Scotland Week 6
- Sarah Garfield
- Apr 19
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 22
Research Reflection:
Similar to last week, I continued to chug away at the data. I also finished the latent class analysis of the early maladaptive schemas. Dr. Mahoney and I discussed visiting a women’s prison in Stirling later next week. While the initial analyses were done, it was finally time to dig more into the specific latent group effects based on their individual classifications.
Song of the Week: Old Friends by Simon & Garfunkel
The sounds of the city sifting through trees
Settle like dust on the shoulders of the old friends
Cultural Reflection:
CJ’s breakfast. What a place. The only place in Edinburgh for a £7 full Scottish breakfast. It is my go-to place whenever anyone visits me in town. The owner knows me as the girl who carries around an Elvis spoon (that’s a story for later). Through this random example, I continued to learn how the communities in Edinburgh brim with passion and energy. I energetically made my way to the Apple Store at least twice this week, and left with not passion, but pure anger. The Apple Store has become my personal purgatory. Despite this, my friend Martine from my internship last summer came to visit me this week in Edinburgh from Chicago. Even with no phone, we had packed days between my scheduled research.
Some highlights from this week include almost getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, Kelty, Scotland; however, it was all worth it when we brushed Highland Coos (the cutest and fluffiest animals literally ever argue with the wall). We also visited Rosslyn Chapel, where the Da Vinci Code was filmed, and the Real Mary King’s Close, an underground city underneath Edinburgh.
While this week was jam-packed, one of my friends made an interesting observation at a dinner party. One of my old flatmates came to visit with her boyfriend, so I decided to cook eggplant parmesan and a salad for everyone, and then host a game night after. He mentioned that our group was akin to the reality show Come Dine with Me, where strangers have to host a dinner party for each other and rate their performance. Most parties in this show turn into a complete dumpster fire, but he mentioned that our dinner party should be the model, or if this show was actually successful. I knew what he was getting at, and even through the language barriers and cultural differences of our group, the energy and bond of the room were palpable. Six (almost-ish) strangers could successfully share a meal and create long-lasting memories. It may seem obvious, but the most memorable connections are found in the most unexpected of places. You just need to welcome them in with open arms.
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