2014: Little Life Lessons

This is it! Ole Years, as they say down in the islands, is upon us, and New Years is just around the corner! 

In case you didn't know, New Years' Eve is my birthday! As I turn another metaphorical page in my short life, I once again join the millions of people who reflect on the previous year.  Isn't it funny how we reflect on our year every year as if we've gotten another chance, setting resolutions, forgiving ourselves and patting ourselves on the back for a year well-done. But what is really funny about this is that sometimes we act like our new year will now just give us another chance, when in fact each year is unique. It only happens once. We will not be seeing 2014 again. And perhaps that is a good thing. 

As always, good and bad colored 2014. I went to Germany with my Dad and brother, and my best friend visited me in Ireland. I finally got to go to Scotland. I learned to surf, I graduated with another diploma, I said I love you. I worked six jobs, finished one degree and started another one, and moved house twice.
(I will leave you to decide which parts are good and which parts are bad.)

Around this time of year, with the holiday season, everyone seems to be a bit nicer, a bit friendlier, a bit more forgiving of those people shoving them out of the way at Bloomingdale's. A friend in Ireland was telling me how they liked Christmastime because people just behaved more like kind people and the kind of people we'd like to encounter always.

This reminded me of the year following September 11th for all of us in the States. After such an unbelievably harrowing event, everyone was a bit nicer, realizing we are all Americans, we have all be affected, and we all have short lives which we live together. Sometimes, we only remember our common humanity around a gorgeous time like a community-wide holiday. And sometimes, unfortunately, it takes a catastrophe to find it the strongest.

This year has taught me to remember that sense of humanity that comes with beautiful or tragic events; and with this sensation, I'm hoping to enter another year in gratitude. Because that's what it's all about, it seems. Gratitude to others for making our lives a little nicer, gratitude to ourselves for always moving on, and gratitude for life itself, short and beautiful and always a gift.

So as this year ends, here's to little life lessons that have shaped each one of us this year. May we all have many, many more, and a brilliant, once-in-a-lifetime 2015.

x Moving Again x

To the loveliest readers 

(which includes all my readers. Don't think it's a competition, please)

SEDiva Abroad is moving once again, and this time for good. With a beautiful new domain, this blog has found a new home in the webosphere. If you've ever enjoyed Diva's rants and raves, come visit me over at http://www.sedivaabroad.com.

This will likely be my last post here. Thanks for reading, and I'll see you over at my new place ;)

Happy holidays! 

Decorating a tiny [student] apartment for Christmas

First of all, let me say that finding three - in my mind, essential - Christmas decor items in Ireland is extremely difficult. These include, but are in no way limited to: mistletoe, stockings, and candy canes. 

Oh, sure, the Irish will tell you they're readily available, and they're not entirely wrong. These things always seem to be in abundance around shoppers who couldn't give a [insert word here]. But for those of us who are dying for some good old candy canes and potpourri, God help us all and good luck.

However, we're rather proud of how our tiny little apartment ended up this Christmas season, so here are my tips for decorating 1) on a budget, 2) in a tiny apartment, and perhaps most importantly 3) in Ireland.

1) Countdown
Advent calendars, stockings, sleeps till Christmas, these are all essentials. I bought an advent calendar for the boy and myself, though we still haven't kept up with the chocolate eating.

2) Twinkle lights
are essential. Everywhere. Over the bed, over the door, on random spots on the way. Use many and enjoy.

3) Get a Christmas tree
My housemate, the boy, and I all split the cost of a real tree for the apartment this year and had a blast decorating it. Tiny little fake ones work well as well. Decorate it, enjoy it, turn on the lights everyday, and have your morning coffee by the light of merriment.

4) Enjoy new traditions
Can't find candy canes? Enjoy some Cadbury Roses. Can't find an Advent wreath? Enjoy some Advent chocolate.
And did you notice that my Christmas countdown says "Sleeps" till Christmas? Hello, England and Ireland! (To be truthful, it's a much more efficient way to countdown. Think about it. No more of those, "Wait, how do you count days? Do you count today?" arguments! Woohoo.) Basically, if you're in a new country, a new place, an apartment instead of your parents' cozy old house, find joy in the new traditions and new place.

5) Celebrate with friends
And don't forget the Christmas crackers. And the rein-beer.

