Okay first off this is my last weekend in Stirling because this upcoming weekend I am going on a three day tour of the highlands!
Anyways so this weekend I thought I could maybe go to England to visit my friend but that didn't happen so I had to find an alternative. What did I find? WWEEELLLLL! For Saturday I found an archaeological dig!!!! The Stirling Archaeological society does digs open to public volunteers and this entire weekend they were digging the Stirling Bridge battle site where William Wallace defeated the British! I ended up digging with a man and his son who were from Peru! They were super nice. We only dug one hole before I left because I had to get lunch and we didn't find anything except Victorian pot shards, but it was still fun. It may, unfortunately, be the only archaeological field work I ever do, which is sad because my first major is kind of focused on archaeology :(
Anyways I was going to go back today and do that again (I really wanted to find a body) but last night I found out that Pixar's Brave (which doesn't release in the UK until August) was being shown today at the Edinburgh film festival!!!! Some girls from my study abroad group were going so last night I booked my train ticket and movie ticket. This morning I got up super early, went into town with the girls and took a train to Edinburgh.
The movie was, in a word, AMAZING. I knew it would be but I seriously loved this movie. The graphics and colors were the best Pixar has done yet and the characters were wonderful. You really felt for the mother, who if done wrong you could of ended up hating as the overbearing controlling mother, but you really understood how much she loved and respected her daughter. And Merida was spectacular as well. Being the first ever Pixar female protagonist she had a lot to live up to, and performed wonderfully. She was smart, independent, talented, brave, strong, and loving. She was also naive and selfish, traits that obviously caused the entire plot. I also loved how in the end she did not end up with a romantic partner. SHE DON'T NEED A MAN! It sent a wonderful message for young (and older) girls out there. You can be strong and be in charge of your own life without relying on a man for approval or dependance. (woah my feminist is showing)
Anyways he relationship between these two characters was so heartbreaking and so powerful. By the end their bond was so strong and heart wrenching to watch. Plus (SPOILER ALERT) the mother made a fantastic bear. The fight between her and the evil bear was so intense and amazing to watch. I was on the edge of my seat and hardly breathing. There was so much intensity in this film! And humor, of course. The King and the princes were wonderful comic relief as well. Of course the King played a very important role as loving husband and devoted father.
Overall the film gave a very powerful and positive message about trying to understand where other people are coming from, especially when that other person is someone you love, never letting your differences in opinion separate you from your family, and that you control your life. You can make change your fate :D
An added bonus to this entire experience was, of course, SEEING IT IN SCOTLAND! I realized that this film, although an American film, was actually geared towards Scots as well. How do I know this? There were plenty of Scottish inside jokes in the film that we Americans didn't know were funny. I found myself watching something and finding the entire audience bursting into laughter. After that I realized that joke that fell flat to me actually was very comical to the locals. The one of the chieftains' sons who you never understood what he was saying. He was funny by the Scottish people found him HILARIOUS. I think this has something to do with the steryotype that the further north you go, the less you can understand the people's accents. Anyways it was just a major treat to get to experience that as well.
All in all this was a great weekend. I am very nervous for the last two weeks, there is so much going on! And I am running out of time here. One part of me (the sleep deprived part, I think) is ready to go home. I am very upset I am missing this heat wave the US is experiencing and I am sick of feeding myself! I also miss my friends and yes, I miss you too mom and dad. Being 5 hours ahead really screws with communication! But of course the overwhelming part of me does not want to go. I am entering the last half of my stay here and suddenly I feel like I am out of time :(
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