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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (July 3, 2014)
10 in other words july3 2014 Life with a Scottish Accent: My Summer Studying Abroad By Natalie Wallace to go into Stirling and explore a bit both by myself and with Natalie Wallace is a 2012 some friends. Thursday, all graduate of Vernonia High of the International Summer School who is majoring in Bi- School students had a day ology at Western Oregon Uni- trip to St. Andrews, which is versity. Wallace is spending pretty much the birth place of the summer studying abroad golf. At first, I wasn’t too ex- at the University of Stirling cited to go, but once we got in Stirling, Scotland. Wallace there, I wanted to live there. will be sending Vernonia’s It was on the coast, the sun Voice updates throughout the was out (which doesn’t hap- summer about her adventures pen in Scotland, like Oregon), in Scotland. and the town was full of beautiful old build- Ever since high school, ings. The University I have known that a huge goal there is pretty famous of mine is to study abroad. I as well, because both think this probably stemmed Prince William and from the vast amount of ex- Kate Middleton at- change students I have had the tended school there. chance to know in Vernonia While there, we vis- and from hosting some of them ited the castle, the Natalie Wallace with the Wallace Sword. as well. Seeing what a great ex- cathedral, a kilt shop, perience they had made me want to do the same. and even tried haggis nachos (yes, they are ap- Why Scotland, you may ask? Well, if you ask parently world famous), which weren’t too bad my family, it’s because I am determined to find the real as long as you didn’t think too hard about what life Hogwarts (which I am not denying), but for me, you were eating. My day ended sitting on the it’s more than just my obsession with Harry Potter or beach listening to a man play the bagpipes. It Doctor Who. With the last name Wallace, I have always was pretty amazing! heard stories about William Wallace and my ancestors Friday I had two class excursions. The from Scotland. I knew I wanted to study abroad in the first one was a trip to the Daily Record UK, and Scotland seemed like the perfect place to have in Glasgow, which is a tabloid newspa- that experience, while learning more about my family’s per. We got to meet the editor, sit in on history. During my time here, I will be taking classes a meeting, and talk with various other and completing an internship through the University, people, which was pretty interesting so I have a lot to look forward to! even though I am not a journalism ma- My two classes (British Journalism and the jor or minor. The other excursion for Psychology of Evil) have both been going pretty well, the day was the one I was most excited I am enjoying them more than I thought I would since for, a trip to the Wallace National Mon- neither really has to do with my biology major, but it’s ument, which is here in Stirling! We nice to take a break from all of the science. walked from campus to the Monument. I knew that coming to a new country, living, The stairs to the top were very tight going to school, and meeting a bunch of new people and small. There were three different would be difficult, but I was surprised how hard it hit rooms that you could stop in on the me at first. Yet, after meeting some people and catching way to learn more about William Wal- up on sleep, I am feeling better than ever! lace’s history, as well as other famous My first week was an interesting one. I have Scots of the time. One of my favorite classes Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with excur- things was the Wallace Sword, which sions for those classes on Fridays. Since I am taking was taller than I am! It was amazing to only two classes, I have a lot of free time, which I used learn so much about someone I share a last name with (and am probably related to). Once we made it to the top, it was breathtaking. You could see Visit US today for for miles; it was beautiful. I was talking to a Scottish all your financial needs! woman who said she had been to the Monument mul- tiple times, but this was the first time it had ever been Josh, Teresa, Margy Josh, Juli, Juli, Teresa, Margy & Davia sunny. I felt lucky to have such great weather because 905 Street 905 Bridge Bridge Street the views were fantastic! (503) (503) 429-6271 429-6271 If all of that traveling and walking wasn’t enough, on Saturday a group of other students and I de- cided to walk up the hill (which is an understatement) usbank.com Haggis nachos A bagpiper on the beach at St. Andrews. The view from Dumyat. behind campus called Dumyat. We walked up beauti- ful green hills through sheep pastures to get to the top. Even though it was steep and exhausting, it was worth it for the views. At the top was a beacon that was full of stones which represent the wishes of everyone who had completed the hike. Apparently the beacon was placed there in 1977 as part of the Queen’s jubilee. All of the walking, climbing and hiking this first week has left me both exhilarated and exhausted. I can’t wait to see what the rest of my time in Scotland will bring! Member FDIC WELLER & SON’S 503.429.7408 STEVE HM: 503-429-3400 CELL: 503-313-9006 59229 Nehalem Hwy. 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