And don't worry. Three days before Christmas, a busker on the street will be selling mistletoe. You're all sorted.

xx

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Bucket List Bi-Weekly

This post is part of the serial, Bucket List Bi-Weekly. 

Continue reading if you're not sick of these, overly jealous, or completely dismissive yet. 

While working on my 2015 Resolutions - because of course this is real work that we all have to do - I've decided to include Accomplish 5 bucket list items to the list. 

These five, I officially declare, do not include those I've already completed!

(Just to say it in public so y'all can hold me to it, or dangle chocolate in front of my face to get me to keep trying!) 

1) Roadtrip England

Photo credit: "Hadrian's Wall' from topinspired.com

There are so many places in the world that I want to roadtrip, so I'm sorry to keep adding to the list. But the thing is that I honestly think it's one of the best ways to see anyone place. So roadtrips will officially rule my life. Besides, how else could I see Stonehenge, the Harry Potter studios, and the Lake District all in one go! 

2) Horseback Ride on the Beach

Photo credit: equestrianbitch.tumblr.com

Too gushy for you? I don't care. 

3) Climb a Volcano

Photo credit: His Potions

I suppose this is similar to climb a mountain, but I've never seen an active volcano, so this had to be here! Hawaii trip, anyone?

4) Tailgate

Photo credit: Midwest Living

I have never tailgated. Not properly. I am an American. I don't care what you think. This combination of states is a travesty. 

5) Ride a hot air balloon over Cappadocia

Photo credit: John Kroll

A hot air balloon over this gorgeous region of Turkey? Absolutely. 

Bucket List Bi-Weekly

This post follows a series of posts here on SEDiva Abroad. 

See the first Bucket List Bi-Weekly here!

These posts are quickly becoming some of my favorite things to share with you! I'm also (sort of not) sorry to say that this week's post - as it has sometimes before - features something that is technically on my bucket list, but that I've already checked off! 

Sometimes it's good to share things like this, just as a reminder that this isn't some list of things to do in the far off future. Life is short, and I am enjoying every moment. 

1) Road trip from Virginia to California

Photo credit: Superstock

One of my best friends in the whole world moved to San Diego last year, and we were supposed to roadtrip all of her stuff out there together. However, at the last minute we weren't able to go. So I've still got to roadtrip from Virginia to California to give her her housewarming gift!

2) See the Statue of Liberty

Photo credit: David Walsh

Admittedly, I've already done this, and I was present when this photo was taken, so woohoo!! I lived in New York for years and never bothered to head out to the Statue of Liberty. The lines were very long, the wind was too cold, there wasn't enough time, etc., etc. Always an excuse. But I'm so glad we went in the end. Definitely worth the long lines and epically slow ferry!

3) Ice Skate in Central Park

Photo credit: Scent of Obsession

I've never done this either! And for all the same excuses as the Statue. It's still on my bucket list though. I suppose sometimes you have to leave a place in order to miss all of the things about it!

4) Visit Austria

Photo credit: Patxi Uriz

I've always wanted to visit Austria, and I mean all of Austria. From Vienna and Salzburg, to every little town, I want to visit Austria, and probably in winter. I'm not the best skier, but I'm down if it happens here! 

5) Sleep under the stars

Photo credit: Piccsy

*Sigh* I dream of doing this. But just as clarification, by sleep under the stars, I don't mean camping. I mean get a ton of blankets in the back of a truck bed, I mean a kiddie pool filled with pillows in the backyard. And I don't mean only once.

Any suggestions? I'd love to hear them! Share in the comment section or contact me!! <3

Happy bucket listing! x

SE

One Last Resolution for 2014

I logged onto The Evergirl the other day, which is a wonderful little website if you ever have the time to explore it. Many months this year (all the months with 30 days), they featured a #TEG30DayChallenge. These were all very sweet, from 30 Days of Social Media-Free Socializing to 30 Days of Budgeting for the Holidays. All wonderful, lovely little ideas.

They saved the best one of all for December. This month's challenge doesn't need to happen every day of the month, and it doesn't necessarily prepare us for any other month. This month's challenge is to accomplish one more New Years' Resolution.

