Constant Changes

A lot has changed in the past couple of weeks, causing both stress and celebration. First, kicking off this chain of change, I (Bailey) completed and submitted my dissertation! *Cue celebratory dancing!* After 5 months of research/ writing, 4 drafts, 1 complete overhaul of my dissertation a week before it was due, countless trips to the library and 74 final pages, I am officially finished with my Masters programme! I'm happy to be done and finally experience this so-called 'free time' but at the same time, I'm not sure what to do with myself.

Since submitting my dissertation, Matt has gone back to Tennessee to get his student visa. He has been gone for a almost 2 weeks and we still don't know when he'll be able to return to Scotland. Visa applications can take as little as 5 business days to get, or as long as several weeks. We are hoping and praying that he will be granted his visa in the next few days. Please pray for a speedy application process! He has been enjoying visiting friends and family while he's home. I just wish I could have gone with him!

Instead, I packed up our stuff and moved into our new home in St Andrews, just one block from the 16th century cathedral ruins, 2 blocks from the beach, and about 6 blocks or so from the famed St Andrews Old Course. (Also, fun fact, the section of beach along the golf course is where sections of Chariots of Fire was filmed. I may need to go for a run on the beach while listening to the soundtrack.) Our new flat is very cute, and quite an upgrade from our last one. It's smaller, but has just been renovated. I'm most impressed by our washer/ dryer. Maybe it's just me, but I didn't know that one machine could do both! After hanging our clothes on the line for the last year, I'd forgotten what warm, fluffy towels felt like. Here are a few photos of our new place. I haven't completely finished unpacking and decorating yet, but you can still get a good idea from here.

Since moving I have spent a lot of time exploring the town and taking pictures at the beach, as well as job hunting. While St Andrews is a lovely, quaint town (it reminds me a bit of Stars Hollow) the job choices are a bit sparse. I visited every art gallery in town and gave them my resume as well as any shop or cafe that was hiring. I had an interview with one of the cafes yesterday and I have a trial shift next week. It's not exactly an art related job, but at least with this one, I can still keep my once a week job with The Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh, so overall I think it is good.

That's a lot of changes to make in a short time, along with saying goodbye to several of my classmates, all of whom are returning to their home countries, and finding a new home for Rory since we couldn't keep her in a University flat. The last few weeks have been rather emotional and stressful, but I'm definitely ready for Scotland phase 2 to begin.