Good times in Castle Rock

I know it has been a while since our last blog, but that is the reality of taking a holiday. I'm just getting around to posting on the first half of our trip, the Colorado half, and will hopefully post some more soon. For those of you who don't know, my whole family have moved to Colorado since our last trip home (which was only in the Summer). So, taking a trip "home" entailed flying to a new place...which was a bit weird. We had a blast seeing a new place, getting settled in to my parents new house and visiting with my sister, her husband and our little nieces. It is always crazy to see how much the little one's grow in such a short period of time. This is Kelli and I with the girls and Abby's big Christmas present.



This is one of the coffee shops in downtown Castle Rock, the nearest little village to my parents. Kelli had a fun morning with my sister and the girls hanging out in the warm to keep out of the snow.



In an attempt to keep up our walking ability, beyond our strolls through Castle Rock, Kelli and I took an hour long walk down the paths throughout my parent's area. It is amazing how warm it can be in CO in the winter with how dry it is and how much sun you get there (both of which are foreign to us in Scotland!).



We'll try to get more updates done soon. We had a blast with the family and loved Colorado. It was the first Christmas that the nieces, at least Abby, understood Christmas, so that was a lot of fun. We look forward to seeing Colorado in the Summer, and hopefully exploring a bit!

The New Mall

Well, as you might expect from my last post, Aberdeen has a new mall. The train station, which was in terrible need of updating, is now subsumed within a brand new mall and hotel complex. The word on the street is that Aberdeen actually has decent shopping now - who would have guessed! We even have our own Apple store.



There is a TK Max along the back side of the mall (yes, for all you US folks, it is the same as TJ Max), and I made friends with this lamp.



This angle allows you to see the train station entrance on the right and the new hotel on the left. The hotel, a Jury's Inn, attaches to the mall and is one of the first attempts to shift the center of the city back towards the train station. See the hotel website here.



The mall, which isn't all that large, has three coffee shops, two of which are open. The third, a Starbucks, is supposedly going to be the largest in the UK. Random. That is a lot of coffee places for one little mall.



Here is Kelli at one of the coffee shops, a place called the Tinderbox. We liked to go to the one in Glasgow, so it is kind of fun that they have one in Aberdeen now as well.



While we certainly aren't "mall people," it is fun to have some more places to eat. We went to the new burger place and it is really good. It is crazy how much has changed in Aberdeen over the last year or so! Who knows what this next year will hold?

Changes in Aberdeen

From all estimates, we are still in the midst of an economic downturn, if not full out recession. Admittedly, most point to factors which seem to show that things are turning a corner. Regardless of economics, Aberdeen doesn't seem to be all that concerned with things like statistics, downturns or, well, money. If you are going to go through an economic crisis, why not just build your brains out?

For all of those who have left Aberdeen, we thought we would update you on some of the new and almost new features of Aberdeen (more posts to come). First, and right next door to our flat, is the new sports village. This place is massive. It was a joint venture between the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen city council and Sports Scotland, and is, I believe, the largest sports complex in the North East of the country. There is a full indoor football pitch, an indoor track, an outdoor track, a weight room and a three basketball court sized gym. Not bad!



The University seems to be building like it's going out of style, so right on the heels of their new gym facility, they have started construction on their new 9 story library (not the building you see here!) - for a virtual tour click here. It, of course, will be done right when I leave!



This wooden fence you see used to be the Mercedes dealer on King Street, that has recently been torn down to make way for new flats. I was hoping for a new and used theology bookstore, but you can't have everything right?



What is certainly the most expensive endeavor of the city council is the total, and I mean total, renovation of Marischal's college. This monument is massive, and they are basically leaving in tact the facade and gutting everything else. This is the building, I have heard, that Hitler wanted for his Britain headquarters (and why not).



And while all these are exciting, by far the most exciting is that our favorite coffee shop has opened their second shop on Aberdeen's campus (right on High Street). Now the university has a real coffee shop, with real food. I don't know what to do with myself. Kelli and I made sure we went over this morning for their "soft opening" and tried to be some of their first customers. Very exciting day.



Well, there will be more changes to post soon no doubt. If the downturn gets any worse, we'll be expanding the airport, building parks, and doubling our shopping space...

Cal Poly Flashbacks

I took these pictures this past summer while we were in California, and of course, meant to blog about them then.

Almost 7 years (exactly) have passed since I graduated from uni. Its amazing how being on campus again made me remember things I had forgotten.
Thinking about my time as a university student has really made me aware of some of the things my current students might be going through. So much adjustment takes place; moving into a new "home", meeting new people, missing family and friends, and trying to study and actually learn in the meantime.

Where I studied, we could at least read our books outside on the grass, whereas in Aberdeen...well, I don't think that would be such a good idea.

I remember walking up all these steps to go to a class or meet with my advisor. I hated treking up the top floor!

As this semester draws to an end, I am encouraged. Not simply because we get to visit family soon, but I think my students have actually learned something! I've enjoyed getting to know them and seeing them process new information. We'll see how their assessments go in January, but in the meantime I think I like this teaching stuff!

P.S. To all of my teacher friends...yes, you were correct...I guess deep down I did really want to be a teacher :)