My second month in Scotland has been far busier than the first, packed with travel, good food and of course, more coursework. I began the month at a school-organized Ceilidh, a traditional Scottish dance that involves large choreographed dances in groups and with partners. At first, it was difficult keeping up with the Scottish dancers, but after attending a few more I’ve gotten the main dances down—strip the willow, military two-step, flying Scotsman, and many more. I’ve really enjoyed diving deeper into Scottish culture, trying out the dances and food—though I’m still waiting to try haggis at a real restaurant, I’ve been a bit hesitant, or scared, to order it until now.

A couple of weeks into February, six of my flatmates and I took a weeklong trip to Spain during break, spending two days in Seville and four in Madrid. Seville was breathtaking, filled with beautiful plants and trees, colorful architecture, and warm, sunny weather. We had the opportunity to visit the Plaza de España, a gorgeous, massive palace just outside of a serene bird sanctuary, the Catedral de Sevilla, the largest gothic cathedral in the world, and much more. The weather in Madrid was much colder and cloudier, but in its sprawling streets we found an excellent architectural museum, large shopping districts and some of the best tacos I’ve ever had at a restaurant called Takos Al Pastor.

Spain was my first dive into a different country with a substantially different culture and language and I enjoyed trying my hand at speaking and ordering in Spanish, even if I wasn’t always successful. February was a fantastic month abroad, full of many new cultural experiences and beautiful sights. After traveling in Spain, I’m especially excited to travel to more countries across Europe. This time, however, I’ll be more prepared for any language barriers to come. In addition, I’ll make it a goal to try haggis this month; without it, I can’t truly say I’ve had the Scottish experience.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Heriot-Watt University