Escaped. Once Again.

Monthly vacations sounds a bit extreme? Apparently not. Most of the crews I have flown with try and take a trip a month to make the job 'worth it.' Whoa. I was shocked. A pilot I flew with went to Mexico seven times last year. A first officer was headed to Ireland to run a marathon. No big deal. What? What is this lifestyle. Crazy. Baffling. I still use the same words now as I did six months ago. Hard to believe in four days I will have reached the half year mark with this job. Each day is something new, each flight has new faces, each trip let's me see new places. Completely in love with this job.

The month of April brings me to my next escape: SCOTLAND. My best friend, Gina, is the Assistant Director of the Wisconsin in Scotland (WIS) program at the Dalkeith House in Dalkeith, Scotland. About 30 minutes outside Edinburgh. We both stayed at this house three years ago on our International Traveling Classroom (ITC) program and I had an extra two week stay with our free time back in 2009. To say I wanted to go back is an understatement. I dream of going back to Europe. Showing my mom, and new friends and old, where I have traveled, and to relive memories and experiences that have been pushed to the back of my mind.

I ventured across the ocean for a mere five days. But those five days were packed with laughter, conversation, sight seeing, food, drinks, and smells that all confirmed my love for Scotland. This past weekend was much needed. Although I'm gone typically half the week from home, put up in hotels that I get quite used to, I still yearn to hop right back on a plane and see the world when I'm not traveling the country for work. I remember one of my instructors back in October saying there's something about flying that gets in your blood, it's almost like an addiction. Well, I feel it. If I'm home for too long I re-think my job choice at the moment, or get too comfortable being lazy and unproductive. I'd rather be working, surrounded by a great group of co-workers, mostly happy passengers, and my plane - jetsetting across the country. So with five days off, you'd be crazy not to go somewhere. My venture to Scotland seemed quick, but neccesary. And why not visit my best friend while she's there? I only have a six month time frame, so when the time exists, why not?

SCOTLAND

April 11-15, 2012.

This was the midway point to packing. Bringing Gina Mac&Cheese and lemonade packets! If I didn't make it that night on the standby flight, I would have had quite a bit for myself, which I mean, I wouldn't mind, BUT I'd rather be able to hand deliver them to Gina. Thankfully, I caught the flight, and in about 12 hours these would be hers.

I can't believe this. I got to the gate and they already had a seat assignment for me. First class, no less. I have heard from co-workers that when you fly international typically this happens, because Delta doesn't offer upgrades on those flights versus domestic. And this was indeed the case, there were about ten open seats still in first class! I've started writing myself notes on my ipod. Got the idea from Gina. Keeps thoughts fresh in my mind and captures the moments instead of memories per se. So here goes, my first thoughts:

"Well. I got first class. They assigned me a seat almost an hour prior to boarding. I could not believe it. I am in seat 4b.With the letters 'prem' underneath the seat assignment. I didn't even know if it truly was first class because I've never sat up here for a long trip as a passenger. The seats have all sorts of contraptions to play with. I didn't even know there were tvs until the person in front of me pulled his out, it's like being on an alien robotic world up here. There is a comfy squishy pillow on ever seat, and a blanket to go with it. I cuddled the pillow in my arms for take off, I could have drifted off to sleep but I knew I had to stay awake for the food. I got asked what I wanted for dinner. I chose the pan seared sea bass. What in the world. Where am I? I'm used to serving others, not being served on. Oh, and there's no one in the seat next to me so I scooted over to the window to make me feel even more alone and give me space. A snack came: warmed nuts and a glass of blanc white wine. I would have been satisfied with just that! Then the appetizer. Pumpkin soup, couscous, a salad, and a warmed roll with butter. I'm already full, ate spaghetti before I came here tonight on an already quesy stomach, yet I can't say no. I'm taking in the entire experience. It's currently 6am Amsterdam time and I'm having dinner and wine. The soup was so good, I was expecting it to be a cold soup but it was warm. The couscous was cold and I had expected that to warm. Shows what I know. The dipping sauce was a tangy mustard orange flavor. The dressing to the greens a bit too much vinegar but tasty nonetheless. When I was finished with the nuts they whisked away the dish promptly without even me knowing it. Same with the soup and couscous; the plates were gone the minute you finished it. I've never had anything this fancy, and I'm on an airplane soaring 35,000 feet above the world on a B767. As the flight attendant says, "enjoy your dinner, hun" I can't help but be taken aback by all this. How do I, a broke recent college grad get this treatment. This lifestyle. I can't believe it. And add a wonderful pilot I'm dating {cats out of the bag for anyone reading this} and my life is quite surreal at this moment. I  resume my movie, Ides of March my first choice, and now for my entree. And yes, I'll have more bread as you pass by.

The sea bass was a bit fishy. I ate the celery puree and that was it. As I sip my glass of dwindling wine I order a strawberry sundae. I think I just consumed a days worth of calories, and my pants seem to feel like they are bursting at the seams. My sundae arrived, fresh berries and syrup. Looks delicious. Maybe working mainline wouldn't be so bad.

