Name: Will Land
Year: 4th out of 5 years (incorporated year abroad)
Hometown: Exmouth
Major: IR and German
As has come to be expected of our Cuties, Will first applied to Oxford before finding his way to Fife (though he claims it was more a personal challenge. After one of the worst interviews in recorded history, “my first Arabic interview was conducted in German, and then I had to list all the Arabic countries in order from West to East. It was horrendous…” Will’s choice was made for him, and he seems more than okay with the results.
Though he does a joint honors with German, and originally applied for Arabic and German, Will admits he is not a natural linguist. “At school, it was very much ‘big fish in the miniscule pond’ scenario, and I thought, ‘this is great! I dominate German!’, but as soon as I came here I realized, ‘wow, I can’t speak a word’. I still can’t, even after a year abroad…awkward.”**
While Will’s year in Vienna may not have dramatically improved his German, its still an experience he’s glad to have had. “It was the best year of my life…a really remarkable year.” He had ten hours a week of teaching time Mondays and Tuesdays, and the rest of his time was his own. “The social scene there is so varied. One night we’d go to the opera, the next a grungy nightclub, or jazz night at a museum. It’s the best; everything you’d ever wish for…you could literally do whatever you wanted.” As many students find when they return from a year abroad, they learned a lot in their time away, even if it’s not academic. “It was quite a formative year for me…a year out to be myself and have fun. Realize what I enjoy, what I don’t enjoy, what I want to do, what I don’t want to do.”
Luckily for Will, the transition back to St Andrews was relatively painless, something that worries a lot of students who take out a year. “I think it’s only natural after a year abroad to have mild anxieties about friendship groups, and how you’re going to come back into them, if people remember you—but it’s great. It’s like I never left!”
Since coming back in September, Will has made a name for himself with his STAR radio show, Desert Island Discs, which he lovingly stole from BBC Radio 4. Each episode, Will interviews one St Andrews “BNOC” (his words) and throughout the course of the hour they play the guest’s eight ‘desert island discs’, the ones he or she would take if they were going to be stranded on an island. “Not necessarily songs they love, but songs that remind them of something, or somebody. Sometimes it’s really emotional, but sometimes it’s just ‘great tune, it makes me happy’”. The show has featured the SABBS, AU President Emily Griffiths, ‘razor-sharpened columnist’ Ben Isle (“I couldn’t stop laughing, he’s hilarious”) among others, and this week’s is looking to be the shows biggest guest, Principal Louise Richardson, followed by Ian, the Lizard DJ. “Next semester I’m hoping for the Rector, Alasdair Moffat, and maybe Sir Menzies Campbell
…and maybe, just maybe, Kate Middleton. She’s a bit of a BNOC.” Yes Will, yes she is.
Will is also helping to organize this year’s new event, Under Canvas, which is being put on by the Masquerade Ball Committee. “As successful as it [Masquerade] was, and as fun as it was, it was having an identity crisis. It wasn’t sure what it was—was it a party? Was it a ball? Was it a 20’s swing piss up? With Under Canvas, it’s more of a universal event for everyone…Kind of a music festival feel—all about color. Think Coachella meets Glastonbury meets St Andrews…actually, I’ve just made that up, I don’t know if that’s the image they’re going for! [laugh] It’s also on 4/20…so that’s going to be fun…” Will is part of the Marketing team, and while it’s a lot of work, he’s finding it very rewarding. He and others from the committee will be taking part in the Garioch half marathon later this year, and are raising money for cystic fibrosis. “It’s the same charity that Under Canvas supports, and it’s a very personal cause for the committee.” The teams JustGiving page will be set up soon, so keep watching Facebook and HerCampus if you want to support Will and the rest of Under Canvas!
