Visit to the Shop

Good Morning America,

It's raining today and the wind is pretty strong. At least, it is strong for at home. These are gusts out here, but I'm not sure that the natives are phased by it at all. I took a walk to the market to get a few items that the TSA won't allow me to take with me when I fly such as shampoo and shower gel. I also picked up some IRN -BRU
Apparently, this is stuff isn't just not sold in America, it is actually banned. I'm gonna drink it and find out why. And you know who banned it? Coca-Cola! So I'm putting Coca-Cola on notice for limiting the free market.

I promised pictures of the dogs that I am living with.
This here is Jim.

This here is Jock

They are very friendly dogs an I'm exciting to be living with them. I'll post pictures of the people that I am living with tonight in the my blog when they get off work.
I have a mission today of finding a place to eat in the city. They know where it is, but I don't so I'm going to have to do some exploring. I love it! I'm going to go get busy though so I can say I did something while I was here.

Cheers
Ian

First Impressions

Cheers Mates,

I'm super tired right now, but I will try and get through this so you'll know what's going on with me. I have arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland. I'm staying with David and Juli Headley and two great big dogs.

My flights over were as great as air travel can get. I got a pretty little stamp in my passport and was accepted into The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

It's more different than I thought that it would be. Today was actually a rather pleasant day. The air was chilled and the wind was calm. I got a chance to take a walk for about an hour and a half and here are some of the pictures.

I hope you like those. Right behind the last picture is the Edinburgh Zoo, so you can see antelope and the like when you walk your dog. A lot of people walk around here, but those who do drive, drive very friendly. And by that I mean that cars drive really close to each other. It's a little scary, and you can't make lefts on red lights (like we can do right on red). And it is very true about tea here. People drink it constantly. I have been offered it so many times. Anyway, I'm crazy tired so I'm goina have to leave it at that. Feel free to leave me any questions about anything that you wanna know.

have fun

Ian

24

In the amount of time that it takes Jack Bauer to save the world, I will board a plane that will take me far, far away from here. I fly out of Raleigh/Durham airport at 7:30pm tomorrow. I will connect in Washington D.C., fly over the lake to London, and take a small flight North to Edinburgh, Scotland.

My stomach is doing all kinds of workouts on its own. I'm not sure which emotions I am currently experiencing, but they are varied and often. I'm excited, of course, but I am also very nervous. I try and tell myself that it will be just like it is here except very cold and people will talk funny. (I will do my best to bring back some of the Scottish intonation, by the way.)

Today was spent preparing to go financially and getting clothes washed. I am very happy about the latter because I'm ready to be rid of this constant smell of cigarette. Today was nothing but boring although I did spend a great deal of time with my mother and my dog, Sandi Mae.

I would like to say that I will miss all of you guys tremendously while I am away. I will especially miss Discovery Church and my small group there. I hope to still communicate via this blog and some web-chat. I also want to say a little hello to all my friends at "guys night out" who are keeping some of my stuff safe while I'm gone. And to all my friends in Jenkins, I will miss you guys and I'm bummed I won't get to see the show happening right after I leave. To everyone else, I haven't seen you in a while anyway so two more months won't make any difference.

So now I'm off to bed so I can wake up early so I can hopefully sleep on the plane ride over there. thanks for all the support and finances from all of you.

Ian

2 Days To Go

This is less of a trial blog then is it a commitment blog. I figure if I can force myself to do this two days in a row then maybe I can continue for a full 2 months.

I spent the night last night with two of my old friends. This morning I woke up to their dog "Big D" scraping at me. He just wanted to cuddle, but I didn't want to be peed on. I pushed him off and he went and peed on the carpet instead. When I got up, I noticed that he had mutilated my eyeglasses with lenses being nowhere to be found (My hat is off to the Optometrist at Wilson Eye Associates because he made them look as good as new).

I drove around doing various errands and saying goodbye to Wilson today. I drove up to my parents house at Lake Gaston and enjoyed a delicious steak pie made by my beloved Granny. I think she's the most broken up about me going away, but I know that she's proud of me. I did purchase some books for my trip. I bought the following:

• Desiring God by John Piper
• Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
• Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
  

On top of the many other books I've sworn to myself that I would read, I should have plenty to read on my journeys. Tomorrow is a day of shopping for things that I need or have left in the far corners of North America.

On a different note, I have been trying to be content lately. This is due to a sermon Pastor Jason gave last Sunday. I have been spending money left and right, just to get where I need to be in order to do what I need to. So instead of fretting about paying $2.95 for gasoline and $5 on lunch and $20 on car repairs, I chose to be content and it actually physically feels good when I just said thanks to God for all of the stuff that I do have and make myself happy with exactly what I have. You should try it. You should also watch this neat video about Japanese dogs.

Sleep good everyone.

Ian

T-Minus 3 Days

This is a trial blog for my trip to Scotland. If you are reading this then you probably already know who I am, but I will take a moment to explain why I'm writing this blog. 

I'm headed to Edinburgh, Scotland on Wednesday February 27, 2008. I'm headed to the capital city to intern for a church planted there by Every Nation Ministries. I'll be teaching immigrants to speak English. Most of these immigrants come from Poland or China. I'm super excited, but at the same time I'm really nervous. It's been my dream to go to Scotland for years, and I'm finally getting to do it. I'm not sure if I'm packed correctly, but I reckon I'm going anyway. I'm staying until May 1 so I can come back in time to vote for Ron Paul in the North Carolina primaries.

I'm staying with Jonathan and Mike, some old friends, tonight in my hometown of Wilson, North Carolina. It is very different and surreal coming back here before I depart on such great adventure.

I hope that this blog will be consistent and I'll post pictures of where I am and the sites that I see as they happen. So check back often and hopefully I'll have something up here to make it worth your visit. (and if I'm really good, you might even consider bookmarking it.)

Have a great night.