After 24 years of living in the same country, I have finally decided it was time for a change. So I have moved to the most fabulous city in the entire universe... Got a scholarship for a 3-year research PhD in Molecular Genetics at the University of Edinburgh, and there was no way I was going to miss such an opportunity!

Speaking of travel... that was quite an adventure. I had exactly 5 minutes to connect from one flight to the other (I initally planned it so I would have 95 minutes, but the first flight was 90 minutes late... go figure), and naturally I got here without my luggage (they followed me 24 hours later, thankfully), I couldn't get into my accomodation because someone had lost my file... and naturally it didn't occur to me to bring printed proof...

Anyway it's great to be here... this really is one of the... no, it is THE prettiest city I've ever seen (and I've seen quite a few). You people living here are a lucky bunch!

So what's the point of this post I hear you ask? Mainly so I can share my first impressions of Scotland with whoever's willing to read, but also to meet other people. I'm sure some of you live in Edinburgh, and if you're interested in have a drink let me know. Now that I've settled in I don't have many things to do at the moment (work doesn't start before October).

Truly a marvelous place to be...

Sounds fantastic. Enjoy the city and good luck in your studies. Molecular Genetics? I believe you could change the world! :)

Wow! Have fun and good luck. :thumb:

Where were you from originally? It must have been one hell of a tip, if you think Scotland is a move up!!!

Nah, seriously, I'm just kidding. Scotland is a beautiful place and the people are really friendly. I hope you continue to enjoy your time there :thumb: . Best of luck.

I lived in Glasgow (pronounce it /Glasgah/ if you are a Scot) for a year and have visited Edinburgh many times. I agree, it's one of the prettiest and most interesting cities I've been in.

Enjoy your time there, Ziad, and don't forget to go up the hills to have a proper view of the whole city.

And by the way, if you catch accents quickly, by the time you go back home you'll speak like a D&D Dwarf :D

I'd like to do the same one day. :) But without the chaotic arrival and such. :D

GL!

w00t! Much good luck and enjoyment!

University of Edinburgh, you say? You haven't joined the medieval re-enactment society there, have you?

Excellent choice of city. One of the most beautiful, and also a prestigious university. One I was considering. You'll have a wonderful time, I have no doubt.

Edinburgh is a great city! I'd love to live there someday! You can get a great view of the city from Holyrood Park by climbing an old volcano hill - I forget the name of the hill though, but it's easy to find...There's a path leading up it!

Edinburgh & Stirling where my favorite stops in Scotland, but I didn't make it to the Highlands my last trip - next time.

Congratulations and enjoy!!!

congrats Ziad. I used to live in Stirling and my son was born in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Though with events at the time I didn't really have time to look at the city!

Make sure you're at Murrayfield on November 26 when Scotland take on the All Blacks!

ot a scholarship for a 3-year research PhD in Molecular Genetics whoa. that's some serious studying :eek:

have fun :beer:

Congrats!

Got a scholarship for a 3-year research PhD in Molecular GeneticsSounds impressive. :thumb:

congrat and have fun! I wish I could visit Edinburgh one day

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I still don't have my own computer so I have erratic internet access. I'll get back into regular posting once I do.

I've already climbed the hill in Holyrood Park to the highest point, called Arthur's Seat (no idea why though. I'll have to ask someone). The view from up there is spectacular. In fact the view from just about anywhere in the city is wonderful.

Speaking of view, I can see the sea from my room, if I stretch my neck to the side. And if I stretch it to the other side I can see Edinburgh Castle. The room's nice, cozy, and very small. It's 10 square meters, including the bathroom :) But I like it, it's cozy!

I still haven't really adjusted to the new life and setting, but everyone's very understanding and helpful. People are amazingly friendly here.

If you decide to visit the city (you shouldn't miss the opportunity if it arises!) don't forget to let me know.

You haven't joined the medieval re-enactment society there, have you? Err... no, why?
(I have the distinct feeling I missed a joke here)

Make sure you're at Murrayfield on November 26 when Scotland take on the All Blacks! Let me guess... football isn't it? :D

And here I came hoping for some lame joke about respawning.

Weren't you going to Ohio or something? Edinburgh sounds like a far better choice...

@Bion: Ah, you do have quite a good memory! Yes, Ohio was the planned destination, but that was several months ago. In the meantime, I got invited to an interview in Edinburgh (for the scholarship) and fell in love. :)

Felt very homesick this afternoon... I think I'll get over this eventually. Getting myself a PC should help too :D

What specifically will you be working on? Will it involve RNAi? I bet it will involve RNAi! Seriously Ziad, you are a lucky man. Good luck!

