Semester Abroad at St. Andrews, Scotland

In February 2001, I arrived in St. Andrews, Scotland to study international relations and Scottish history at the University of St. Andrews for the semester.  The University is Scotland's oldest, founded in 1411.  I lived in St. Regulus Hall, located on beautiful Queens Gardens inside the small town of St. Andrews.

Living by the sea was a special treat.  Even though Mullins is located only 60 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, I really enjoyed the atmosphere of St. Andrews.  The setting and the people of St. Andrews have a charm of their own.  I also made some very good friends with "true" University students as well as other Americans studying abroad.

In Scotland, I visited Oban, Glasgow, Iona, Edinburgh, Sterling, Crail, Anstruther, and Inverness.  As a member of a hill-walking club, I hiked around Loch Earnhead and took a weekend trip to the Isle of Skye, one of the most beautiful places in the world.  Unfortunately, I did not have time (or money) to visit the Orkney or Shetland Islands.

My classes at St. Andrews were in comparative politics and foreign policy, international conflict and new war theory, and Scottish history 1200-1707.  It was at St. Andrews that I experienced the excitement of having foreign policy discussions with students from many different countries.  At this time, I realized that I wanted to return to Great Britain and continue to study international politics. Therefore, I applied for the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship.  While in Scotland, I traveled all over Great Britain, and also traveled to Paris, France and Madrid, Spain.

In April, I visited Finlaystone Country Estate, home of the MacMillan Clan.  It is located just south of Glasgow near Renfrenshire and Langbank.  During my visit, I toured the gardens of Finlaystone House and talked with an assistant curator at the MacMillan Clan headquarters.  For more information, visit the fabulous website.

My great Uncle Neil had visited Finlaystone House when studying for his doctorate at the University of Edinburgh.  And, my Uncle Gib had visited Finlaystone when he had a short visit to Scotland during service in the US Navy.  But, it was Donald Frank MacDonald, founder of the Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina and native of Clio, SC, that told me how to find Finlaystone House, home of the MacMillans.  Mr. MacDonald has lived in Edinburgh for the past 40 years, working as a journalist and a professor, and was a contact given to me by Mr. and Mrs. William Light Kinney of Bennetsville, SC.  

Therefore, I am grateful to all McMillans and others that helped me find out more about the MacMillans or McMillans in Scotland.