I had the ice cream sundae, only ate about 1/4 of it, was like a frozen cool whip chunk. I wanted a strong vanilla bean. Worth not eating, but that's okay. No more wine, just water. The lights have been turned off, I'm using the blanket and cuddling my pillow. I'd pay just to take this flight there and back to feel like a princess.

As I wake up in the middle of a snooze at 1:32am a light goes on above me as I shift around. Great. I have no idea what I pressed for that nor do I know how to turn the light off. Hmm. Let's figure this out. It's 8:34am Amsterdam time, looks like I'm calling it a sleep in day. Hmm. This isn't so bad.

I wake up to clanking of glasses as flight attendants pass through the cabin. It is now breakfast time already. 4:58am, meaning basically noon Amsterdam time. I got a charlie horse while sleeping when I stretched my leg out, not the greatest feeling to have in the middle of the night on a plane. So now my right calf is sore. My lower back is real sore must have slept on it the wrong way. After a walk to climb Arthur's seat, I'm sure it'll feel better.

Well. I just tried to connect to wifi and seems this plane doesn't have it. Good thing I booked my ticket before I left. However, now I'm confused on how to get a boarding pass and all that. I know they have wifi so maybe my ticket will have gotten emailed to me. Let's hope. Now to drink my orange juice."

"Below me in the water are whatt appears to be windmills. I need to look this up of what they are. I took a picture from the plane and now am so curious to what they are. Must be a Netherlands thing. Must look up where this picture was taken on photo stream as well. I like technology when I actually know how to use it!"

Hello, Amsterdam! I have arrived.

Gina had originally planned an excursion for her students to Deep Sea World and I was excited for that trip, yet I was a bit disappointed when I looked at the website and saw their attraction to the aquarium were sharks. Meh. Gina had changed the day trip to St. Andrews - this way she got to explore a new part of Scotland too! The day was great. Here's St. Andrews University. And yes, this is where William and Kate met. Walking through a university outside of the US was different. For a few minutes that day we admired the fashion trends of the students, we even saw a tour being given for prospective students. And Gina and I stumbled upon the Residence Life office, of course.

Here's a view of the Cathedral from the Castle, along the shores of the North Sea. The weather was crazy, a bit windy for awhile, then tiny hail pellets for awhile, rain droplets, than sunshine. If that didn't happen, it wouldn't be Scotland.

At the castle there was seige tunnel we could go through. Definitly my highlight of the grounds. My love for caves and thus tunnels is extremely high, odd, considering I dislike the dark, but I feel so safe in these types of enclosures. And I wish the tunnel went even further. Not the ideal exploring outfit, but it still got me through!

I love water. And boats. And beaches. And shorelines. And nautical things. And basically a lifestyle that is so different from my own; makes me so curious to lifestyles of others. Well. This city achieved this thought. We passed two gentleman cleaning their boats on a Friday afternoon, stopped at a small fish&chips shop for tea, and ate shortbread by the sea. What a life. To think what is the life of the two surfer guys? Where does the gentleman with the playful dog live? Or do the little munchkins with their rainboots in the sand realize they live in Scotland? I constantly wonder the lives of others. The world is so huge and diverse.

We headed to the aquarium and passed this pagoda looking structure. Reminded me of Sound of Music. With the sunshine coming back out for the day, of course a picture was neccesary. The aquarium was quite tiny, and a meerikat exhibit was a highlight (yet may I remind you, we were at an aquarium?), in addition to seals. I was so pleased we did not pay entrance to this tiny St Andrews place, we simply got lost finding our way to the restroom.

I had wanted to visit Dalkeith when the flowers were blooming. Little did I know all the flowers would be in full bloom. Ivy was growing everywhere, and the blue sky came out to make for a great three days while I was visited. This walk from the bus station to the Dalkeith House will never be forgotten. I love feeling offset brick road beneath my feet as I walk. 

Edinburgh. I can't express enough how much there is to do in such a somewhat small town. I swear, every time I will visit this place in my life, I will see something different.

The castle. I could take a million photos and never get tired of looking at them.

The farmer's market! This was a surprise! Behind the castle, Gina knew of a farmer's market on Saturday's. We bought tea and I got 4 scones for one pound at this persons booth. Quite the steal if you ask me. I couldn't have been more happy with tea and scones. Then we strolled on the path that rounded the castle.

I did indeed find a leather jacket at the charity shops in Dalkeith. I couldn't be more happy with it. I felt that my experience was so complete. No bright white tennis shoes, no sweatshirts, simply an outfit that made me feel Scottish. Add in my redhair and I was quite pleased with myself.

Calton Hill. Where Gina takes all her visitors. The view is amazing. That middle hill - that's what I climbed three years ago. Yet Gina informed me, the hill on the right is actually Arthur's seat, what we thought we were climbing, also nicknamed the 'Lion King' hill. Next time, Edinburgh, I will climb you.

A picture that one of Gina's students took at St Andrews Castle. Gina and I didn't take too many pictures together. Yet, I'm okay with that. The fact that we could either sit in silence together ot talk as we walked new ground was worth it. Because being together was all that mattered. See you soon, Gene.

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