ok, this is an e-mail from august 18. since then i have moved into school and am trying to get everything organized and back to normal again, whatever that is. here's the rest of my european adventure:
Subject: sweet home chicago
Hey kids,I'm back at home, to leave shortly for senior year in Ann Arbor. Woohoo!While I missed people and can't wait to see everyone, the summer rocked and Igot to see and do the craziest cool things.Since I last wrote, I spent a long weekend in Scotland. Edinburgh blew me away. It's an old medieval city based around a castle up on a hill in the center. But at night it's all lit up and gorgeous and crazy clubbing. We met two guys from California the first night, who invited us to an art gallery opening the second night. Free wine and conversation with the upper crust at the University of Edinburgh made me feel very much not like a tourist and I loved it. The next night in Stirling, we stayed in the Willy Wallace hostel, where Braveheart plays 24 hours a day and has actually been made into a drinking game by the staff there. Took off from there for a day in the Trossachs, the base of the Scottish Highlands, and spent a day climbing around. The second night back in Stirling, we were chilling on a bench and got recruited to an apartment party where I met a bunch of Scottish people and talked about music while sipping their Budweiser of all things. Slept in the Glasgow airport then back to Dublin for class a few hours after we landed. Many more action-packed days and nights in Dublin, where I started to really feel at home, giving directions and running around almost like a real resident. Then intense studying at the end for 6 two hour essay exams in two days. Whew. Next I was whisked away by my visiting Mom and family friend/Dublin native-Brona. We traveled some of the most beautiful spots of Ireland, eating amazing food and staying in lovely hotels that couldn't have been any more different from my former hostel stays if they tried. We had a very classy whirlwind tour and ended up back at Brona's sister's house for a really great family gathering. Now I'm back and trying to get things together for school. I will miss the people and places overseas but am giddy to get back to everything here, too. Hope all is well and I would love to hear how everyone is doing. Can't wait to see most of you soon and the others hopefully before too long! Thanks for reading all my stuff this summer. It was nice to hear your updates and stay in touch from far away. Remember that Guinness is good for you. Love all,Kristin
Subject: sweet home chicago
Hey kids,I'm back at home, to leave shortly for senior year in Ann Arbor. Woohoo!While I missed people and can't wait to see everyone, the summer rocked and Igot to see and do the craziest cool things.Since I last wrote, I spent a long weekend in Scotland. Edinburgh blew me away. It's an old medieval city based around a castle up on a hill in the center. But at night it's all lit up and gorgeous and crazy clubbing. We met two guys from California the first night, who invited us to an art gallery opening the second night. Free wine and conversation with the upper crust at the University of Edinburgh made me feel very much not like a tourist and I loved it. The next night in Stirling, we stayed in the Willy Wallace hostel, where Braveheart plays 24 hours a day and has actually been made into a drinking game by the staff there. Took off from there for a day in the Trossachs, the base of the Scottish Highlands, and spent a day climbing around. The second night back in Stirling, we were chilling on a bench and got recruited to an apartment party where I met a bunch of Scottish people and talked about music while sipping their Budweiser of all things. Slept in the Glasgow airport then back to Dublin for class a few hours after we landed. Many more action-packed days and nights in Dublin, where I started to really feel at home, giving directions and running around almost like a real resident. Then intense studying at the end for 6 two hour essay exams in two days. Whew. Next I was whisked away by my visiting Mom and family friend/Dublin native-Brona. We traveled some of the most beautiful spots of Ireland, eating amazing food and staying in lovely hotels that couldn't have been any more different from my former hostel stays if they tried. We had a very classy whirlwind tour and ended up back at Brona's sister's house for a really great family gathering. Now I'm back and trying to get things together for school. I will miss the people and places overseas but am giddy to get back to everything here, too. Hope all is well and I would love to hear how everyone is doing. Can't wait to see most of you soon and the others hopefully before too long! Thanks for reading all my stuff this summer. It was nice to hear your updates and stay in touch from far away. Remember that Guinness is good for you. Love all,Kristin
