Everyday Emily

So it turns out third year is a lot busier than I anticipated, hello again my lonely blog. 

I am currently halfway through my university spring break*, and after a week at home I am back in the library writing an essay about imperial architecture in Pompeii, the fun never stops. * I am aware that this is a very American term and also that it isn't spring yet, but that's what its called.
I've done a lot of fun things in these past few weeks, including getting news about more fun things that I am doing this summer. 

Castles, walls and rain:
I am now the president of the archaeology society for 2017/18 and we went on a trip to the incredible Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire last Saturday. The last time I went it was a beautiful sunny day and I only had to climb the stairs. This time was very different. Firstly, it rained for most of the day, and secondly, we walked along the coastal path to the castle. As much as I love coastal paths, walking in the rain is never fun. Despite the weather I had a great time, which is probably due to the fact that all three of my flatmates came along, so it felt like a flat trip. (#ladsontour anyone?).
On a very similar note I got to spend a week at home with my dad, which was very much needed. It's not a trip home without going to a historical or archaeological site. We managed to fit in a lot of trips including a roadtrip to the highlands where we made sandwiches and only left the car to take photos. We drove through many small towns and past lochs, discovering little snippets of history, including a tiny one room church with the most incredible painted ceiling. We also visited a section of the Antonine Wall, aka the Scottish version of Hadrian's Wall, and as someone who is hopefully doing a module on Roman Britain next year it was cool. I spend so much of my time reading and studying about Roman sites in Italy that I sometimes forget there are ones so much closer to home. 

Summer:
I know it is only March but I have been planning my summer since October, mostly because I will be applying for masters courses next year and I need practical experience but also because filling out applications is a practical way to procrastinate. It turns out that I have a seven week period over the summer where I will be extraordinarily busy. I'll be staying in St Andrews in June to start reading for my dissertation, which I am weirdly excited about and would happily start now. After one week at home I am flying to Athens and then catching a boat to Andros in the Cyclades. I'll be spending three weeks getting sunburnt whilst digging a Neolithic settlement and learning very basic Greek. Then come July 29th I will be packing up for the journey back to Athens to do a two week internship and somehow squeeze in visits to all the sites and museums. August 12th is where it gets interesting and also the point where I may burst from being too busy. I fly back to Edinburgh for midnight and then have less than twelve hours to wash seven weeks worth of clothes and pack for another excavation. Come noon on the 13th I will be in the car driving to Hadrian's Wall where I am spending two weeks digging in the rain and learning loads of archaeological skills. Then I get to come home and relax for a week before my final year of university starts! I've been very productive and applied for scholarships and bursaries and any opportunity that came my way!, and it has clearly paid off! 

Everything else:
I moved on from my Hamilton obsession (even though I bought tickets to the London show..) and moved straight onto another musical, Dear Evan Hanson. I also love the La La Land and Hidden Figures soundtracks, and of course Moana. Artist wise I am loving Tom Rosenthal, Lawrence and Lorde blew me away with Green Light. 
I lasted approximately a week of being vegan before I had a bad day and needed cheese. I'm definitely eating less dairy and more vegetables than before, so all is not lost. Speaking of food: I am trying to broaden my palate in anticipation of summer in Greece and a lot of food I don't like. (I'm looking at you fish).
I've also got really into plants. I have always loved having flowers in the house but this year I've branched out and started my collection of house plants, and so far they're still alive!


(I actually enjoyed writing this and feel like I've got my own style of writing now? Plus it is refreshing writing and knowing that no one you know will read it. Maybe this blog will be making a comeback, who knows?)

Everyday Emily

It's been a while since I've done an Everyday Emily but that's because anything exciting that I've done has warranted it's own post. However, these past few weeks have been exciting.

University
I am currently revising for my second year exams which means I am half way through my degree! I have chosen my modules for third year and I get to study things from an archaeological perspective which I am really looking forward to! In the space of a month I have gone from having no idea about what to focus on to having a topic for my dissertation that is a year away and looking at post-grad courses in Cambridge! 

I am also now on the committee of the student archaeology society which will give me some experience for planning events and finding opportunities. I also participated in IJM's Stand4Freedom. I couldn't do the whole 24 hours but I managed 10 hours and it was a great experience! My legs definitely hurt and I was very cold but getting to spend time with big-hearted people raising money and awareness for a great cause was 100% worth it!

Music
During my spring break a group of friends and I travelled to Glasgow to go to a Bethel Worship Nights, and it was an amazing night! I got to sing some of my favourite songs with so many passionate and spiritual people. 
I am also seeing Sigur Rós with my dad in August. He has never seen them before and their whole performance is incredible, the combination of lights and sound just blows me away!

Summer
My lease ends in August which means I have the joy of staying in St Andrews over summer. Luckily the Open is in Troon this year so there won't be as many golfers. I am working in a hotel this summer which wont be very exciting but that's because my exciting summer plans are happening next year!
However I am excited to spend my time off at the beach and taking in the beautiful town that is St Andrews! Plus a few of my friends are also staying over the summer so I wont be completely alone.

