Long-Overdue Update

I'm still so in love with this city! I feel in touch with the Cinderella-like part of my psyche with the castle so close and yet so far away- I instintively know where it is from all points of the city and everytime I look up at it I can hardly believe that I'm living so close to a REAL castle! I haven't made it inside yet, but unlike Cinderella, I'm perfectly content to just look at it while walking by for now. The other day I crossed the bridge from "Old Town" Edinburgh (the part of the city built close to the castle and just downhill from its fortress) to "New Town" Edinburgh (the part of the city built in the 1800's to count overpopulation in the old town) and on one side of the bridge was the sunset behind the castle at the top of the hill, while on the other side was the moon rising over the hills surrounding the city. I couldn't decide which way to look and which one to take a picture of, so I had nothing else to do but hurry on to my job interview. I got the job, so maybe it was good luck.

Besides being beautiful, Edinburgh is quite an international city. I am called 'mate' by the Aussies living in the hostel and 'lass' by the Scots who visit the bar downstairs. I work with a Hungarian, an Italian who also speaks german and french as well as english, a Pole (is that the noun for Polish people?) and a Portuguese man. Oh, and a few are actually from Scotland. It feels very global but sadly not very Scottish at all. Although when one older couple I was serving asked where I was from, I managed to convince them to go to Charleston becaue of the "blamy weather, rainbow row, beaches, old buildings, and good seafood." And I met a family from Minnesota (or Michigan was it?) while working at the bar last night.

I had a humorous and yet another global experience walking home from work at 1 am last night. The night-lifers were out in full force so I saw young girls scantily clad (in this cold!) with their jacketed boyfriends clipping along in their high-heeled boots. Couples young and old swapping kisses and not trying to be discreet about it while exiting the bar, waiting for the bus, or simply unable to stop the urge while walking down the street. A slightly angry-looking but very determined young drunk man stumble-stepped his way down the hill as I hiked up it, and another one flew past me with one hand down his pants and his dick all but out as he rushed for the corner. A hippie with a hat that looked erily like the sorting hat passed by, and a bridal party complete with bunny-ears and devil horns with tails and shirts with titles like "the naughty girl", "mother of the bride", and "sister of the bride" supported each other as they continued on their celebratory way. I also had a run in with some Frenchmen that I would like to relate like so:

Characters: Me. HFGA (hot french guy A) HFGB (hot french guy B. who is actualy not as hot and much more drunk than A)

Scene: Me walking home from work enjoying the characters walking past, passes a large group of loud young men.

HFGB:(sticking out his hand) Hi! Pleased to meet you. says something in french.

Me: (shaking his hand) Um, I don't speak...

HFGA: something else in french

Me: I'm not French.

HFGA: Oh you are American?

Me: Yes!

HFGA: I speak American fluently!!

Me: hahaha

HFGB: Oh Ameeeeeeeeerican. I speak American too. I'm at burrrrrger King. You want a burrrrger?

Me: You want fries with that shake?

HFGA: She is really American! But it looks like we need to catch up with our friends. I am Dominic. Nice to meet you. ( kissing my hand) I giggle.

Me: Nice to meet you as well, Dominic.

HFGB:(kissing my hand then then up my arm. I laugh.) Its so nice to meet you.

Dominic: (taking my hand again and twirling me around.) We must go, have a wonderful night!

Me: You too!

Isn't it just wonderful the kinds of people you meet when you go abroad? I highly encourage it. :o)