Burns Nicht

In Scotland, they celebrate what is known as Burns Night. Burns Night is a celebration of the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns. He apparently wrote many famous poems, died at a young age and now to celebrate him, on his birthday (January 25th) they eat Haggis and do some Scottish dancing. Personally, I think it is just another excuse to drink on a weekday, wear some kilts and dance around making a complete idiot of yourself...my kind of night!


So, case in point a bunch of us bought tickets to this wonderful celebration the school was putting on in one of the buildings. We arrived at 830ish, feeling pretty happy and full (we eat before we came), got a few drinks and then, yes your not going to believe it, had some HAGGIS. Now, I have been telling people that I was going to eat it, but I didn't want to know what was in it until I had some. So, I Wiki-ed it and this is what came up:

Haggis is a dish containing sheep's 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally simmered in the animal's stomach for approximately three hours. Most modern commercial haggis is prepared in a casing rather than an actual stomach.

 Yup, here is a lovely picture of the "famous" Scottish meal. Can you believe that I, the one who will eat the same sandwich every day for lunch and dinner actually tired this? Scotland is really making me pretty adventures if you ask me! Here are two pictures to prove that I actually had some:

My first bite

Chewing and swallowing!

 

Ok so I am sure all of you are wondering, what did it taste like? Was it good? Did you eat the whole thing? Personally, I felt it tasted similar to stuffing, but with a little more "bam". It really was not that bad, and no I did not eat the whole thing, I was pretty full from my lovely chicken salad sandwich before, but if I was offered it again I would have some.

After this interesting meal, we headed to the pub in the same building to have a few drinks and wait for the ceilidh. I still can't believe they have pubs in school buildings, I think it is an awesome idea! Now, for those who don't know a ceilidh (pronounced Kay-Lee) is a traditional Scottish dance and it was so much fun! Forget about the electric slide at weddings, Americans need to start doing the ceilidh dance! The band started playing, and those who knew the dances started dancing. It was so cool watching them. Then they broke down the dances and taught them to the ones who didn't know them. Everyone was really nice and if you were standing out, they would just pull you in. There was no just watching, you had to try and that was what made it so fun. Spinning around, dancing with people you don't know, messing up, laughing, making a complete fool out of yourself is what it is all about. I highly suggest everyone to learn a few of them. Well, because I was dancing so much (about 2 hours or so) I didn't have the time to take a lot of pictures, or get my picture taken trying the dances, but here are a few.

Scottish people doing the dances

All of us doing something

The band playing

Dancing again

Spinning; there was a lot of that

That was about it. Now, Nick I think I accomplished my second goal and third so now I need some more things I can accomplish/ try when I am here...any suggestions?

Alexa and I leave for London on Friday and like I have been saying I am really excited to go. And oh, for those who don't know yesterday we recieved an email stating:

The University is to close for the public holiday on Friday 29 April.
The UK and Scottish governments have declared the date a holiday to celebrate the royal wedding between Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton.
No exams are scheduled for the public holiday. 

Now that they know I will be available to attend I am expecting my invitation any day now!

Instead of reading and doing some work for my classes tomorrow, I wrote this blog and now I think it is time for a game or two of Rummikub!

Cheers!