Everyday Emily

Travelling
As mentioned in a previous post I spent a couple of days in Brussels and it was so nice to get away from university and explore a new city. On the back of that very short trip I came home and immediately booked flights to Rome! My degree is ancient history so I have just spent the past year learning about both the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, it will be nice to see some of the places I've read and written about. I have been to Italy once before (Sorrento/Naples) and I loved every part of it. I am very excited to go with my best friend and spend our time eating pizza and gelato whilst surrounding myself in history. I am also going in March so it will be a nice time to relax before deadlines and exams! 

Being thankful

It's not surprising considering I am Scottish but I have never actively participated in a thanksgiving meal before, this all changed this year. We had chicken instead of turkey and it was more like a roast dinner but it was still a lovely evening. I was reminded of how many amazing and kind people I know, and how lucky I am to call them my friends! 

Mental Health

This isn't a very cheery thing to write but it's been a really huge part of my life recently. These past few weeks have been so difficult for me and I have finally worked up the strength to admit how I am feeling and get help. It can be hard to ask for help especially when mental illness is so often overlooked. However one counselling session later and I already feel better. It's definitely going to be difficult and it won't be perfect but I will feel better and I cant wait. 

Embracing life

Today was weird, but also incredible and exactly the reason I love St Andrews. My friend and I were stopped by an older gentleman on the street who asked us where the best place to get coffee was. We replied with a really great social initiative cafe and chatted to him on the street for another ten minutes. Fast forward two hours and two cafes. This random stranger asking about coffee is a professor at a really good university, started a charity and is designing a new college! A chance encounter on the street is now one of my favourite memories with my friend and I now have a really great contact for the future. This tiny town is my favourite place in the world. 

Everyday Emily

  Foggy St Andrews days: 
Or as I like to call it haar; a cold sea fog common on east coast Scotland. 
There is something so magical and mysterious about the end of the street not being visible, only the street lights marking the way. I have 9am lectures in the quad (pictured above) and it just adds to the splendour. It is now November and it gets dark during my 4pm lectures. The December exam timetable is out and the town is covered in Christmas lights, I'm ready for the festive season. 

Elliot Erwitt

 Enjoying my degree; 
Sometimes I forget that I am at university because I want to be, not because I have to be. I am studying ancient history because I'm fascinated by the ancient world, my love of ancient history was reignited this week. A lot of the time I am reading about events or looking at photos of ancient sites,with nothing tangible available. I had a workshop on Roman numismatics or coinage as most people would recognise, this week and it was amazing. I got to hold and analyse a 2000 year old coin. I did have to wear surgical gloves and the coin itself was very tarnished but it was still a great experience. Next year I start studying archaeology as well which means even more opportunity to get my hands dirty and uncover history. 

Yuko Murata

Temple of Apollo

 Being creative again;
Over the summer I got back into drawing and even started making videos but as soon as the university workload hit me I stopped. I've been making a conscious effort recently to keep time aside to be creative, no matter how busy I am. I live in such a beautiful town and I am constantly taking photos of it, I am trying to do something with these photos rather than keep them on my phone taking up vital memory. I've also put up some of my art around the house which is a nice reminder of what I can do when I make an effort. 

Everyday Emily

You might be familiar with Bees H is for Happy lists on her great blog, Everyday Emily is similar to this, but also pretty different. I want this to be a place I can write about all the great, mediocre and shit things that happen to me. 

Bears Den @ Queens Hall, Edinburgh
If you've not heard of Bears Den I would recommend you immediately start listening to them, they're going to be big. This was my second time seeing them and once again they were amazing. The lead vocals, harmonies and instruments, especially the banjos, combine to create an incredible live performance. Enhanced by acoustic sets, including one where they perform in the audience! A few of my favourite songs are Don't Let The Sun Steal You Away and Stubborn Beast. 


VSCOcam 
Any budding iPhone photographer or anyone who is on instagram will recognise VSCOcam. I have too many photos on my phone and a good number of them have been edited using the VSCOcam app.The base app is free and the additions are cheap. Follow me here!

Second Year
I have been back at university for a month now, and I am officially an ancient history and archaeology student. Changing my degree was a huge step that my mum wasn't too happy about as I am no longer getting a language degree. However I could not be happier and cannot wait to spend countless weekends in trenches looking for old things. 
This year I've been way more involved in student life and societies, as I have the time to do them now. Excitingly I am part of a new student society called Just Love, which involves looking at human rights injustices from a Christian perspective. Our first event is the Walk for Freedom, which is for a really good cause and hopefully we raise more awareness for it. My workload and general busy-ness this year has increased but it's all good because it's all for a good reason.

Music
I know that I already mentioned music when I wrote about seeing Bears Den but they merited their own section. As part of Coffee House Sessions Luke Sital-Singh came to perform a short set at my universities student union. He was really good and the cafe was packed, although he didn't sing Benediction which is my favourite. I've also loved The Weeknds album Beauty Behind the Madness and Darwin Deez' album Double Down.