In coming to Stirling, Scotland, I had heard mixed reviews, especially for a person of color. I choose not to speak for all of Scotland, but from the few places I've visited which include Kirkcaldy, Inverness, Edinburgh and the surrounding areas of Stirling. From the places I've been Scotland is a gold mine under-represented as a tourist spot. It's full of ancient history, unexpected traditions, kind and humorous people and a breathtaking landscape you want to capture in your mind forever. It's not enough to just visit Scotland for Touristy reasons and refuse to look beyond that. One should come prepared to be absorbed into everything around them and leave home for when you return home. A lot of people will be tempted to get a car somewhere, but trust me, ride a bus, walk somewhere, take a train. It will be worth while and you will be an expert at places to visit in no time. Accept the people and have patience, sometimes they come off a bit gruff, but it's more like a favorite uncle gruff and no nonsense. So try to be decisive and be prepared for unexpected kindness in the little things. A lot of people will say it, but it's true. Immerse yourself and embrace the culture, lose yourself in the experience and you will not regret it. I don't and I'm sad to leave, but I know I will be back again some day to see what else Scotland has to surprise me.
Academics:
On the plus side, the staff were very enthusiastic about their subjects and very deeply knowledgeable. They all seemed to have a comraderie amongst each other and their teaching assistants.
On the negative, they were really hard on students. I understand facing reality, but comments such as if you fail to want to understand this you're in the wrong major. Also they had a tendency to literally toss students in the deep end. There was plenty of information available, but you are given a question to choose from, then told to write a 1500 word essay on it without any prior knowledge whatsoever. Only when all essays are done are you actually taught about the subject and in that class you either note how well you understood it or it's pointed out every single thing you missed in your essay, because you didn't know or understand it.
Living Situation:
Despite my constant run in with jumbo spiders, there were 8 in my room alone! Living off campus was the most ideal situation for an explorer like myself. It allowed me to really get the lay of my surroundings and feel perfectly at home and self sufficient. Even better I got Stirlings best flat mates it seemed. We all never argued, we toasted each other upon leaving, we were never inconsiderate of anyone else and we took our own responsibilities to be good flat mates seriously. The only downside I can recall is the water heater and the heating. This can be resolved by doing everything hot water related after 5am and before 6pm for all 7 members or you will endure stone glacier cold everything and ask your porter about heating. There is a trick to free heating at least in John Forty's Court. I will give a hint, it's next to the convector button.
Cultural Immersion:
My porter gave the comment of You'll fit in very well here and I did! Everyone kept thinking I was a local or at least that I was a permanent fixture in Scotland and not that I had to leave when the semester ended. Only advice, find friends and get out a lot. If not for my flat mates, I would have done fine, but it wouldn't have been as enjoyable. They spoke of Nando's, a staple to be tried in Stirling, love the fries and never to take the 54A to school if you want to get there on time. I had a blast and didn't miss home that much except when dealing with certain businesses. Then I felt like banging my head against the wall. However, the rest of the experience was dandy and I felt like a native by the end of my time in Stirling.
Program Administration:
The folks in CISAbroad were extremely helpful, attentive, kind and friendly as if you were a long lost friend who had just decided to visit. Our on site director gave me and two other girls a trip around Edinburgh that's much needed. Go to Scotland, you need to visit Edinburgh, it gives such a nice ancient city feeling. I tend to over-organize everything, so CIS's attentiveness to make me worry less was very helpful. There was only one hiccup, and that was my Program coordinator got reassigned about halfway through my signing up for the program in the summer and I didn't hear about it until maybe two weeks later. In that time I didn't have the right email to contact the right person or the number. I pretty much only had silence which was extremely frustrating as it had been an urgent matter. However it was all resolved in the end, but the student should be apprised if they get a new coordinator.
Health and Safety:
Everywhere I turned in Scotland, people seemed to comment on How safe they felt living here. Perhaps it was Stirling, because it was such a friendly town and of course remembering your crowd P's and Q's and I couldn't have felt safer in any place, ever. Not to say I haven't heard of a few bad eggs that others experienced, but I was thankfully ensconced away from it, probably due to living off campus. I felt safe whether it was in the woods far away from campus on my own or riding the bus or walking to the supermarket at 10pm at night. There always seems to be others out and about at all hours, and the buses run late, so I had my fair share of adventure. Also, The cab drivers and bus drivers seem competent and get you from A-B with no muss or fuss.
Social Life:
Thanks to my extremely friendly and inclusive flat mates, I got an up close and personal introduction to Social Life. Pretty much everyone I've met has been really friendly, very polite and very sophisticated about drinking and hanging out in general. I never felt excluded or mistreated, but like I was on my way to becoming another of their great friends. As an entire flat we've had nights out going to a pub, to eat or to a movie. I was invited to a celebration of Guy Fawkes night and enjoyed myself immensely. The social life goes late and is super friendly to everyone who is simpatico with everything. People are very protective of you, but also willing to let you stand on your own. I am not much of a drinker, but even then listening to live music, hanging out and talking with friends of my flat mates in our kitchen and just in general feeling immersed in the culture was the best thing to happen ever. Hence, make friends, it will open you up to new things and people from all backgrounds!
