I am all moved in and starting Fresher’s Week!  It’s a really exciting time and I am looking forward to meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.

A few days ago, my dad and I went to the John Lewis store to purchase all my bedding, towels, etc.  I had to buy all new electronics (outlets are different).  Luckily, Edinburgh has a wonderful city cab system and we were able to load all the bags into the cab and take them back to our flat.

The next morning, the dorms opened for check in at 9 AM.  It took us five trips to get all the luggage and new bags down from the flat to the street – but we did it!  From there, a cab took us to Pollock Halls (the catered student housing).  Students here can choose between catered and self-catered, most first years live in Pollock and then find flats around the city in years two, three, and four.

I am living in the Arthur’s Seat building, which as I have posted before is at the edge of the extinct volcano and Holyrood Park.  And apparently, the University takes the myth of Arthur’s Seat literally – there is a throne carved out of a large block of stone outside of my dorm…¯\_(ツ)_/¯

My room is fairly big and it does have an en-suite bathroom.  Here are some pictures:

    (Surprisingly many of the dorms here are singles and have bathrooms.  Most Scottish universities actually do have have students room together.  Much of the social aspect of the house takes place in the common rooms and dining hall.)

The view outside of my window is pretty good.  I have a decent view of the Craigs and if I lean out my window I can see the tip of the Walter Scott Monument on Princes Street.  The castle is just around the other side of the building, so if I wanted to see it from my window I would have to fall out.

Cheers from Edinburgh!