I know you're speaking English, but I have absolutely no idea what you're saying

And other hasty judgments about Glasgow...

I can't understand these people. I listen to them and it sounds like they're speaking German or Swedish or some language I've never heard. But every now and then I'll catch a word of English thrown in their mumbo jumbo and I make an even more concerted effort to understand some semblance of what they're saying. Alas, it has been fruitless.

But on to other things:
First off, this city isn't too big. After coming from London, where it was too far to even walk into the city center from where I was staying, Glasgow seems tiny. Yesterday, I actually walked all the way across the city without realizing it. The surrounding area expands for ever, but everything interesting is really centrally located. It's a five-minute walk to the city's major streets. Odd that the city has two train stations though.

The people here are intimidating. I don't know what it is, but Scottish men (and women) seem to be much more intimidating than Londoners. They're bigger, drunker, and I can't understand them, which is a triple threat for lonely, insecure Kevin.

On that note, the people in the Hostel are really friendly. They're an eclectic mix of mostly gap year students, though there are a few older men thrown in. I thought I wasn't going to like it much in the beginning, but it has turned out to be a much better time than I thought. It's nice to have somebody to talk to about nothing - it kind of reminds me of college.

They love death here, apparently. There is a huge cemetery that looms over the city. And when I say huge, I mean massive. Big gravestones and tombs, all situated high above the city. I ventured up there yesterday evening. It made for cool pictures but also gave a very ominous feel.

And when I say evening, I don't really mean that. There's a lot of sunlight here. I guess that's because we're so high up on the globe, but days are long. It gets light really early (like, 4 or 5) and gets dark around 10:30. It makes for little sleep and lots of daylight, but I've learned that I'm much happier when there is sunlight, so I'm not going to wish it away. And we haven't even hit the longest day of the year yet.

Things are cheaper! Thank god. I can get lunch for much less here than in London, which makes me much happier, and more full. I got breakfast yesterday for less than two pounds, which blew my mind.

Unfortunately, I haven't found anywhere to go for a run, though I'm not quite sure I would want to go for a run on my own around here. I think it would be even easier to get lost here than in London. It has fewer green spaces than London (no heaths), and the air feels a lot grittier and grimier. Glasgow kind of reminds me of an old rust belt city, where there's not a whole lot of progress. But I actually have no idea.

I can't believe how little time I'm spending here, but I'm heading back to London Thursday, and catching a train to Belgium Friday morning. I guess that will make all of this seem like it's going really quickly. And I guess it is.

Aside from a few museums, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot to do here, except for football, but more on that later.