Aberdeen, Scotland, Week 2

Our second week in Aberdeen has been full of cobblestones, pretty buildings, new discoveries and big adjustments.

We’ve logged some miles seeing our new city, the center of which is a constant bustle of activity.

I could sit in Union Square and people watch for days.

Before moving here, we knew that the primary industry in Aberdeen is oil, but seeing the harbor full of oil rigs coming and going brings the activity in the sea to life.  We visited the Aberdeen Maritime Museum (which is free, yay!) and learned all about the growth of Aberdeen from a small fishing town into an international city after the discovery of oil in The North Sea.

We watched videos about what life is like for offshore workers and helicopter pilots.  Super fascinating!

As we’ve met people, it’s been interesting to note how many work in the oil industry in some way or another.  Two weeks gone and four weeks at home is standard, which sounds lovely until you hear about how dangerous the work is.

We’ve also spent a good bit of time wandering the University of Aberdeen where Taido will begin his PhD work in October.  The campus is between where we are currently staying and where the kids attend school, so we walk by it every day.

I love all the buildings and towers!

The part of the University where Taido will be studying is called King’s College.

He will actually have an office near this building, where he can keep all his books and papers and things.  And you know, pretend he is Professor Dumbledore.

We visited this lovely church full of precious, kind folk on Sunday. Then we went to eat lunch at the train station, which is also a shopping mall.

The boys were excited to have the kids’ meals with sodas.

Of course, no matter how gray and chilly it is, the kids love to return to the beach at the end of the day’s errands or school.

The waves seem to wash away all the confusion and change.  At least for a little while.