Apple? Pumpkin? No - Humble

     The nature of study abroad is such that at some point I expect the studying to occur. I say that because, up until this posting, my studying has consisted of a few readings here and there while I sit and wait for the big exam at the end of the term that will comprise my entire grade. Not inherently being a worrier, I am far from stressed out about this, but if I had some form of school work to do I suppose the level of discomfort I feel would be somewhat smaller than it is. But the time will come when I will need to engage with my course work and at that point I will look at these past few weeks with longing in my eyes.

     Studying has taken a new form in Glasgow, however. It may be that my expectations of what studying while abroad would look like completely missed the point, and if that is the case, I hope I am beginning to come around. My studies have been conducted almost entirely outside the classroom since being here, and I love that. I have learned a lot about new ways of living, new ways of speaking, and really just new ways of being a person. With all that, it seems that up to this point, and probably even more as I spend more time here, my biggest assignments have been lessons in humility.

     Oftentimes familiarity is our greatest strength; it allows us to be ourselves and feel free to express who we are in an uninhibited way. When that familiarity of surroundings is no longer present, we cling for things to steady ourselves, and when those give way or prove different than expected, we quickly learn to become familiar with healthy doses of humble pie. For example, I thought in coming here that I knew a fair amount of Scottish history. Not in great detail of course, but at least some basics. Why did I think that? Because I have read a couple books on the subject. But in talking to Scots, I have discovered that I know little to nothing about Scottish history or modern day culture. When that is your life, or what is familiar to you, it takes on a whole new dimension than when they are seen as nothing more than words on a page. So I have learned to acknowledge my lack of education on the subject that is Scotland and have been taught quite a lot by a number of Scottish people whether the lesson was intended or not.

     One more quick story before I go: Since arriving in Glasgow, I have taken part in a few different clubs, but have really stuck with two of them. There is an American football team at the university here, and before you judge, I have never played football for a team in my life. In fact, I put pads of any sort on for the first time in my life tonight for practice. It is really brilliant (don't hassle me, I'm local), and only in a place other than America could I have the opportunity to play for an official team at a university level, so I am soaking up the chance. Now for the story. I am playing wide receiver currently for the team and they had me run a fade route (straight down the field) and have the quarterback throw it to me. I somewhat misjudged how far I would need to run and caught the ball right in the throat. I did hold on though, and, most importantly, I got a great bruise. Unfortunately, when I woke up the next morning, that bruise looked remarkably like a hickey. Embarrassing because the other group I am actively a part of is the Christian Union. "It's from a football, I promise."

      So humble pie I am served, and humble pie I eat. But I would not want it any other way. In moments of embarrassment and stupidity there is the greatest possibility for learning. Study abroad has been one of the best times of my life, and with possibility after possibility coming my way, learning just has to happen.