Montreal

Shortly after returning from Leuven, I took a whirlwind trip to Montreal. I left Edinburgh on Friday morning, arrived in Montreal for the American Academy of Religion's annual conference Friday night ($50 cab ride to the hotel) and then left Sunday afternoon for my evening flight back to Edinburgh. So, I wa in Montreal for Friday night, all day Saturday, and then essentially Sunday morning. Not much time. After my connecting flight was cancelled in Paris Monday morning, I finally got back home Monday evening at 6:30pm.

Nevertheless, it was a fun trip. What I saw of Montreal is beautiful. I roamed around McGill University's campus and took some shots. The beer is expensive though: $8 a piece! I got to reconnect with some old friends from my time at St. Louis University: Michael Pahls (a PhD student there) and Brian Robinette (a professor of theology).

All three of us gave papers at the conference. I gave mine on Sunday afternoon on phenomenology of authenticy in Jean-Yves Lacoste and Martin Heidegger. The other papers in my session were (1) the possibiliyt of spiritual exercises in Husserl and (2) Sufist mysticism read as a body without organs. The second one, on Muslim mysticism and Delueze, garnered the most attention, which is not surprising given the AAR's excitement over all non-Christian discourse. At any rate, I ran over to catch the last 45 minutes of the "Promise of Scripture and Phenomenology" panel discussion, and it was good. It was put on by Kevin Hart and a group of his students at the University of Virginia. I should have presented there! They would have welcomed my ideas more.

Overall what I learned:

• Montreal is beautiful, expensive, and cold in November
• The AAR can be annoying but they have a great book fair
• Most of all: I should never travel that far of a distance in that short amount of time. Why, you ask? Well, I got the flu really bad when I returned!
  

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Suddenly, it seems that Edinburgh is bursting with Christmas. Everywhere you look, Christmas trees, lights and decorations are going up. The tree from Norway is here, the German village is being constructed, and the shops have brought out their Christmas displays. Someone was even playing Christmas music (loudly) above the shops on Princess Street. Seems the city is about to explode with Christmas cheer! We hear the whole thing gets going on Thursday (26 Nov.) when the lights switch on and the market opens. We're looking forward to that and will post pictures of the festivities.

Leuven

At the end of October, I spent a few days travelling to Leuven, Belgium. It was a great time in a great little medieval city. I really loved Leuven and can’t wait to go back. The pub scene is great and the chocolate is delicious.

I attended the Leuven Encounters in Systematic Theology (VII) and delivered a paper there on the phenomenology of creation in Michel Henry (a French dude who is gaining in popularity in the English speaking world). My advisor, Prof. Michael Purcell, was present as well as my cohorts in phenomenology: Jason Wardley and Nigel Zimmerman (fellow PhD students at Edinburgh). There is nothing like hanging out and drinking beer at the pubs talking theology and philosophy and making fun of those famous academics that we don’t like. While I couldn’t stay out until 3am, some of us in the group made the most of the mini-vacation.

Me--Standing outside of American College

I was there for about 5 days in total and got to stay at the American college, where Catholic priests live while studying at the Univ. of Leuven—which is, by the way, a world class place to study theology and continental philosophy. It is a beautiful old building with very nice people. The city itself is one amazing piece of medieval architecture (except for the ugly and modern looking Imbev. Inc brewery building—the one that took over Budweiser!). The cathedrals and government buildings are spectacular. Some pics here should give you a taste of the city itself. Not more than a 100,000 in population with lots of students, the city feels very alive and active. I found my favorite piece of art in St. Peter’s cathedral too: St. Augustine teaching Thomas Aquinas, a very Protestant interpretation indeed.

Imbev

University of Leuven

St. Peter's Church

St. Peter's Church

City Square
Old City Hall

I can’t wait to go back and take Amanda this time. It is such a quaint city with lots to do.

She Works Hard for the Money

(Bonus point awarded if you can correctly name the person who sang the some on which the title of this post is based).

Happily, I have now joined the ranks of the gainfully employed. My first day of my new job was Monday and, after day three, I can honestly say I am enjoying my new-found productivity and purpose!

My work here will be similar in some ways to the work I was doing in St. Louis and will also provide me with the opportunity to learn some new skills and get some new professional experience. Right now things are a bit slow as I am mostly reading and getting oriented, but I think I will be thankful for that transition time in the long run.

I am working for a very large organization, with offices all across the UK. I personally work in a lovely building by the docks that houses three programs for Barnardo's in Edinburgh. Each program has its own office room that is then shared by the program staff. So, that mean I share an office with three to four other women each day. I haven't shared an office since my days working in Charlottesville and I do miss my office in St. Louis, but it has provided a great opportunity to get to know my new colleagues and it makes the orientation process very easy. The girls I work with are all very nice and have been extremely welcoming. We are quite the international crowd too: an American (me), an Australian, an Irish-woman, a Scot, and an English gal. Today, we had a program meeting with another program with whom we are merging and I met another slew of very kind people.

