I’m happy to say that I’m feeling much better. My sinus pressure is completely gone, my cough is cleared up, and my Mucinex DM haze has faded away. Hooray! I’m also happy to say that tomorrow, some friends and I are heading down to Edinburgh for a day-trip. “But Victoria,” you say, “won’t you be going to Edinburgh before you fly out to Rome next week?” Why, yes. But I wanted a good, solid day of touring to see the city properly and get my bearings. Besides, I’ve been in St Andrews the past couple of weekends and the travel bug is starting to bite again!
On a sobering note, my time here is halfway over. Easter Holiday is going to be a whirlwind two weeks of travel, which I cannot wait to share, but after break it will be work, work, work again until the end of term. Then, before I know it, I’ll have to bid Scotland a fond farewell. Let’s not think about that day just yet.
Today, I’m turning in a paper for my Development of the Novel to 1840 module. A good friend of mine, and ‘foster Academic Mum’, reviewed my paper as I reviewed hers. I feel pretty good about this piece. I think it’s solid. My first essay for Scottish Fiction came back and I got a 12. Do not be alarmed! On the 20 mark scale that the University of St Andrews uses, a 12 indicates, “some writing ability, and there will be evidence of insight and of some independent thought.” This particular paper was good, but honestly not great. I can only improve. For reference, a 15 in St Andrews is the equivalent of an ‘A’. I came to Scotland to explore and to learn, since I’ve been doing quite a lot of the former and not as much of the latter – a 12 is what I expected. I’ll share the fate of this essay I’m about to submit as soon as I know.
Through actually submitting an assignment, I learned loads more about the British academic system. Next time around, I will begin far earlier and use more secondary sources. I suppose I foolishly thought I could muscle my way though without additional reading this time around. Essays and papers, as much as I enjoy writing, do frighten me. A great part of you, especially as a student, is on the line. Critical eyes only make a piece better, but how they can burn!
On the agenda today is to majorly catch up on reading. Then, tonight, friends of mine are getting together for an Anne of Green Gables party. Yes, kindred spirits find each other! Edinburgh tomorrow so hold on to your seats!
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