Dear all,
In January I moved to Stirling, Scotland and time is going by so fast that I almost forgot writing down how life has been here. Week days in the office are long but the overload of projects and nice people at the desks around me make the time fly. I am surrounded by Italians so I have definitely improved my Italian:). My English remains the same, except for some Scottish influence as you can see in the blog title :) ('wee' means 'little' or 'small'). Since my last update, I have had the chance to visit Perth and Glasgow during the weekends. Perth is, just like Stirling, a small town but nice to visit on a sunny day (which was the case when I went there with Chrystal, one of my Italian friends from work :) ). Glasgow is big compared to Perth and Stirling. It is known for its Victorian neoclassical architecture. Famous Scottish architects, such as Hamilton and Mackintosh, have left a legacy across the city through the buildings they built. Typical drinks are a pint of Tennents beer and the soda drink Irn Bru that are common in the whole of Scotland but are produced in the area of Glasgow. St. Mungo is the patron saint of the city and can be found depicted in murals all over the city or on the facades of buildings accompanied by a robin, a tree, a fish and a bell. These symbols stand for a flourishing city and the city's motto is "Let Glasgow flourish" (read more about it here: http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blknow_flourish.htm). Last Sunday, I went to Loch Lomond, the largest Loch (lake) in Scotland and only an hour drive from Stirling. Sarah, another intern from Belgium (!), and I were blessed to have been invited by our colleagues from Spain and Northern Ireland, Elena and Cathy. We went by car and enjoyed a nice walk on a hill beside a part of the loch. With a nice view over the lake, we shared some food we brought for lunch. To wrap up the day we quickly drove over to Luss, a picturesque village at the bank of another part of the immense loch. There is also a lot to explore in the surrounding area of Bridge of Allan where I live. Just behind my street, there is a hill and a forest where I have gone for a run twice. It is so peaceful and the nature and views are amazing. AND, I have spotted two deer!! There are many options for nice walks or hikes around Stirling. You can hike up a hill, explore a forest or walk alongside a river. Last weekend, I went to Dunblane on foot with Tina, my Chinese friend. It was the perfect weather! We took our time and had some deep conversations during the lovely 6k walk with wonderful scenery. Sundays, I go to a nice church gathering close to my flat that takes place in a high school. Given that it is close to the university, I have met people from Northern Ireland, England and the US. The people are so nice and there are also many students from China and Japan who want to see what it's like to go to church. Their curiosity is inspiring! Church student lunches are a nice way to socialise with locals and people outside work. Tuesdays, I go to one of the church's small groups. It is a nice opportunity to just chat over dinner, and study and discuss a passage of the bible together. Although I don't have much free time, I have made new friends from all over. The other evenings on week days, I sometimes have a dinner at my place or someone else's, or I go out for a drink with Sarah, one of my Belgian friends. I am grateful for this opportunity in this beautiful country. I am learning important lessons and discerning better what I want to do in the future. God's leading becomes clearer and I can see more and more reasons for the fact that I am here. Cheers! For some reason, I cannot upload any pictures into my blog anymore. See my pictures on facebook by pressing the button below:
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