There are some funny bits to my orientation process--one of which only serves to confirm my belief that the Brits have some deeply rooted fear of fire. As part of my orientation, I was shown the fire safety equipment, directed to the fire assembly point (in case of emergency) and will have to complete an online fire safety course. Seriously.

I am also walking to work in the mornings, which has proven to be a really lovely way to start the day. The fresh air and exercise are great and it's nice to do something active before sitting at a desk or in sessions all day long. It's about a 3 mile walk and takes me about 45 minutes. There is a very scenic path along the Waters of Leith which I can walk for the vast majority of the commute and avoid traffic, which is nice. I've also discovered a nice bike/foot path that runs parrallel to the Waters of Leith walkway which I also like, and it is a bit less muddy.

Yesterday and today I took a few pictures of the walk, so you can get a good picture. The sun is out less and less these days, with the sunrise occurring around 7:45am and setting just aftern 4:00pm.

This is just around the corner from our flat, where my walk begins.
Notice how dark it still is around 8:15.

A meadow I cross to go from the Water of Leith walkway to the cycle path. So soon after sunrise, there is always a mist rising from the grass.

About the 2/3rds point:Towards the end of the scenic route:

Just around the corner from my office is the downtown area of Leith. It's actually called "The Shore" although there isn't any beach area. It is, however, full of trendy cafes and shops. Leith seems to have a pretty varied presentation. This part is hip and cool but other parts are a little more run down and industrial.

The Shore

The office building where I work. This was taken when I left today at 4:45pm.
See how dark it is?

Other than the walking, sharing an office, and the first safety business, there are a few other differences that I am finding quite interesting (and delightful!):

• There is quite the culture of tea, even in the work place. We have all the necessary tea supplies in our office and tea is regularly brewed and served during the day. Tea is served at meetings (and by served I mean, you make your own tea and bring it to the meeting). At our team meeting this morning every single person had a cup of tea. I even hear that it is not unusual to be served tea when you visit a client in their home.

• I get a boat-load of vacation. 27 days per year to be exact. Plus 8 statutory holidays.
  

• The full time work week is 37 hours. And, I don't ever have to work past 5pm. (okay, so maybe she's not working that hard for the money).
  

All in all, it has been a great transition to working again and I am so thrilled to be employed!

If I Had My Camera...

Joe's been doing some traveling lately for conferences. First to Leuven, in Belgium, for 5 days and now to Montreal for a quick 4 day trip. Both trips were/are for the purpose of attending a theology conference and for presenting papers at each. I'll have him do a couple of posts about the conferences when he is back in the swing of things and he can also post a few pictures of the great cities he's been visiting (I'm a little jealous!). But, while he's been gone, he's had the camera, making it a bit more difficult for me to post pictures of life here in Edinburgh. If I did have the camera, here are some things you would have seen:

• The beautiful sunrise that we saw walking to the bus stop this morning (which, by the way, was at 7:30am).

• The gorgeous sunset I saw yesterday while walking in the city (which, by the way, was at 4:30pm).

• The very picturesque path a friend and I walked yesterday along the Waters of Leith.

• The scores of random fireworks being set off yesterday, in celebration of Guy Fawkes day.

• The building on one of the main thoroughfares that put up very lovely, festive Christmas decorations. Two weeks ago. (that was before Halloween, folks).

• The three different accordion players I passed today, at three different intersections.
  

• A woman riding a giant three wheeled bike, wearing a helmet, going slower than we were walking, while "walking" her itty-bitty dog. Maybe you had to be there.

• These really funny, and talented, drummers who were performing on the museum terrace earlier in the week.

• A picture of me, happily dancing, after receiving the news that I finally get to start working on Monday (as in 9 November).
  

And I Thought I Kissed Dating Goodbye

Recently, I had a revelation. I thought when I got married I put the dating days behind me. Never again would I have to suffer through the gut-wrenching agony of wondering, "does he like me?" "is he going to call?" "am I coming across as desperate?" No, now that I've entered the world of married life, I never have to torture myself with those thoughts again.

But, then, we moved to Scotland. Far away from anyone--or anything--familiar. And, here's my revelation: making friends is a whole lot like dating.

First, you're in a large group of people. You scan the room looking for prospects. Is there anyone here that could be my friend? Anyone here that looks inviting, accessible, friendly? Oh, there's someone....but, there are a lot of people talking to them already. They've probably got enough friends already. All the while, you are trying to look your best. Friendly. Smart. Open. But not desperate.

