You have to start somewhere

After a long wait and a struggle with figuring out how to turn on our phone line, we now have internet at home.  With this newly acquired privilege, I will be taking on the responsibility of this blog.  If I fall behind at anytime I would like to apologize upfront.  I expect some weeks to have more posts than others, mainly due to the amount of reading that I must undertake.

Well a short recap of the past three weeks is due.  Both Ashley and I left on the first of September to attend the University of Glasgow.  Both of us are enrolled in postgraduate masters courses.  At the end of this year I will have attained a Masters of Letters in Popular Music Studies which is a program focusing mainly on musicology and sociology.  Ashley will have received a Master of Letters in Modernities through the literature and english department.  We both hope that our schools consider us to be ample candidates for a PHD study to follow.

Our flight to Glasgow was uneventful other than the girl who passed out on our overseas flight and was given oxygen by the flight attendants.  It didn't seem to be a large problem and the girl is alive and well as far as I know.  In Glasgow we live in the bustling West End which contains many restaurants, bars, pubs, cafes, records stores, book stores, small veg shops, venues and many other delightful locations.

We live here


View Larger Map
go ahead street view that baby. The odd building across the street is a High School

As you will notice directly south of our home is where the university is located and it is a very gorgeous campus full of large old buildings that look amazingly like aspects of Harry Potter --I know I have said that before, but really it does-- lots of secret passageways exist to help one get lost.  There are also cloisters. 

To the west of our home is Byres Road which is "the main drag" as described by our cab driver.  This is where most of the shops and spots exist that I mentioned earlier.  Despite ample warning from every person I mentioned Scotland to, the weather has been excellent with so far only two days this month where the sun has not come out, and only one day where it rained all day.  I am expecting the sun to disappear more during the winter, but I am glad we arrived when we did and were able to enjoy the city with beautiful weather before school started.  

I know I am forgetting many events that may have taken place, but that is what later posts are for.  

I hope everyone is doing well and you should comment here to tell us how you are and to ask any questions.  Also remember you should try to visit. We have a floor, but you may need to bring a sleeping bag. 

Pictures:

A  university courtyard

Cloisters

more cloisters

iphone picture

new coat/boring apartment. (we now have color)

Good luck all and talk to you soon.

Ryan/Ashley