It's absolutely true that as the year progresses, we forget our zeal for those staunchly-made Resolutions, though many of us joke from the beginning that we will never get around to the gym or go skydiving. But we still proudly make those Resolutions anyway. The last few years, I've actually made a conscious effort to make Resolutions that I will and can accomplish, which sometimes translates to Resolutions that are often either very vague or super lame things that I already know I'm going to do.

Let's take a look at what were my New Year's Resolutions for 2014:
1) Write my Higher Diploma dissertation and graduate.
Check! :)

2) Run a 10K
Meh :/

3) Travel to Scotland and Germany
Double check! <3

4) Learn to drive a manual car
Mostly check

5) Get a dream job
I got a part-time job! And I'm living the dream in grad school. That counts as a..
check? :)

6) Play a Chopin Nocturne
Only a precious goal for next year, I suppose :/

7) Compose more
Unfortunately, check! (For school)

8) Write more
Well, this blog has gotten a bit more love….
sort of check?

9) Make more time for friendships and relationships
Check! xx

10) Keep myself
Yup! Check x

And then there were the various goals and bucket lists along the way…

More than half of these were just leftovers from the year before, but I would like to proudly toot my own horn for a second *BEEP BEEP* and say that I accomplished most of them, in some form or another.

So here's to three more weeks to accomplish one more. Totes possible.

Good luck, y'all!

Always Better With an Accent

A huge hug and big thank you to everyone who shared their opinions with me on this post.
In keeping with this blog's usual privacy procedures, no names have been used. The initials denote the contributor.
If you would prefer to have your name added or your initials removed, please let me know! 
Cheers! x

Undergrad consisted of some of the best years of my life. I made some fabulous friends, and looking back, it would appear that only those with positive attitudes and behavioral weirdness were allowed. The late night- early morning- midday- like all the time- ridiculosity  the junk food, the giggles. It really was the best. And though my friends' and my conversations were silly, we sometimes touched on some very salient topics. Such as the topic for this post:

Why are accents so sexy, though?

I've had this conversation with so many people - all of my college roommies, most of my Flava Fam, my study abroad family, and all of my friends here in Ireland now - and I'm sure you have to. We all have, let's be totally honest. Something about Jude Law or those boys from Our Lips Are Sealed (yes, I'm talking about the Mary-Kate and Ashley movie) has always got our tummies fluttering with foreign butterflies. But here's the bigger question: is love better with an accent?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about role playing or anything. But there is definitely a level of attractiveness involved in foreign accents - at least certain ones for certain people. But what accents attract us and why? Is love better with an accent?

I asked a bunch of my friends their opinions on accents and whether or not they're sexy. Here's what I got:

"So sexy accents right?" TB

Haha
Just kidding. There's more!

"Accents can make or break the deal, Sarah," I was told. AG
Which might be one of the most shallow things a friend has ever said to me.

But when it comes to sexy accents, maybe we're all a bit shallow.

"I wonder if American accents sound as sexy to foreigners as theirs do for us." KM

(I can answer that one, as the official American living abroad. No.)

I know that I have a thing for accents, but an accent definitely does imply a certain language or cultural barrier. The stronger the accent (and let's face it, the stronger, the sexier) also means the harder to understand. And if your Significant Other has an accent, it probably means that the two of you are from a different place, and believe me, cultural barriers ARE a thing! That Aussie is going to say something one day to make you go WHAT?! no matter how many times you watched and memorized Our Lips Our Sealed. 

That being said, we seem to find accents attractive if they're somewhat similar to our own, aka if they're understandable.

"Pretty much all types of accents, but mostly English and Irish. I don't know what it is about them but they're so sexy amiright?"KM
"Most any foreign accent is attractive. So if you take a normal looking girl and then you find out that she has a British, french, [P]anamaian accent, they've just become so much more interesting/attractive she becomes." TB

Some people have argued that we're hardwired for genetic diversity-
"There have been studies showing that women find the smells of men who have different genetic codes more attractive than those that have codes that are more similar to their own. An accent is just a short cut for us to note that they are from a different gene pool. Mate with them and you[r] offspring will have more genetic diversity than if you mated with someone of a similar background. This... strengthens the group in case of hardship." TB

And an interesting way to think about accents as an indication of cultural diversity: cue the dialect!
"Depending on the dialect (if that's the appropriate term to use)." TE

I'll buy that. And then, of course, there's the air of mystery that comes with the accent...

