Anyway, Nick showed us fine examples of 60s architecture by showing us the Union, the main student building of campus, and the library, the other main student building of campus. He took us along the scores where the Principal's (President's) home is along the cliffs of the North Sea. We were educated about the May Dip which is a University tradition that occurs ever May 1. In order to rid one's self of any bad luck acquired during term, i.e. if you step on the PH, then you must go down to the sea at dawn with thousands of other students and run into the North Sea to rid yourself of any bad luck. If you do this, all academic curses will be lifted and you will supposedly pass with flying colors. I'll be doing this regardless of my academic standing. Also, the story of how the curse came to be is a little more intricate. Apparently, Patrick was sentenced to be burned at 8AM. But being that it was Scotland, and it was February, the wood that had been sitting out overnight in preparation for, well, for lack of a better word, the barbecue, was damp. Therefore instead of taking three hours for Patrick to die, it took all day. While Patrick stood there waiting, and waiting, and waiting to be consumed by the flames is when he cursed that ground upon which he burned. And on the outside of the church of St. Salvator that stands in front of where Patrick died, there is a face imprinted into one of the bricks. Whether it is a well-played prank, an accident of nature, or the ghost of Patrick, he is watching you and will curse you if you step on the PH.
Nick also showed us the Church of St. Salvator's, where a bishop of St. Andrews is buried. However, when archaeologists decided to dig him up to identify him, they discovered that he had not been "buried" in the traditional sense because the slab of stone covering his tomb was too heavy to be lifted. So he was basically shoved through an opening to the crypt underneath the stone slab which was closed by a trap door. St. Salvator's is near St. Salvator's, which some of you may be interested to know that St. Salvator's hall is where Prince William lived during his first year here at St. Andrew's. Nick told it is typically reserved for St. Andrew's richest students, and the hall is conveniently located near the University administration, the beach, the cathedral ruins, St. Andrews Castle, the Principal's house, etc. I'll try to put up pictures later.
Finally, a St. Andrew's tradition I am very fond of is the red robes that some students still wear. The robe was originally used so that proprietors of pubs and various other "houses of ill repute" could know they could not serve the students as they used to be younger. Now it is a way to tell what year you are at St. Andrew's more than a giant red warning sign to keep you out of the pubs. First years wear their robes all the way up high on their shoulders, second years allow them to sit about halfway up their shoulders, third years shed a shoulder depending on what school they are in, School of Sciences off the right shoulder (because apparently science is always "right") and School of Arts and Divinity off the left shoulder. Fourth years effectively drag their robes on the ground with what was the shoulders at their elbows. I'll have to borrow someone's and take pictures not only to demonstrate all the various robe positions but also just to wear one. They are available for purchase, and despite really wanting one, I definitely cannot afford the £125 ($198.01) it would cost to buy one. Bummer. I wish Elon had robes. But every Sunday, many students wear their robes to chapel, and then walk down the stone pier, first on the lower part, then climbing a ladder and walking the upper part of the pier with robes flapping in the wind.
I've been making some friends in my hall. So far I've got a few friends who are from the UK and Scotland (El, Dan, and Simon), a friend from Germany (who's name escapes me), and Vlad who is from Russia and was a People to People country leader for various student groups. He would've been my Rob or Roz when I went. So Vlad and I have a really good friendship based upon People to People alone.
Well, I've got to wrap it up. Elon crew is going to the Union again tonight, this time so Sandy and I can throw down the gauntlet on the music quiz. Between the two of us, I don't know if we're beatable. We'll see ...
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