Happy Easter to all of you back in Texas!

Greetings Friends –

Hope you’ve all have had a wonderful Easter weekend! It’s snowy and beautiful here in Aberdeen, and it was great to celebrate this special day at St. Mary’s Cathedral downtown. The past several weeks have been packed with Rotary activities, visitors from Texas, and of course, classes at the university. After presenting at several more Aberdeen Rotary clubs, much of the past two weeks has been spent hosting visitors from Texas.

A friend from UT Austin flew in a few weeks ago during his vacation, and it was great nice to spend a week traveling and sightseeing around Scotland. This past week, my parents and two little sisters flew over for a brief visit during their spring break vacation. It was great to see and spend time with family! After sightseeing around Scotland for six days, we flew down to England and spent a final day touring the city of London. Wrapping up the adventure, I wished them a safe flight back to Texas and returned to Aberdeen for Easter. After several weeks of nonstop activities, it’s nice to enjoy a day of reflection and relaxation back at my flat near the university.

The journey in Scotland continues for another 10 weeks as I prepare to return to Texas in June. There are so many great stories and pictures that I look forward to sharing with all of you back home. In the meantime, hope you all enjoy the pictures of recent activities posted below.

Wish all of you the best, and have a wonderful week!

- Nick

Recent Rotary Activities

Exchanging banners with the St. Machar Rotary Club in Aberdeen during a recent visit:

Giving a presentation at the Rotary Club of Aberdeen Deeside:

Enjoying a meal with my Scottish Rotary counselor (Ian), his wife (Jan), and my family during their visit from Texas:

Touring the Glenfiddich Scotch Whisky Distillery

Glenfiddich (meaning Valley of the Dear) is one of the most well-known single malt Scotch whiskies. Touring the Glenfiddich distillery was a neat opportunity to learn why the Scottish are so proud of their Scotch:

Learning what makes Scotch Whisky so unique:

Learning how the whisky is stored and matured:

Trip to the William Wallace Monument

View of the countryside surrounding Stirling, Scotland:

The William Wallace Monument built in memory the Scottish national hero:

William Wallace statue – a.k.a. “Braveheart”:

Close-up of the tower and its 246-step spiral staircase:

Standing next to William Wallace’s sword:

Family Trip to Edinburgh, Scotland (Part 1):

View of Balmoral Hotel:

Old fashioned tour bus:

Walking through the city:

Looking up at enormous columns:

Enjoying bagpipe music on the street:

Family Trip to Edinburgh, Scotland (Part 2)

The family exploring Edinburgh Castle:

View of the city from Edinburgh Castle:

Statue in front of a World War I monument:

Tower within Edinburgh Castle containing the Scottish Crown Jewels:

View of St. Giles Cathedral:

Touring the Scotttish Countryside with Family

The family exploring the Dunnottar Castle ruins:

Happy to see my little sisters:

Visiting Glamis Castle near Dundee:

Visiting Crathes Castle in the Highlands:

Checking out Highland Cows:

Family Daytrip to London (Part 1)

Looking up at Big Ben:


Statue of Winston Churchill:
Welcome to Westminster Abbey:

Looking up at Westminster Abbey:

The magnificent entrance to Westminster Abbey:

Family Daytrip to London (Part 2)

The family posing in front of Buckingham Palace:

The view walking through London:
One of the fantastic buildings near the Hyde Park Barracks:

View of the courtyard next to the Hyde Park Barracks:

The Tower of London:

Family Daytrip to London (Part 3)

The dome of St. Paul's Cathedral:
Looking up at St. Paul's Cathedral:
The front entrance of St. Paul's Cathedral:
Standing on the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England:
Prime Meridian plaque in Greenwhich (just outside of London):