"For me there is something about these accents that makes me want to know more about them." RV

"Similarly, people find the accents as a signal of exoticism, the unknown, which is attractive, somewhat forbidden. Another personal preference: I don't [...] find other types of American accents sexy, even Canadian. Maybe because I don't really identify those other groups as foreign?" TB

Also, just so you know, just because I have an Irish boyfriend doesn't mean that I'm honed in only on the Irish accent. As one friend so directly stated: 

"Moving on to the UK accents, which I'm sure you you're going to write about." (Quick pause while I correct my friend about his ignorance of the location of Ireland) "... Irish and Scottish accents always seemed more friendly to me, more approachable." TB

I totes agree with that one, but then again, sometimes I think I have a bit of an Irish "twinge" (actual word someone used to describe my accent once....).

"I like an accent, I'm a lot more likely to carry on a conversation I wouldn't normally entertain with a guy with an accent. But only if I can understand his accent. " CL

"British accents hold a connotation of intelligence to Americans. I'm not sure how that started but I'm sure it comes from the media or something like that. But companies always send out spokespeople with British accents as experts." TB

But the media exposure isn't always a good thing, in fairness:
"I find that people with an accent outside the USA or Caribbean ingesting. I think that has to do with the fact that I live in the Caribbean and all my media entertainment comes from America." DS

This thinking kind of explains why we thought the boys in Our Lips Are Sealed were so attractive... or why Mary-Kate and Ashley kept going to places where they spoke English, with a heavy accent....!

"[U]nfortunately, sooo much judgement happens on how someone speaks. Different accents definitely mean different things but [I] really try to look past that and reserve judgement. An example ... I cringe everytime [I] hear a South African accent because [I]'ve watched blood diamond too many times and it freaks me out to hear it. I feel like a slave on the run (bizarre [I] know)... Don't really like Southern English accents because it is the accent of an oppressor (some of my best friends speak like it but [I] hate it). Something about posh [E]nglish people makes me want to slap them. They talk with such a superiority complex." EA

But still, I suppose some of us like those fancy-schmancy sounds:
"I think accents are sexy... I like a good d4 Dublin accent on a lady, or posh English. Or German. In fact, I just like women with accents.... I like women." JR

"I honestly melt at a Southern accent because it reminds me of a southern gentleman, riding a horse in a green valley, with the Blue Ridge mountains ahead and clouds overhead with an endless amount of territory to explore. Southern accents show that a man has mystery, kindness, subtle intelligence, confidence, etc. Plus, a southern accent reminds me of westerns and John Wayne and my family. Cigar smoke and campfires. Jack Daniels and cowboy boots. Singing and guitar-picking. The list is continuous." BH

Sometimes accents just make us harder to understand; it's like a mini language barrier.
"I find [accents] initially attractive and exciting because they are different, but I would get annoyed after while." BH

"Girls with accents from different languages are terrifying and indicative of a communication problem I will probably have. native English speakers with an accent, be it from the south or Scotland, are super attractive, as long as it isn't a northern Baltimore accent. That accent is just atrocious." DF

"And I'm probably in the minority, but I actually like Boston accents a lot! And growing up so far into the north, there's something endearing and charming about a little southern twang." PM

And please note, the Southern accent isn't for everyone... 
It's a cult classic -- it seems either you absolutely love it, or you absolutely, totally hate it.

"Southern accents make me want to punch babies in the face." TE

Life's funny ways will probably have those of us who feel this way married to Dolly Parton's great grand-daughter.

"Girls with accents are more attractive. Except for too much of a southern accent I can't handle." WE

The theme here seems to be Americans, Irish, Caribs, we all seem to love the Irish one....

"Northern Ireland especially makes me swoon. Remember those bachelors from Belfast?" RM

"Agreed, those [B]elfast boys, only two of them were good looking but its something about the accent... the moral of the story is yes accents do attractive make." KA

Guess I got lucky.

It's okay, y'all. Just come move with me to Ireland for a while!

Thanks again to everyone!
Cheerio x

On meeting an accented stranger:
"So yes, if a man has an accent I will have a physical attraction, and if it is in Trinidad I hear it, [I] want to know what they are doing there!" DS

"I don't know any [accents]. But when [I] daydream of talking to Australian girls they sound really good in my head." JL

"In sum, most of the time, any girl with a foreign accent becomes more attractive. It's not a silver bullet, but she definitely gains an edge." TB

"I think the smiling faces play into the accent...if their smiling, drunk, and happy. Stereotypical. Women love the company." SC

Loyalty and Protection

This is an opinionated piece which deals with current and contested events. 

