Hiya everyone! My name is Ella Duke, and I am a rising senior at the University of Pittsburgh studying Law, Criminal Justice, and Society(LCJS) with a focus in Human Rights and Social Justice. This May, I am in Edinburgh to learn more about the history of Magic & Witchcraft in Scotland. This program follows the Scottish Witch Trials, one of the earliest examples of institutionalized persecution (mostly against women). We will be investigating who was accused of witchcraft, why they were targeted, and how legal and social structures enabled these persecutions, which will hopefully deepen my understanding of how injustice becomes normalized within legal systems. I would argue that the global experiences offered at Pitt are essential to my academic and professional development because they provide something that cannot be replicated in a classroom setting.
I chose this program because Scotland had been one of my favorite countries I had visited in the past and the material catered most to my interests. I wanted to study something I have been passionate about since visiting Salem, Massachusetts a few years back. If I am being honest, I was extremely nervous going into this. I had never traveled alone internationally, let alone stay there for a month, and I knew absolutely no one. I was also super excited, getting to immerse myself into a new culture, seeing beautiful sights, and learning more about Scotland’s (quite brutal) history.
I am traveling with 13 other students, and even though it was awkward at first, I feel as if we have connected so much already. Heriot-Watt, the campus we are staying on for a majority of this program, has been so welcoming. Immersed in nature and only a short drive from center city, the campus has so much to offer. We have had quite a few guest speakers as well as wonderful lectures given by Pitt professors Dr. Ryan and Dr. Johnson. There hasn’t been much about Scottish culture that has been hard to assimilate to, but it has been fun learning the many social nuances that are expected here. The science of the “queue” has been among the most fascinating. We were given bus passes at the beginning of this program and use the buses for about everything here. There is this unspoken expectation of taking note of who arrived at the bus stop first, and somehow everyone always gets into a perfect single-file line each time the bus arrives at the stop. It took some time and some slightly irritated Scottish folk, but I have almost mastered it. I also really appreciate how eco friendly they are here, as well as inclusive of vegan and vegetarian options everywhere you go!
I would say my first “wow” moment was how friendly the Scottish folk are in comparison to home. Many are willing to (as the saying goes) “give an arm and a leg” to help you out. My interactions with people here have been nothing short of kind and generous. Another “wow” moment was seeing the city again in all it’s glory. The ancient architecture is stunning, I’ve included above a picture of the Sir Walter Scott Memorial. Sir Walter Scott is among the most famous of Scottish novelists, poets, and historians.
One of the first nights, our already tight-knit group decided to book a ghost tour (featuring the underground portion of Scotland). We had a wonderful tour guide who told many spooky stories and I even caught a ‘ghost’ on my camera!