The Liz Kent Experience

Nothing can truly describe how I feel other than the title of this post. I truly feel like I am living in a dream over here. I have had such wonderful, amazing, and inspirational experiences this past week. I had the opportunity to travel across Northern Scotland and visit the Isle of Eigg. This place is seeped in history! I’ve seen Medieval roads still left leading to a castle and castles standing in ruin. I’ve seen country roads not big enough for two cars to be driving at the same time and modern electrical grids (water, solar, and wind) put together unlike anywhere else in the world. I have seen what a magnificent creation this planet truly is. I’ve seen a wide range of ecosystems and better yet, a wide variety of people and how they have lived and coped with their surroundings. I honestly think sometimes that this is all a dream and I will wake up from it soon.

I really don’t know what exactly I could write because I am just in awe of the history that I’ve seen. I have had some very spiritual experiences that can’t even be shared because of how personal they are. I have seen the desire for hope to be renewed by people taking a piece of cloth and putting it on a tree hoping for their desire to come true. It is just fascinating to see how each person is truly different, yet we all cling to some type of hope no matter what the tradition is. I am just in awe of the beautiful mystery that this life is. I have been constantly reminded of it as we traveled this week. I felt like a little child at every stop just soaking and absorbing everything that many of the sights I’ve seen have left me completely speechless. In fact, there are no words to describe some of the feelings I have felt.

Take time to fully appreciate the wonder that is around you. I should have appreciated things more than I did but it’s taken me to move across the world to realize just how beautiful the sun rising is; just how beautiful people truly are; and just how beautiful the sun setting is. Appreciate all these little things, even if just for a moment before you get back to your busy life. There is always time for gratitude. Every day could feel like you’re living in a dream, but only if you appreciate every aspect of being alive.

So, after my first week here in Aberdeen I have to tell you that I really miss the United States. Everything is so foreign. (No pun intended . . . or was it.) Anyway, let me tell you what. All of you back home make sure you fully appreciate your separate washer and dryer! My flatmates (one is from Spain and one is from Norway) and I tried to figure out how the washer/dryer combination machine worked on Saturday, and to trying all day we didn’t ever figure it out. It was taking 2 ½ hours for it to do a cycle and the clothes were still coming out quite damp. We just couldn’t figure it out.

Well, my programme coordinator was asking me how I was settling in and I happened to mention how much I missed appliances in the US and he completely understood. He is originally from New York. He then happened to mention that 2 ½ hours for a cycle and then your clothes coming out damp is totally normal. So I didn’t feel like a complete idiot for thinking I didn’t know how to run a washer/dryer combo. So, be thankful for the fast washing machines and dryers. It’s the little things in life.

Also, don’t take the beautiful things you have for granted. For example, you can use a shopping cart for free. Here it costs me 1£! If you want to use a shopping cart, you pay for it. Also, you have to pay for plastic grocery bags, so enjoy your free grocery bags. Just a little something for you to think about.

If you want to see more pictures go ahead and hit up my photography page above to see pictures.

Fun Fact:  The National animal of Scotland is the Unicorn.