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Far Away but Still So Near

Beannachdan à Alba!

= ‘Greetings from Scotland’ in Gaelic, the dying language native to Scotland.

It’s been now two months since I started my exchange period and travelled to this lovely wee city in the Highlands of Scotland. I fell completely in love with this place from the very beginning. The city of Inverness is really beautiful, not too big but not too small with its 80 000 citizens, and surrounded by stunningly diverse nature and landscapes. Even the weather here has been relatively pleasant during my stay, or at least not as unpleasant as I presumed. And it is only getting better towards the spring!

The River Ness runs through the city, right past the Inverness Castle (that is, from what I’ve been told, not a real castle as it’s only about 200 years old).
The River Ness runs through the city, right past the Inverness Castle (that is, from what I’ve been told, not a real castle as it’s only about 200 years old).
The city centre is quite compact, but it has everything one could possible want to find. And I love the tiny charity shops selling second hand bargains!
The city centre is quite compact, but it has everything one could possible want to find. And I love the tiny charity shops selling second hand bargains!

I do my studies in the Scottish School of Forestry that is located around 10 km away from the city centre. The SSF is integrated to Inverness College, the largest partner college of the University of the Highlands and Islands that extends all over the Northern Scotland. Sounds complicated, huh? The beginning of the studies was a bit confusing for me, but since things started to clear out I’ve truly enjoyed my time here. The forestry campus is small and cosy, and the people, including lecturers, are really laid-back, sincere and friendly. My studies include a lot of field work and site visits, which I find as a great advantage as I get to explore this beautiful nature, forests and landscapes while studying. Although sometimes I find myself concentrating more on wondering at the scenery than listening to what the teacher has to say…

The forestry campus isn’t that fancy, but a forestry campus doesn’t have to be.
The forestry campus isn’t that fancy, but a forestry campus doesn’t have to be.

 

Glenmore Forest Park in Cairngorms National Park includes some of the few native pinewoods in Scotland.
Glenmore Forest Park in Cairngorms National Park includes some of the few native pinewoods in Scotland.
We got to see skyline harvesting operations in great heights.
We got to see skyline harvesting operations in great heights.
I feel privileged to get to study in these sceneries.
I feel privileged to get to study in these sceneries.

My spare time (that I have a lot since I only have classes three days a week!) also revolves around outdoor activities and socializing. We have a fairly small group of international students here, and we spend a lot of time together doing sports, taking walks, cooking, playing games and going out. We also have some plans to travel around the Highlands later on spring (we’ve got a luxurious two weeks holiday on Easter!), which is something I’m really looking forward to.

Me and my cheerful friends enjoying a sunny day. As you can see, we’re having such a great time here.
Me and my cheerful friends enjoying a sunny day. As you can see, we’re having such a great time here. Picture taken by my dear friend Nathalie Triches (I don’t know what she was doing behind the camera to make us look so serious).

So far this experience has been brilliant and I am genuinely glad that I decided to do part of my studies abroad, and that I decided to do it in Scotland! I’ve still got two months ahead of me here, I hope they’re going to be as wonderful as the first two.

Love,

Krista

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