Weekly Recap #2, 2022

I survived my first full week in Glasgow, and boy what a time it’s been! I’m happy to say I finally feel like I’m settling into the city. I road the public transit for the first time, finally bought some cookware for my kitchen, figured out the mail system, etc.—getting comfortable in my home (4,504 miles) away from home. I’m really enjoying my capsule wardrobe so far and even did a little thrifting this week, so check out all my maroon-themed outfits below!

Monday, January 10

I don’t want to pretend that my study abroad experience has been all fun and games, so I will be honest in saying that today was a really crappy day. It’s been a lot harder to adjust and make friends than I thought it would be, so while being abroad is an amazing experience, it’s also a really difficult one. At least I looked super cute though! This plaid skirt is one of my favorites and felt perfectly preppy for the Hogwarts-like campus at the University of Glasgow.

I thought I was supposed to have two classes today, Celtic Civilisation and History of Art, but I guess the art history class doesn’t start until next week. The Celtic class was just online, so it wasn’t very eventful. In the evening I went to the Taylor Swift Society’s conspiracy theory event, where people could present their best Taylor Swift conspiracies—who knew this was such a thing? I definitely did not know enough about Taylor to understand all the references, but the crazy theories were amusing nonetheless.

Grey Turtleneck: Bohme Boutique, $30, last worn here | Maroon Plaid Skirt: JCPenney, $25, last worn here | White Knee Socks: DSW, $15, last worn here | Black Knee Boots: Clarks via DSW, $100, last worn here

Tuesday, January 11

I waited by my window for an hour to make sure I received the utensil set I ordered from Amazon (I guess in the UK you have to be home to receive your mail—they don’t just leave packages on doorsteps like they do in the U.S.). Thankfully I snagged my package and then had Celtic Civilisation online again. In the afternoon, I rallied a bunch of study abroad students via a WhatsApp groupchat to go to an event on campus called Bob Ross and Booze—we painted and drank because at the University of Glasgow, there is a bar in basically every room of the student union. The event was really fun, and I was so excited to finally meet students from all over, such as Greece, Germany, Hong Kong, and Japan! I ended up going to dinner with two of them and finally ordered my first fish and chips.

Blush Lace-Up Tee: JCPenney, $20, last worn here | Black Corduroy Skirt: Francesca’s, $35, last worn here | Fishnet Tights: Forever 21, $7, last worn here | Leopard Rain Booties: Ralph Lauren via DSW, $60, last worn here

Wednesday, January 12

I ran a few errands this morning and then attended a Zoom event for exchange students to teach us a few basic words in Gaelic and Scots. I learned slainte, which is Gaelic for “cheers” and has already been quite handy! I then went to my first in-person class on campus, Intro to Scottish Culture, which only takes place every other week. I met up with another student in the evening to attend a Mamma Mia sing along event at the student union, where we watched the movie and did group karaoke to all the songs. I don’t really care for the film, but the Abba songs are great—and it was fun seeing how into it everyone got!

I wore one of my favorite dresses today with a rose brooch, as well as rocked the frizzy hair—my hair has been out of control and almost full-on curly with all the moisture in the air here. I really like it this way.

Old Fashioned Dress: Max Studio via Nordstrom Rack, $40, last worn here | Black Tights: DSW, $10, last worn here | Black Knee Boots: Clarks via DSW, $100, last worn here

Thursday, January 13

Today was probably the best day I’ve had in Glasgow so far. I stopped by the Welcome Fair on campus this morning and joined several societies, I went thrifting at my first charity shop, I attended a fun international student trivia event on Zoom, and I was shown around by a local I met at the pub last week. It was SO cool to get a tour of the city from someone who lives here and to pick his brain about all-things Scotland, and I walked by several of the landmarks I’ve been seeing on postcards/brochures since I’ve gotten here.

I wasn’t sure if my maroon moto jacket would be too much with my maroon mock-neck top, but I actually really like how the monochromatic look turned out. Plus, I finally managed to pull off the half-up hairdo! Usually it looks really stupid on me, but something about the extra volume of my Glasgow hair made it work today.

Maroon Mock-Neck Top: JCPenney, $11, last worn here | Maroon Moto Jacket: BB Dakota via Wish Boutique, $25, last worn here | Black High-Waisted Skinny Jeans: Express, $42 | Leopard Rain Booties: Ralph Lauren via DSW, $60, last worn here

Friday, January 14

I spent an hour and a half today walking to Ikea to pick up some apartment essentials before taking the bus back to my flat. In the evening, I was supposed to attend an on-campus event with several other exchange students, but it was already full by the time we got there (lots of the events have limited spaces due to Covid regulations). Instead, the other students and I decided to go out someplace close to campus, so it was fun to get to know a new group of people.

Checkered Top: JCPenney, $30, last worn here | Maroon Quilted Vest: Francesca’s, $45, last worn here | Black High-Waisted Skinny Jeans: Express, $42 | Black Knee Boots: Clarks via DSW, $100, last worn here

Saturday, January 15

Today I spent three hours at—get this—quidditch practice. It was a welcome event for new students to try the Harry Potter-based sport, and I actually really enjoyed myself. Was it hard to take the game seriously? Yes. We ran around with PVC pipe ‘brooms’ between our legs and used several types of balls to bring the magical wizarding game to life (the game is kind of a cross between handball, rugby, and dodgeball). Like I said, a very amusing pastime!

Later in the evening, I went to Bingo Night on campus with some international students I met at quidditch, which I figured was the perfect opportunity to break out this fabulous turquoise fur coat I thrifted on Thursday! I didn’t win at Bingo at all, but I ended up hanging out with two of the students afterwards. I have SO enjoyed getting to know such interesting people from all over Europe and Asia (I haven’t met anyone from the Southern hemisphere yet). It is fascinating to hear how things are different in their home countries compared to the U.S.—I’ve already learned so much and have only been here a week and a half.

Checkered Peplum Top: Charming Charlie, $13, last worn here | Turquoise Faux Fur Coat: Thrifted, $17 | Black High-Waisted Skinny Jeans: Express, $42 | Black Knee Boots: Clarks via DSW, $100, last worn here

Sunday, January 16

Today, I got brunch with a friend near campus, and then we walked across town to go to a museum called House of an Art Lover. It is a house built in the 1980s based off the sketches of a well-known architect from the 1800s, and the vision for the house was that the art would be the walls instead of hanging art on the walls. It was a really cool building! The unique foot sculpture from the beginning of today’s post was on the grounds of the museum.

Blush Strappy Tee: JCPenney, $18, last worn here | Maroon Moto Jacket: BB Dakota via Wish Boutique, $25, last worn here | Black Corduroy Skirt: Francesca’s, $35, last worn here | Fishnet Tights: Forever 21, $7, last worn here | Leopard Rain Booties: Ralph Lauren via DSW, $60, last worn here

. . . . .

As always, thanks so much for stopping by today! Also, thank you for all the well wishes for my time abroad. There have been ups and downs, but aside from Monday, this was an incredible week. I’m really enjoying my experience so far! Anyway, I hope you all have a restful Sunday evening.

 

Miles of smiles,
Grace