An Introduction to St Andrews: the Traditions and the Myths

I took a night bus to Edinburgh (8 hours), then a day bus to St Andrews (2 hours), leaving what I lived until then behind.  

St Andrews has an uncommon reputation for a tiny town near the sea - named after one of Christ’s apostles, St Andrew, it is known as a home of golf (first golf club established 1754) and a stronghold of the Conservative Party in mostly leftist Scotland.

The University’s reputation, however, is ever more extraordinary. There is a trend of creating student enclaves known as ‘academic families’, where 3rd year students ‘adopt’ 1st year students. ‘Parents’ then organise a scavenger hunt for their ‘kids’, and equip them for Raisin Monday, during which students fight using shaving foam. I was lucky to find an amazing academic family, me and my ‘siblings’ had to, among other activities, take a selfie with local policemen or sing Christmas carols in Tesco from the top of our lungs.

Another unique tradition are red gowns, worn by undergraduate students for special occasions, such as the beginning and the end of a school year.

Last but not least, I have to mention the letters ‘PH’ in the pavement in front of the university. Those letters denote initials of a student who was burned at stake for his protestant beliefs in 16th century; to touch them means to be cursed. This curse can be undone by swimming in the Northern sea. (When leaving for a field trip to the Scottish National Gallery, I, drowsy, accidentally stepped on the PH. The swimming is postponed, I am waiting for warmer months.)

St Andrews is seen as a charming historical town, which happens to be dull after a while. An ideal tourist destination but a boring place to live in. I have to disagree. True, there are basically only three streets - the calm South Street, the commercial Market Street and the cultural North Street. However, in these three streets live people of over 150 nationalities, all in their own ways thinking of how to enrich, change, and entertain local community. There is an event for every day: open discussion with leading Scottish poet Jackie Kay, Japanese food tasting, student concert against xenophobia. Balls are happening every other week.

Still, the main source for extracurricular activities are student societies. So far I am involved mainly in the human rights oriented Amnesty International (as a representative of all 1st year students), dancing society Ballads (me and my partner planning to compete next year) and Inklight, creative writing club. Next semester I plan on getting involved in student newspaper and theatre, which in St Andrews is organized from directing through production to technical matters entirely by students.

After spending quarter of a year here, I regret nothing. The University broadens my horizons every day, and this hundreds of years old town knows how to enchant anybody. I miss home, but when I wake up to the sounds of seagulls or fall asleep with the smell of sea salt, I feel I have two homes now. And time flies.