Actually it will probably involve a fosmid library, deep-sea microorganisms (and shrimps!), and lipo-polysaccharides. Sorry, no RNA interference :)

UK banks are so bloody [insert string of insults]. I won't have a credit card before at least a month. And I can't buy anything online without one :(

On second thought I don't even have a bank account yet. So slow! :mad:

On the bright side, people here are very friendly. That is, if you except that weirdo today who simply came up to us and went into a string of insults for no apparent reason whatsoever.

dude, you are running screens day and night...

ach aye that's a bonnie thing...

dude, you are running screens day and night... "Are ya talkin' to me?"

:lol:

Seriously... what does that mean?

On another note, I still can't make any sense of the "hard-core" Scots when they talk... I just nod, say something and hope it's even related (I could of course ask them to repeat themselves, but doing that 3 or 4 times per sentence is bound to piss them off eventually)

Oh yes, and I (finally!) ordered my new PC :banana:

oh, just assumed that you're doing lots of genetic screening these days... or do you have to go through lots of coursework, take a general exam, and rotate through a few labs before you settle down to your PhD work...

Oh, you meant those screens...

Your assumption was correct. No courses, exams or rotations (you've got to love the British PhD system). I was supposed to start work today but... haven't done anything (see RBP).

On a completely unrelated note I need to phone the Royal Bank of Scotland tomorrow and scream at them because my account should have been ready 6 days ago (and isn't). And I need it to pay my rent, and the deadline is getting closer and closer.

I'm feeling a rush of homesickness. I felt that for most of the first week (I was close to crying on the 5th day), but then everything seemed to get much better. I'm feeling it again today. It's not that I miss my country (I don't miss it THAT much, not yet at least), or even my family and friends (though I do miss them a lot), it's just that... I don't know, I haven't really adapted to this life yet. It feels odd, being in a different place, where you cannot interpret people's reactions as easily as you're used to. It also happens when you go on a holiday I guess, but on such occasions you don't really care, because you are a tourist. When you live somewhere though, you simply feel out of touch with the world around you - which has suddenly become your own new world.

I have no idea why I am telling you people this. Probably because you're complete strangers :D

On another note, I still can't make any sense of the "hard-core" Scots when they talk... I just nod, say something and hope it's even related (I could of course ask them to repeat themselves, but doing that 3 or 4 times per sentence is bound to piss them off eventually)Tell me about it!
I fancied myself a decent speaker, that is, until i came to Glasgow. Couldnt understand the man telling me something slooowly, until i patched the words together and guessed what that strangely pronounced word might be. On the good side, i'd recognise a scot anywhere now. Good luck with that, i guess time'll fix it ;)

Well, grad school isn't easy however you look at it, and going to another country only makes it rougher. And I've heard a number of biologists seriously wanting to quit the field entirely after spending 3 or 4 years on a project and having it fall through (btw, be very very glad you're not doing plant genetics :mommy: ). Fortunately, in each of these cases, things eventually worked out.

Not to scare you; just saying that there will be times that you'll feel overwhelmed, behind, and a bit hopeless, but that those times will pass. All in all, grad school is absolutely one of the best things you can do with your mid- to late-20s. Sure the pay isn't great and the hours are long, but it's super stimulating and you're always surrounded by smart and interesting people. And I'm sure Edinburgh has some really, really great places to grab a beer with your colleagues after a long day...

Hello. Just got back to the boards after some months. Congratulations! I've always wanted to go to Edinburgh. Check out J.K. Rowling's place and confirm if it's either the biggest or best looking one there. :D

I fancied myself a decent speaker, that is, until i came to Glasgow. Ah yes, the Glaswegian accent is supposedly even worse. I assumed that because I heard an Edinburgh native complaining that she couldn't understand them when they spoke! Therefore I came up with the following conclusion: the Scots "skip" a few letters as they talk, which is why you don't always get what they say. The Glaswegians skip entire words :D

@Bion: I was just starting to feel better before I read your post! Seriously, research is mostly frustration and things not working out. But then, this is what makes is so rewarding when something does work.
It is overwhelming being in a new country, trying to build a new life from scratch, but at least I've chosen a hell of a good place to do that!

@Charlie: Well, there's this really huge and stunningly beautiful... villa? castle? palace? whatever you would call it, that I passed by yesterday... My first thought was, "Who lives here?", followed a millisecond later by, "I want this" :D
I'm guessing J.K. could easily afford the place if she wanted to. I'll check it out and let you know!

If you have time, take a trip over to N.Ireland, the ferry from Stranraer (Scotland) to Larne (N.Ireland). Its less than £20, and I believe is less than 1 hour travel time.

Actually if anyone fancies visiting Ireland, I can put people up for a few days and I know all the cool places to visit.

For Trainspotting (the movie, not the hobby) fans, try reading the book, I gave up on the first chapter, as it was so difficult to read in Glaswegian.