The ceilidh (pronounced "CAY-lee," if anyone's wondering) was completely awesome. I probably sweated off about five pounds, and I'm still sore from one dance in particular that required the guys to lift the girls and spin them around for an extended period of time. The music and dance steps were supplied by the most attractive ceilidh band I have ever seen (KILTS GALORE), and I met and danced with a lot of cool people. I'm SO glad I went.
Last night there was a disco for the postgrads, and it was every bit as cheesy as the word "disco" implies. Hits of the '70s, '80s, and '90s mostly, with notable highlights being "Take On Me" by A-Ha (with absolutely everyone singing along to the chorus, including the high note), "You Spin Me Round" by Dead or Alive, and "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls. They may have eventually gotten into the early '00s, but I left with two girls I met there before it was over. One of the girls and I discovered that we are practically related: we both have Slavic family origins, as well as family origins from the same area of England, the same middle name, and we are both into knitting. I also met a very drunk Norwegian girl, who I am sure was very confused when she woke up this morning to find my name written on her arm in ballpoint pen.
Today was productive. I joined the mailing lists for the Hillwalking Club and the Wind Band. I made the difficult decision NOT to audition for either of the orchestras, because the Symphony Orchestra rehearses on Monday nights when I have class, and the Sinfonia rehearses on Saturday mornings, which will preclude me ever going away for the weekend. The Wind Band rehearses Wednesday nights and is non-auditioned, so I'm going to check them out. Getting my name out as a freelancer is a moot point now, because I found out today that I can't take freelance work because it qualifies as self-employment, and I am not allowed to be self-employed while I'm in school as a condition of my visa. Frick.
I also found out today that the UK's Tier 1 Post-Study Work Visa, which would have allowed me to stay in the UK for an additional two years after finishing school in order to find a job, is being discontinued in April. This means that if I want to stay in Scotland after I finish my degree, I have to have a job offer by the time my student visa runs out in January 2013. Double frick.
But there is some good news! I had a very helpful talk with one of the people at the finance office today, and it turns out I have more time to pay my tuition fees than I thought I did! This is handy, because my bank account is still not up and running, and it may be next Tuesday before it is. I also got the university's own bank account info, so if worst comes to worst, I can get my parents to do a bank transfer directly to the university from the US, rather than waiting for my bank to get its act together here. This is a HUGE weight off my shoulders.
The weather has been gorgeous for the last few days - sunny and...not warm exactly, but tolerable. It's been so clear that I've been able to see the Firth of Forth from Princes Street. My mood has had its ups and downs over the last week, but I've made new friends, started to get comfortable with the school, and things are coming together. To borrow a line from The Mighty Boosh, I just have to remind myself that even the rough spots are "all a part of life's rich tapestry," and things have a way of working out.
Cheers, y'all.
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