Windy day in the Highlands
Author: Grace Martin | Major: Chemical Engineering and Food Science
If you haven’t heard of haggis before (like I hadn’t), it’s a Scottish meat pudding made of the heart, liver, and lungs of a sheep, resembling a sausage. Once sliced and cooked with the traditional turnips and potatoes (“neeps” and “tatties”), it’s one of the tastiest dishes in Scotland. No, seriously– songs and poems have been composed to honor haggis, elevating it past the status of a national food to that of a national treasure.
The first time I had haggis was on a trip through the Highlands, the mountainous northern region of Scotland. I spent the Spring semester of 2022 studying abroad at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh through Academic Programs International, and one of the activities they planned was a trip to the Highlands with a local guide. We drove to the Isle of Skye, hitting various scenic points and small villages on the way and listening to stories about historical Scotland. We spent the nights in a lake house owned by our guide’s company, and we cooked and ate meals together like a family. On the second evening of the trip, our guide told us not to make anything for dinner– he was going to prepare haggis.
As you might imagine, he met some hesitancy from members of our party. “Heart, liver, and lungs of a sheep” doesn’t sound the most appetizing to a foreign stomach. We steeled our minds and gag reflexes, but when it came time to try the famous meal, we realized our nerves were unwarranted; haggis is delicious, which shouldn’t have been surprising, given its popularity and abundance in Scotland. I felt silly for doubting the food dubbed “Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin-race”, and I went back for seconds.
I wanted to study abroad primarily to experience living in another country, and I didn’t care where I went as long as I could take the classes I needed, which is why I chose to study at Heriot-Watt. I’m majoring in Chemical Engineering and Food Science, with minors in Math and Spanish, so there isn’t much wiggle room in my degree plan. If I was going to graduate on time, I couldn’t afford to get behind in my classes. The courses offered Heriot-Watt University lined up with what I needed, so come January I was on my way to Scotland.
The first thing I noticed about school in the UK was that almost nothing is graded. I had more homework for each class than at the University of Arkansas, but none of it was turned in; most assignments were designed for independent practice. Much more work was placed on the students: if you didn’t do the readings before each class, you would be lost, and when the time came to turn in the single assessment worth 100% of your grade, you would be screwed. It was a good lesson in taking responsibility for your own education, but a difficult adjustment.
My semester at Heriot-Watt consisted of twelve weeks of teaching followed by a four week break to revise and prepare for exams. Since all the information was packed into such a short period, classes moved at a fast pace; if I had carried the same extra-curricular load at HWU that I do at the U of A, I wouldn’t have been able to keep up. When the teaching weeks were over, the chance to catch my breath was much needed.
My experience studying abroad was overwhelmingly positive. I grew up in Fayetteville, so this was the first time I’d lived in a different city, let alone continent. I discovered that I loved the independence, the freedom, and the newness. That isn’t to say I didn’t miss my family, friends, or Fahrenheit; there were moments when I wanted nothing more than a hug from someone back home. However, I knew I’d be back after five months, so I developed the mindset of making the most of my time in Scotland; I sought out opportunities to make new friends, try new things, and see new places. Maintaining the momentum in this way kept me from taking what I had for granted.
For anyone thinking about a semester abroad: as long as you can cover the costs and stay on track to graduate, this is one of the most meaningful experiences you will have in college. The shock of being in another country will disappear and you will settle, and probably focus more on schoolwork and plans with friends than small cultural differences you’ll eventually stop noticing altogether.
Some more advice: try new foods, stick to a budget, and make friends with people from your host country. If you get the opportunity to travel, take it, but also spend plenty of time getting to know the city/region you live in. Lastly, try to maintain some part of your routine from home, whether it’s running, calling your family, or going to church- having little things that stay the same will help you adjust to the world of changes before you.
Studying abroad in Edinburgh was kind of like trying haggis for the first time. I didn’t know much about it, and I was a little nervous because it wasn’t like anything I’d ever tried before. I’d heard glowing reviews from others who loved it, but that didn’t fully shake the wariness. However, once it was so close I could smell it, once I had my first taste, I was hooked. Just how haggis warms and fills the stomach, studying abroad invigorates and satisfies the spirit; anyone with an urge to extend their comfort zone and expand their understanding of the world will walk away gratified, with a renewed sense of confidence in their ability to overcome challenges. To anyone who read this far: please consider studying abroad– Fayetteville will be right here waiting for you, and if you want to change the world, you have to go see it first.