Then, you see someone. They're about your age, seem friendly, and they aren't talking to anyone right now. That's when the butterflies start....do I approach them? What if they think I'm dorky? What if they don't like me?

But, needing to make some connections, you make the move and go over. Say hi. Introduce yourself. And, now the real pressure begins: you have to be interesting. For the whole conversation. Ask good questions. Be funny. But not too funny. Don't talk about yourself too much.

The conversation is going well. You think, I might like to talk to them again. But, wait, what if we don't cross paths again. And, then come the big dilemma: do I get their digits? Oh, that's the question I hate. Asking for someone's phone number. It's torture. What if they don't want to give it to you? If I ask, then I have to make the first, post-initial-meeting move. And, then that question--does this make me seem desperate? Now-a-days, you can get around this step with Facebook--you don't really have to get someone's number, you can just Facebook them. But, how soon do you do it? When you get home? The next day? The next week? What if they forgot who you are?

But you do it. You find them on Facebook and click "add as friend." Now the waiting begins....it's been a day (or two). Nothing. Oh, no you think. They've ignored my friend request. You start cursing Facebook for the misery they've caused you. But then, finally, you get the longed for notification. They've accepted your friend request. Now what? You spend 20 minutes carefully crafting a 10 word message for their wall. And you wait again.

Assuming all goes well, you set up a second meeting. Coffee, lunch, drinks. And, the pressure to be interesting and engaging starts all over. Will there be another "date?" How long before you call, or email, or Facebook? The questions are endless. And, so is the process. Because, well, it's a lot like dating.

But, at least I got to kiss DTRs and wedding planning good bye.

Life In This United Kingdom, Part 1

I'm guessing when Dorothy stepped out of her house into the Land of Oz, she was pretty shocked. I mean, she went from a world of black and white to one in technicolor. A world of people to a village of munchkins, witches, and wizards. The dry farmland of draught-ridden Kansas to the plush greenery and colorful poppy-fields of Oz. That's a pretty stark contrast.

I'm not sure that when I stepped off the plane into Edinburgh that I had quite the same experience of extreme culture shock. But, things are different here in Edinburgh than back in the States. Some differences are subtle, some quite obvious. Many which lead me to say, in shock, laughter, irritation, and/or confusion, "I don't think I'm in Kansas anymore."

I think we should find humor wherever we can, so what better fodder for a blog by expatriates than the sharing of the daily conundrums of living abroad. Hence the series "Life in this United Kingdom."

For the first instalment, the topic is FIRE.

The British seem to have a pervasive fear of fire. I'm not sure on what this fear is based (I mean everything is built in stone), but it's apparent to every American I have talked to here. In Scotland, there are several things that immediately clue you in to this fear of fire:

At Joe's School, they have Fire Action Plans posted every 20 feet. In one stair well, there is a plan posted on every other landing (which occurs at every half-flight of stairs).

Alternating with the Fire Action Plans, is Fire Safety Equipment.

Several of our friends have fire blankets and extinguishers installed in their flats, by the property owners/managers.

Signs like these posted throughout the city:

There are also fire doors everywhere. Seriously. Yesterday at church I had to walk through two sets of fire doors to go 50 feet to the bathroom. Some friends of ours even have a fire door in their flat, between the bedroom and living room (the only two rooms in the flat). And, the building staff were apparently horrified that they are propping this door open! They are truly in every building and are all marked "Fire Door. Keep Shut."

When I worked in St. Louis, there was an English man who worked there too. Every Thursday night, when he worked late, he insisted on shutting the fire doors before leaving for the night due to his upbringing to always shut fire doors. (I didn't even know these were fire doors until he pointed it out. They were only ever used to keep rowdy children contained so they couldn't run laps past our therapy offices).

And, finally, there are also frequent fire safety warnings. On a recent tour, the guide told us outside the building that if we heard an alarm during the tour that was a fire alarm and we must exit the building immediately. As soon as we got inside the house (maybe 5 minutes later), he again reminded us of the fire alarm and implored us to stay close to him so that in case of a fire he could get us out safely. I've even heard that some lectures at Joe's school start with a fire safety warning.

They even test to alarm every week:

To be honest, although I laugh at this fear, it is not a good cultural paranoia for me to be exposed to. I actually have a huge fear of my home catching on fire. I am one of those people who leave for work in the morning, drive a few minutes and have to go home to check to make sure I turned off the stove (not every day, but I do worry frequently that I left something on). I unplug everything if we are gone more than a day and don't like to put the laptop on soft things (like the couch) because I think it could ignite. I won't leave home until the clothes iron is completely cool (I mean, it could fall over and start a fire, right?) It is irrational, but ask Joe--I can be a bit irrational. Anyway, this cultural paranoia has slightly increased my hyper-vigilance.

But, it has not, ironically, reduced any of my joy in striking matches. I still love that.