I’m sure this is not what Lake Forest College has in mind for their students when they go abroad, but I had one of the more unique learning experiences of my life during a trip to the Isle of Skye with my flat-mates. Over the course of a five-hour drive from Edinburgh, to Skye, I learned how to drive a car that has a manual transmission.

The Isle of Skye is a beautiful part of the Scottish Highlands that I had singled out as somewhere I wanted to go during my time in Scotland, and five of my flat-mates felt the same way, so we set about planning the trip together. We found a gorgeous Airbnb overlooking the bay outside Portree, and decided that renting a car would be the best way to get around Skye. When searching for a rental we ran into a couple of problems; I was the only one old enough to rent a car, and the only cars available large enough for six people were manual, which I didn’t know how to drive. This meant we had to make a decision; squeeze six people into an automatic car built for five (both uncomfortable and illegal), or subject me to a very embarrassing and stressful five-hour drive. Needless to say we chose the latter.

The result was five hours of stalling at intersections, a car full of twenty year olds howling with laughter at the incompetence of their sweaty-palmed driver, and a pretty unforgettable weekend in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Additionally, I can now say with confidence that I know how to drive stick.

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