I’ve been living in a small town in Scotland since the beginning of February, and the first eight days have taken a lot of adjusting. After finally getting used to the time change, the weather, and the slower pace of life, I was invited into the city, Aberdeen, for the day. I was excited to shake off the small-town rhythm, experience a faster pace, and see a bit of city life.
My friend Amy had a scheduled doctor’s appointment and asked if I’d like to accompany her on the hour-and-a-half drive. I’d get some alone time in the city and some girls’ time too. I had been feeling a little under the weather from traveling and adjusting to the climate, so this felt like just what the doctor ordered.
We left town at half past eleven and were on our way. It was nice riding with a local because I got little details about the towns we passed through along the way. Driving on the opposite side of the road is still an adjustment, but the rolling hills of endless greenery looked like something out of a fairytale. We passed distilleries, small villages where famous shows were filmed, and as we pulled closer to Aberdeen, I could see the high-rises in the distance.
I had a quiet lunch at Foodstory, just off Union Street. The vibe reminded me of hipster coffee shops back in the U.S., and the strawberry matcha and fresh sandwiches were delicious. I stayed there for a few hours, catching up with my sister before heading out for some sightseeing.
Amy and I met up at Black Sheep Coffee on Union Street, then wandered through a few shops nearby. We stopped at an independent coffee shop for a pair of matchas (my second of the day) before heading to the mall for some much-needed shopping.
We went to Union Square, and to my surprise, they had a LUSH, one of my favorite body-care stores, along with many other great shops and good deals. Getting used to the pound-to-USD conversion takes some adjusting, but my purchases were still worth it.
We finished the day with a quick sushi dinner, followed by a Krispy Kreme sweet treat so we could miss traffic on the way out of town. My friends here aren’t as familiar with matcha or sushi (apparently it’s an L.A. thing), so I was happy to have converted Amy into a fan of both.
Aberdeen is a beautiful city, rich in historic architecture but also full of small treasures that feel familiar. I’m grateful to see more of the city I’ve been calling home. Moments like this feel like quiet confirmations that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. Each new place is teaching me something different, and Aberdeen reminded me that sometimes all you need is a small adventure to feel grounded again.