Fair warning.

There are problems in every country, and don't let anyone tell you that there is an exception. No government is perfect, no system is flawless, and even the philosophically best ideas struggle in the real world where real people act on fear, guilt, anger, and sometimes just plain corruption. 

What's sometimes worse than the systems of justice - and probably more accurately, (in)justice - I think, is people's response. In the face of injustice and corruption, we often respond with impatience, cruelty, and utter ignorance, believing that the system that has worked for us will work for everyone and refusing to believe that the system is alienating and injuring thousands who stand right next to us and often say nothing. We are afraid of change when we are comfortable and contented. We're apathetic because it doesn't seem to affect us.

It probably has gone over no one's head that there are some major and tumultuous events occurring back home in the States right now; but please don't mistake me. I am not writing solely to those back home. Honestly, I am tired of injustice all over the world. And mostly, I am tired of ignorance and apathy, the excuses, the continuing support (for usually selfish reasons) of systems and opinions that are flawed, hurtful, oppressive, and ultimately corrupt.

Here's the story. A young black man encounters a police officer. The police man shoots, and the man dies. The story is much, much more complicated that this, but whatever the kid did, however scared the police man was, the fact is that the kid was unarmed. Perhaps even that shouldn't matter perhaps - if the police officer did truly believe he was a threat. 

Here is what does matter. The man died at the hands of a police officer who is charged with protection. There could be an extreme situation where the police officer saw a murder, saw a rape, or saw any number of things where he might shoot. He's trained to shoot. He doesn't have to kill. He can disable, he can stop. He doesn't kill. He did.

Afterward, he walked away. Where the man lost his life, the police officer has lost a great deal of time and dignity, but at the end of the day, at the end of the long ordeal, there is no accountability. Because no one can prove it. Terms like self-defense and protection, racism and stereotypes are thrown around, but the fact remains that we don't know. We can't know. Because there is simply no way to check. And herein lies the problem.

I will admit that I know only a little about this case, and I will therefore not comment on it. But I will say there are hundred and one nuances to this case, and if anyone has come to their decision very quickly, they have believed what they wanted to. They've made their decision before they knew more than the words policeman, black man, and guns.

The reactions of anger and dismissiveness from some people against the black community's response is horrifying, not only for the obvious reasons. Honestly, no matter what, if a story like this has the vast majority of minority groups reacting in this way, then we haven't come as far as we thought we had. Whether the man's "blackness" had anything to do with his death or not has less to do with it than the fact that this story resonates with so many in our community, that as soon as they hear the verdict, they respond with demonstrations for equality. Whether the vast majority of our system means to treat these groups with bigotry or not, the fact is they feel that they do. And that is a problem.

This young man's story is not the only one like this. There are been a handful of cases like this in the States alone, a country that prides itself on the right to freedom. How can we still be having stories like this? How come we still have such fear and terror in the dark around police and young black men? 

I read that Michael Brown's family has encouraged people to keep their demonstrations peaceful, but perhaps more interestingly, they asked for support from us on their campaign to ensure that all police officers working the streets wear body cameras for accountability. Their statement reminds us that there are two (extremely inter-connected) issues at stake here, both of which stem from the same one:
true justice.
True justice in our sense of equality; true justice in our accountability under the law.

Police must account for the actions. If we are going to entrust ourselves and our protection to our government, we must be able to defend ourselves from them as well. And that protection does not need to come in the form of guns and ammunition. I agree wholeheartedly that police ought to wear body cameras. There are several stories similar to Brown's within my own circles. A very close friend of mine has suffered at the hands of police, and she has never been able to prove it. Whether this solution would have helped her case may or may not be the case, but we ought to come up with a system for accountability.

We must build our trust in each other, in our government, and in our police force.  The two issues at stake here are justice and accountability, and both are at stake because of our own apathy. Our moderates' comfort and contentment, our minorities' dissolusionment, all of our fear. I do not in any way condone violence or acting on our anger. We cannot answer hate with hate. But I do absolutely believe we are all a piece in the puzzle of justice. Just because we sit contentedly in our Shire does not mean the Shire will be here as times change. We must ensure that our times only change for the better. We must fight for the justice we seek.

"Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection." Martin Luther King, Jr, "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"

Bucket List Bi-weekly

This post is part of a series called Bucket List Bi-Weekly.

See the first post here!

The amazing thing about this bucket list bi-weekly stuff is that a) it's one of my favorite things to post (which is probably pretty obvious since I'm kind of quiet a lot of the time otherwise!) and b) it's AMAZING the number of things I have on my bucket list. I wonder if these bi-weeklies will ever end! 

Here are five more items for my perpetual bucket list. Anyone got any suggestions? Leave them in the comments or direct message me! I'd love to hear them xx

1) Find the Dark Hedges

Photo credit: Daz Brown Photography / shutterstock.com

This picture and ones like it seem to be everywhere, and somewhere in the back of my head, I've always known these hedges are in Ireland somewhere. Well, I've recently discovered where they are more definitively, and a road-trip must now occur....

2) Take a music RTW trip

Photo credit: Alberto P. Veiga

Round-the-world trips (RTW for those of us in the know) are all the rage these days, it seems. In fact,  though little research about the topic exists, I honestly believe that there are more travel blogs than any other type of blog on the Internet. And all of them tout RTWs as one of the most epic and fulfilling experiences. Everyone's RTW will be different, but I've always dreamed of making a musical RTW, or even several music trip adventures, hunting down local musics, and exploring artistic travel. Here's hoping....!!

3) Learn to play the trad flute

Photo credit: Comhaltas

When I first came to Ireland in 2010, I bet my dad $10 that I would learn an instrument. I picked up the tin whistle, and over the last few years (and despite everyone's laughter when I tell them my instrument) I've gotten fairly good at it. And though I will be happy with my tin whistle for the rest of my days, I have always wanted to learn to play the flute.

4) Hike to the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye

Photo credit: http://maenad-sanctuary.tumblr.com/post/95798088601/from-ashes-to-beautiful-hiked-to-the-fairy

I was in Scotland recently, and I even got to take a bus tour around the Highlands. But I didn't make it as far as the Isle of Skye. Next time :)

5) Watch all the Harry Potter movies in one day

Photo credit: http://www.slashfilm.com/posters-real-steel-harry-potter-deathly-hallows-part/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-poster-2/

"After all this time?" "Always."

Enough said.

Getaways: Edinburgh

This post is part of a monthly installment. Check out the first here.

Not only do I have another Getaway post for you, I have some news for you as well. Edinburgh was featured on my bucket list only a couple of weeks ago, and I've already checked it off. Pretty productive travelling, if I do say so myself ;)

I visited the scenic capital of Scotland a couple of weeks ago for nearly a week, and though I gave Scotland so much time, Edinburgh for the weekend would still be epic.

Edinburgh is a quick jaunt from Ireland and England, but I know some of you from the States and elsewhere might not find it the best option for a weekend away. But if you ever find yourself in the British Isles, make sure you add Edinburgh to your bucket list.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh's city centre is split into two parts: Old Town and New Town. Both are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Old Town is a huge medieval frontier whose main pass, the Royal Mile, connects two castles. Edinburgh Castle sits at the top of the city as a huge medieval fortress, while the Palace at Holyrood Park -- still a Royal residence -- lays at the base of Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano.

If this combination of royalty and volcanoes isn't enough to impress you, don't forget about New Town.  Don't be fooled by the name. New Town is Georgian, built as an extension of Edinburgh in the late 1700s in an effort for the nouveau-riche to escape the tiny streets of walled Edinburgh. New Town is all about space, clean lines, and parks. The architecture is gorgeous, the parks are rampant, and the shopping is pretty good.

I could have easily spent weeks in Edinburgh. With a million nooks and crannies, the Highlands at your doorstep, and some really cool new friends, Edinburgh is my new dream home. And obviously, everyone is going to agree with me. We're all going to visit Edinburgh for weeks at a time, fall in love, and stay forever together.

But just for arguments sake, let's just say for some weird reason we only have a weekend to spend in this epic capital. How should we spent our time?

