Preparing for Scotland I was unaware of how at home I would feel an ocean away. The first thing I noticed about the locals was how kind they were to those who had absolutely no idea what they were doing. This kindness extended to the students as well who were more than happy to bring myself and the other study abroad students into the fold of St Andrews. In addition to the kindness that reminds me of Charleston’s southern charm, the town and school remind me so much of home as well. The town itself has been an area of renown since the early Middle Ages when the cathedral was founded. From that point it was a significant pilgrimage site until the Protestant Reformation when the cathedral was destroyed. The history surrounding St Andrews is amazing, and just like Charleston we have classes in the school’s historical buildings. The undergraduate population is roughly 10,000 and much like Charleston the town is run by students until the tourist season begins. I have found that the social scene at St Andrews is far beyond what I expected when coming here. Each of the school’s halls (dorms) have their own respective balls, of which I have had the opportunity to attend two. In addition to the balls the student union, a building that hosts a café, club, and pool area, additionally has events every night of the week. From the karaoke nights that they have on Tuesdays to the “bops” held every Friday night, there are so many opportunities to meet new people and make close friends.  In addition to the social events, the classes, for the history students specifically, are small and intimate. In this way there are so many parts of this university that remind me of home but then I step outside and remember how far away I really am.