Happy birthday

To me! It's also exactly two weeks from today that I leave for St. Andrews. Let's hope to God that that time goes by at the speed of light. I'm absolutely losing it just waiting around for school to start. Sure, I have quite a bit to do before I leave, but that still doesn't stop the madness. Almost everyone else I know is already at school, and they all completely love it. That just makes it even worse. The good news is that I have some fun things planned with the few friends that I have remaining in Pierce County, and Mum is planning on making all of my favourite foods before I leave. I have two weeks to savour everything that I know and love before I go. Though I know that I will love St Andrews / Scotland as much as  I love home.

Roommate

Okay, so this post is a little bit overdue, as usual, but...

I finally found out who my roommate is! Her name is Amanda deBerardinis, and she is from San Diego. She's studying French and International Relations, and maybe Russian. Based on this self-description:

"I'm pretty quiet, studious, friendly, nice, and pretty mellow. I like to stay up late but don't drink or smoke or do any hard-core partying. I generally keep my room pretty neat but then again, sometimes it gets a little untidy haha."


I think we'll get along just fine. It also sounds like she went to a school similar to Annie Wright; she had a plaid uniform skirt and class colours. Her class colour was yellow. I am jealous. 


We're also interested in the same societies, so I really think this is a good match. 


Luckily for me, she is a blank slate for me to work with. She knows very little about Britishy-ness, has never seen Doctor Who (or any other British TV programme, I suspect) and, bless her heart, doesn't even know what Rocky Horror is. Oh, this will be fun. 

Accommodation

Miraculously, I have been placed into St. Salvator's Hall! The, frankly, best hall on campus. They told me I wouldn't fit in, that I wasn't posh enough....well. HA! I'll show them. I can be just as English as the English. Or as Scottish as the Scottish. I don't know. Basically, just not American. I'm so excited! I wasn't expecting to end up in Sallies, but now that I have... YESSSSSSSS!!! WHOOOO! VICTORY!

This will now be the view that greets me when I come back from a long day of classes:

Ahhh. Isn't that nice?

Critically Important News! ...That is Really Overdue...

Oh my golly goodness, it's been nearly 3 months since I've been on here. Ooohhh dear. Well, anyway, in that 3 month period of time, I managed to finally go over to Scotland (and England...), and get a good look round St. Andrews. It was sunny, warm, and not windy (!), and there were daffodils everywhere, and there were little lambies...oh, it was so precious. The most important bit, however, is that I got my IB conditions waived, so I can now go to St. Andrews without freaking out about my IB exams! Result! My Eternal thanks go out to Dad, who managed to convince Mrs. Minick to re-read my application as a student coming from a non-IB school. What ever am I to do without you?

New Accommodation Form--finally!

Hi,

Long time, no see. Sorry about that. It's been crazy busy at school. And unfortunately, I think it will be like that until June. Anyway, St. Andrews has finally updated their Accommodation Form from the 2010-2011 to the 2011-2012 school year! I filled out the new form, but I'm not sure when should I turn in the form. I could send it now in an email, or I could wait until my visit in April to drop it off in person at the Admissions office. One of my ideas is that maybe I should actually get to see the residence halls before turning in the form. On the other hand though, it might be good to know which hall I've been given an offer to, and then look round that particular hall when I visit. I don't know. Ideas?

Meeting with Mrs. Minick

I had a lovely meeting with the Head (I think) of Admissions from St. Andrews, Mrs. Meg Minick. I met up with her at the Charles Wright College Fair, and I spent nearly the entire time with her, helping translate for accent-challenged Americans (her accent was totally comprehensible...Americans are just silly) and talking with her about my favourite ever discussion topic: Doctor Who. I also spent an hour and a half with her and Dad at Starbucks, where we went through nearly all of the questions I had put down on three legal sheets. It was very productive, and Mrs. Minick is such a cute Scottish lady. Oh, I can't wait to go there! She said that when I come over in April/September we'll have lunch at a really nice seafood place! YUM!

Mark Your Calendars: November 10, 2010

Today, November 10, 2010, is a monumental day in history. Today is the day I GOT IN TO ST. ANDREWS!!!!!! I am so happy I could jump on a trampoline for 100 years and not get tired. My blood feels like confetti flowing through my body, and I feel like screaming. I sent them my reply email confirming my acceptance (obviously). Hopefully I hear back from them soon. The only problem with the acceptance is that I have to get 35 points in the IB Diploma, and at least a 6 in HL English. Of course, that is *so* easy.....not. I'll have to mega prepare and not slack off, BUT I DON'T CARE IT'S WORTH IT!

I'm off to spread immense joy throughout the world, frolicking through fields of daisies,

--Rachael Martin, University of St Andrews Class of 2015