1) Visit a Castle (or Two)
This may seem very cliché for some locals who've never forked up the £10 to go inside Edinburgh Castle, but this massive medieval fortress is a village in and of itself and definitely worth the visit. Plan to spend a couple of hours in the Castle -- they even have a very nice tea rooms with traditional tea served all day. Prepare for a bit of a hike to get up the mountain, but don't worry, there are plenty of pubs along the way.

If you have the time, also go check out Holyrood Palace at the bottom of the Royal Mile. Still a royal residence, the Palace tour is extremely well-orchestrated (which might make it a bit more sterile than Edinburgh Castle). No pictures allowed inside though, so beware. You might have to buy a couple of postcards on your way out, then ;)

Edinburgh Castle, up there looking all majestic.

Palace at Holyrood

2) Take a walking tour
Sandeman's New Europe Walking Tours offers a free walking tour of Edinburgh at 10 o'clock every morning. THAT IS NOT A TYPO. Yes, it's a free tour. No it's not bad! It was actually fantastic. It was a huge group (which is somewhat unsurprising, considering its general freeness), which they split into four smaller groups. The tour lasted about 3 hours, and in that time we got an incredible amount of history about Scotland and Edinburgh especially. Our tour guide was absolutely fantastic-- thanks Sabela!! -- and it really helped me get my bearings in the city.

Edinburgh has hundereds of "wynds" or closes branching off throughout the city. Though these are usually tiny (you could touch either side as you walk through them!), we learned that these were what most streets in Old Town would've been like when the city was walled. There just wasn't enough space! Even now, Edinburgh residents will describe Old Town and the Royal Mile as the skeleton of the fish -- with one main, hilly road (spine) and hundreds of spikey bits poking off in a general downward fashion!

If walking is not your thing, check out Edinburgh Bike Tours as well!

One of the many "wynds" in Old Town, Edinburgh. 

3) Be quirky
Edinburgh is quirky, don't let anyone tell you any different. As an example, the city hosts the biggest Fringe festival in the world every year. People have inscribed the names of characters from Harry Potter into tombstones, and often graveyards are treated as public parks. Take advantage of the quirkiness and get your feet dirty in Edinburgh a little bit.

Ideas:
Greyfriars Churchyard
There is a statue to a dog here called Greyfriars Bobby. His grave is just outside the churchyard. Bobby was an officers dog for two years from the day he was born, and he and his officer were never apart. One day, sadly, his officer died. Bobby attended the funeral along with everyone else. But when everyone went home, Bobby stayed. Bobby stayed for 14 years by his officer's graveside, before he too died. People still bring sticks and other gifts to Bobby's grave.

Greyfriars is also said to be home to some pretty famous characters. Buried here is a Thomas Riddell, a Peter Pettigrew, as well as a few other names such as Moodie and McGonnegall. Nearby is the now-famous Elephant House Café where J.K. Rowling allegedly wrote a great deal of the Harry Potter books. I wonder where she got her inspiration.

The Writers' Museum
Nestled in one of the closes near St. Giles Cathedral (which is also worth a visit!!) is the Writers' Museum, housed in a medieval mansion and home to exhibits on Edinburgh's three most historically famous writers: Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Burns. The building is adorable, and if you love writing as much as I do, it's definitely worth a trip to this little museum.

Greyfriars Bobby, probably Edinburgh's most famous resident before Harry Potter

If you visit the Elephant House Café for some tea and cake, be sure to visit the bathroom.
It was literally one of the coolest and inspirational things I had ever seen.
Thousands of HP fans had inscribed their thanks to the authoress.

The Writers' Museum, in an old medieval mansion house

4) Be alone
I actually booked this trip alone, and though it didn't seem odd to me at the time, I realized once I was on the plane that it was the first time I'd ever travelled alone before. Yes, I have travelled around loads before, but usually it was with a friend in the adjoining city or just a day of wandering around alone with my friends back in the hostel. Though I've always talked about travelling alone, I've never really seemed to do it!

Edinburgh is a fantastic city to visit alone, probably because it's just that, a city. There's plenty to do, lots of walking and exploring to be done. There are some wonderful cafés and pubs with nooks and crannies to get lost in and people watch while you have your evening tea.

Walk around alone for a while, even if you've gone with a friend, just to get your bearings and to stand on your own two legs in one of the most beautiful cities.

My evening tea in an alleyway of a teashop.

