise. That is 10 bonus points for Scotland right there. Unfortunately, they are not playing Edinburgh until July so there's not any chance for me to see them live, but it's still very cool.

It's almost the end of the semester, and I am in list-making mode. In following with the list-making tradition of the week, I have made a list of things I want to see while journeying through Scotland. They are (in Extremely particular order):

• The Lochness Monster
• Ewan McGregor
• Sean Connery
• A Scottie Dog (I am aware that I can see one of these in the States, but it will be so exciting to see a literal one!)
• Kilts. Lots and lots of kilts.
• Bagpipes
• Gerard Butler

And most importantly:

• Man-sized tissues. (Jenn, you have really given me so much to look forward to!)

So, there you have it. I get more excited by the day!
xoxoxoxo
Haylezzzz

When you read, you begin with "A-B-C"

When you blog, you begin with an "About Me." That is how the song goes, isn't it?

I'm Hayley and this is my Scottie-Blog. I'm travelling to Scotland in June with CCSA and Dr. Rushing, my Communications professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. I'm a Communications major and I'll be learning to use my Communications techniques while abroad. This blog will be my mouthpiece to the world or, you know, the few people who may actually be interested in the goings on of my trip. (You know who you are, Mom.) Honestly, though, I'm counting on having a remarkable experience and I certainly won't want to forget it, so this blog will be a tool for me to remember my own stories as well as keeping in touch with my darlings here in the States.

Why am I starting this in April, you may ask. Well, because Dr. Rushing said so. Well, that's only half true. I think it's a good idea to record all my anticipatory emotions and the road leading up to the big day(s). Aren't you excited?! This means you have two whole months to read my pointless musings on the stress of making money and writing a project proposal and training for walking up hills. It's really going to be a blast.

To officially kick this thing off, I'll express my excitement about the coming months. Last night was our orientation meeting with Hugh Prevost, Dr. Rushing and his "dear wife", Dr. Bender. It probably kicked my excitement into high gear. There is so much to get done and consider before leaving for this trip, though. I found out that I'm going to have to sell my body to science or something to pay for all of this as I will be out about eleventy ba-Zillion dollars, but so it goes. Like my darling friend Jenn said, an experience like this is worth a little debt. (I may be paraphrasing there, but I'm sure the sentiment is correct.)

So, in conclusion, I am incredibly excited about this trip and as the days and weeks draw to a close and Scotland draws near, I'll probably be bursting at the seams. It may be best to keep a good five feet away at all times, really.

I love you like a fat kid loves cake. (and I DO love cake!)
xoxo
Hayley