Hello from Edinburgh!
November was a great month and I am getting excited for the holidays! Downtown Edinburgh is full of Christmas decorations, holiday markets, and festive fun! This has provided a cheerful backdrop against a very busy month filled with final assessments and exam preparations. This semester has been challenging and has made me think more deeply about my work. I feel more confident about my career trajectory and have developed strong skills in critical thinking and analysis from the research I have had to do for my assessments. I have also been thinking about my dissertation topic, which I will complete next summer as part of my program. This program has been a fun and challenging opportunity that has made me an even stronger and more dedicated scholar.
I had the pleasure of taking part in several Rotary events in November. The monthly meeting was held at Uwagboe’s Kitchen in Leith, which serves delicious Nigerian food. This was such a fun experience! Later that week, the Rotary Club of Edinburgh held their “Discover Rotary” event, which was an opportunity for people with an interest in joining Rotary to meet Club members and learn about opportunities to get involved. I had a great time networking with professionals and volunteers and sharing about my experiences as a Global Scholar. Finally, we wrapped up November with a “Ladies Lunch,” where the ladies of Rotary enjoyed a delicious meal and raffle, while the men of Rotary served us! It was such a fun day and I had a great time chatting with all the members of Rotary.
I also spent time bonding with members of my cohort this month, and we had great fun at our annual ceilidh, which is a traditional Scottish social gathering filled with dance, food, and music! This was truly a transformative month and I look forward to seeing what December brings. I’ll be visiting home for a couple of weeks for the holidays, and I am so excited to see everybody then! Cheers!
Ashton
Royal Mile Monthly Rotary Meeting