Homestay

So far this is my favorite experience in Scotland. The woman I stayed with is named Wendy Dover and she is quite possibly the nicest woman I have ever met. Her house is amazing. She lives in a Glen, surrounded by hills and her nearest neighbors are a 10 minute walk away. It's a perfect country home made of stone, with a garden outside.

She picked me up from the bus station and we proceeded into the middle of nowhere. We got into the house and what I found was basically the house my mom wish she had. It was decorated like an old farm house with fresh flowers about. She showed me which room I would be sleeping in and I think I am now inspired to change my room at home. I posted the pictures on picasa. Then, I went downstairs where she made me the most delicious cup of tea I have ever had, and we watched the news while we waited for dinner to be ready. She had made delicious stuffed peppers and a rhubarb crumble with ice cream for dessert. That commenced the weekend of being full, possibly the most stuffed I have ever been. The next night I was actually in pain, she made roast chicken and potatoes with stuffing and vegetables that weren't boiled to death. I was in heaven. But enough about the food even thought that was probably one of my favorite parts haha.

So the first full day, and the whole weekend, the weather was not on our side. But we made the best of it. After breakfast, which was lovely and served by her boyfriend Samuel, I told Wendy about the Flat Stanley project and how I had forgotten to bring the Flat Stephanie I have along. So, she helped me make a Flat Stanley so we could take him out and about with us. She spiced up my horrible drawing with a nice kilt and hat and he became Scottish Stanley, those pictures are also on picasa. We went to perth, walked around the shops and got lunch. Then we went to Falkland Palace and walked around the town and shops.

Finally, we went home for dinner and while she was preparing it I took the chance to do some assigned reading by the fire while I drank a glass of wine. I'm pretty sure this is my mother's idea of heaven. ;)

After dinner we all spent some time by the fire, but the weather had tired all of us out and Wendy went to bed while I took a bath before bed. Upon waking up I was greeted by Wendy's calls for breakfast: almost a full english breakfast with toast and eggs and bacon and tomato. I'll be having a heart attack anyday now...

I was scheduled to go back to campus for 7:40, which was way later than I wanted. And since buses don't run frequently I would have been in transit for 2 hours instead of less than one. Wendy, thank goodness, thought this as silly as me and designed the day so her and Samuel could drop me off at St Andrews. So, we started our journey along the coast of Fife and I got amazing views of the fishing villages and beach...even though it was brutally cold. We had a nice picnic in the car by the waterfront that Wendy packed, tea of course and cheese sandwiches and apples and clementines and lemon cake. What a woman. hahaha.

I loved every minute of my homestay, and I would love to go back in the Spring when it's nicer if she'll have me, and Maddie as well since that's where she had her homestay the weekend before me. Last summer she had her daughter's wedding at her house. They built the marquee and she made all the salads for 150 people from her garden and prepared potatoes from her garden as well for those 150 people. I looked at the pictures and it looked amazing. Some of the guests stayed in tents on the lawn. She even designed and sewed her daughters dress. She used to be a clothes designer, among many other things. She is definitely one of the most interesting people I have ever met, and I was so glad to be in a house with a dog again. A black lab named Chloe, and a cat also named Willow.

Well then, another 4 days and I will be off to Granada to see Ally =D I cannot wait! I don't know how I am going to get through this week I will have to keep myself busy!!!