5) Meet people
That being said, being alone will probably become a magnet condition for meeting new people. I stayed alone in my hostel, and met some of the coolest girls, with whom I celebrated a rather epic Halloween night. Eating alone in pubs and cafés, I met locals and foreigners who all loved talking about why they moved to Edinburgh. I even ended up friending some of them on Facebook (which of course makes it official).

I even realized (AFTER booking my flights, how dumb am I?) that my cousin lives in Edinburgh! Totally forgot. We met up for a couple pints and had a blast!

Whether you're alone or in a group, one of the greatest things about travelling anywhere is meeting people. But Edinburgh attracts some of the coolest. So go ahead, chat to the locals - the bartenders, the tour guides - and have lunch with fellow travellers.

Me 'n' cuz

A kindly and random fellow American helped me with this one.

Scottish Poppy Memorial outside Scott Monument

Did a little shopping too, of course :)

I hope this has inspired all of you to start saving now. I'm already saving for my next trip to Scotland. :) Enjoy xx

Bucket List Bi-Weekly

This post is part of a bi-weekly installment on SEDiva Abroad. Each installment features five more things on my bucket list.

Okay, so my Bucket List Bi-Weeklies have become a couple of days late recently, but it's better late than never, right? 

1) Roadtrip Italy

Photo credit: kero.i.am 

http://keroiam.tumblr.com/post/82028588588

I've always wanted to go to Italy but felt that the land of pasta and wine needed more of my attention than a week or so. An extended road trip is the way to go, so. But Italians are notoriously bad drivers. Here's hoping! x

2) Run a Disney Marathon

Photo credit: Disney Sports via

http://dailyburn.com/life/fitness/best-half-marathons/

I'd have to get back to running regularly for this one, but the girls and I have been talking about it for ages. What could be better than running in a princess costume in DisneyWorld??!?!!

3) Learn Code

Photo credit: Lifehack

I have to learn Java right now on my Masters program, and I know HTML and a little bit of C++. But I actually really enjoy it, so proficiency is officially on the bucket list, too. Hey, if I could learn the Irish language, I should be able to master some computer programming languages as well!!

4) See the Northern Lights

Photo credit: Visit Finland via

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/27/10-best-places-to-see-the_n_814506.html#s230451title=Sweden_Learn_about

Enough said.

5) Move to Ireland

Photo credit: http://readyed.com.au/Sites/cultures/ireland.htm

Okay, this is kind of a cheat. I've actually seen this one on Pinterest many times before, and I've always thought it deserved a place on my bucket list. The fact that it's already accomplished is kind of superfluous, really.

Bucket List Bi-Weekly

Welcome back to Bucket List Bi-Weekly. It's that time of the month again. 

I am happy to say that since posting my last Bucket List Bi-Weekly, I've checked off two more items from my bucket list! I'm typing this enroute to Edinburgh, and the boy and I climbed a mountain last weekend! Woot! 

Here are some more items on my bucket list. Don't know if these will get checked off as quickly, but here's hoping! Any suggestions? I'd love to hear them in the comments x Happy bucket-listing! 

1) Visit a Finnish spa

Photo credit: World of Wanderlust

I have to thank World of Wanderlust for this idea because I certainly never would have had it on my own. The thought of being trapped in a sauna (I hate heavy steam) and then taking a dip in an icicle lake sounded dreadful. But it's a proper experience, and it's one I want. ;) 

2) Train through the Alps

Photo credit: https://loco2.com/blog/2013/03/ten-of-the-best-scenic-train-trips-in-europe/

No life or trip in Europe could be complete without this, surely.

3) Perform a piano concerto

Photo credit: http://moodsofthemoon.tumblr.com/post/40863880849

I've been playing the piano since before I can remember. I've made dozens of performances, festivals, awards, but I've never performed a concerto.

4) Stay in a castle 

Photo credit: http://www.homedit.com/ashford-castle-hotel-in-ireland/

Doesn't everyone have this on their bucket list? Lucky me, I live in the land of ruined castles converted to luxury hotels. Pictured: Ashford Castle. *Sigh*

5) Swim with dolphins

Photo credit: Stuart Westmorland/Corbis

Love, love the ocean. Love, love dolphins. Love, love swimming.

Check out SEDiva Abroad's Bucket List on Pinterest!

Any more bucket list suggestions? Give me a shout in the comments! I'd love to hear them x