As though he weren’t busy enough, Will has recently set up his own society, NepSoc (or Nepal Society) to try and raise awareness and support for one of the poorest, and most incredible countries in the world. “There’s just something about Nepal…” he explains, before ruining the potentially touching moment with a Land-esq follow up, “It’s like a chilled, cooler India.” While trying to explain the extent of the nations poverty, Will mentions their rolling blackouts, a concept I had never heard of before. “Every day they have eight scheduled hours without electricity. Entire sections of the cities will just go dark….the support just isn’t in Nepal right now.” NepSoc encourages people to help out through Volunteer Initiative Nepal, an NGO that works on empowering marginalized communities. Will spent his summer teaching English to Buddhist Monks in Katmandu through Volunteer Initiative. “It was a really cool experience. The kids were between 4 and 13, and I thought they’d be very calm, like little mini Dali Llamas, but they were cheeky as hell; always laughing, playing tricks, and fighting. We all had favorites. Mine was the smallest one, Pematenzing…” If you’d like to get involved with their ‘fundraisers, chai, shisha, cookery lessons, Himahighland trips and ALL SORTS OF CHEEKY FUN”, add them on facebook https://www.facebook.com/nep.s…
When not saving the world one charity at a time, Will saves dinner parties and in-class boredom with his very saucy food blog, Well Seasoned Willy (http://wellseasonedwilly.com), which was born during his year out. “I had a lot of spare time in Vienna, and I had been thinking about it for ages. I really love cooking, and I really enjoy writing, so I thought-why not combine the two…so I did! I ended up with this blog, Well Seasoned Willy”. Will’s love of food comes from his ‘not foodie, but food loving’ family. He even took Foodtech at school, “as nerdy as it sounds…it was me and fifteen girls, and the teacher was evil, but she loved me! I think it was the novelty….” He hasn’t updated in a few weeks because of deadlines, but fear not-he assures me a new post is on the way. One of my favorite excerpts is from one of his Nepal posts regarding Honey Lattes, “Standard Latté with honey at the bottom. Easy peasy. Maybe add some squirty cream for a naughty finish”…I laughed.
Will is a bit of a wonder. He is the type of person who abounds with energy and wit, has a cheeky rebuttal to any comment, and can more or less make the most innocent gesture or occasion sexually implicit. At first glance, some might try to categorize him as a rake, just a fun loving almost superficial guy who is just looking for a laugh, but there is so much more to him. If allowed, Will is sensitive, and deeply caring. He has time for his friends, and does the most he can to take care of the people that he loves, and even the ones he doesn’t know—as evidenced by his incredibly diverse charitable work. St Andrews is lucky to have one more year a very well seasoned Willy.
(Not so) Rapid Fire Round:
Favorite part of St Andrews: The community, people, social scene… I butterfly around it a bit. I don’t think it’s as cliquey as people think, I don’t think it’s the American’s, the Brits, the Edinburgh girls all grouped together; as we get into the later years its much more inclusive, universal and fun. By the time we’re in these years, everyone is more accepting with himself or herself. There’s no pretence, or the social climbing you get in the first two years.
Personal style: Devon grunge chic?…meets Vienna?…meets gap year? Devon meets St Andrews? Devon meets Vienna meets gap year meets St Andrews? I really have no idea… [laugh]
Favorite form of procrastination: Chatting. I will come to the library to socialize sometimes. I will come here, and sit on one of those little sofas pretend to read, and waiting for people to come by. I’m not proud of it, it’s just a fact. I’m quite, ashamedly, socially dependent. I don’t allocate ‘Will’ time, it doesn’t benefit me at all. I just really like being around people. As my mother would say, “Experiences and happiness are meant to be shared with someone”, and I’m big on laughter and fun. There’s something a bit psychotic about being alone and laughing, so if you can do it with someone else, that’s probably for the best.
Little known fact about you: I can’t say no…to anything. I know I have to learn, but when I was on my year abroad, I really embraced saying yes to everything. That led to some stories…actually, I might have to stop now.
Other little known fact: I’m a Laird! My friends bought of for me for my 18th birthday. I’m officially Laird Land, Glencain of Cailhness.
Favorite place for coffee: Taste
For drinks: 40’s, but only during the day, when it’s chill.
Hidden talents: I don’t really have any! [laugh] I’m very transparent.
Favorite restaurant: The lunch deals at the Dolls house and Glass house are great. Mitchells and the Adamson are also really good. But if you ever want to talk to someone, or about someone, without having St Andrews people all around you, it’s the Jigger and the Balgrove Lager.
Good night out: Quaich soc, you get to try all these really good whiskeys, get a bit pissed, then go to a pregrame, and maybe see Minimood or BSides at the Vic. Also, dinner parties. Good food, friends, lots of wine, it’s great.
What do you look for in a partner: Charisma, laughter, fun—there has to be a lot of laughter, actually, not too earnest. And be caring, a fundamentally nice person. Not reckless, but sensitive—in actions and in the relationship. You know what? Just avoid being reckless at all costs.
Relationship status: I’m single at the moment, and kind of enjoying it. I’m open to a relationship if one comes along, but there’s no one right now.
Favorite part of a relationship: When you don’t want to have a big night out, and you can have a nice night in with your person; I like the lie ins, and being able to share everything with that one person, it’s a nice thing. To become half of a whole—oh, ew, don’t say that. That was awful.
Girl trait that confuses you most: Insecurity and low self esteem, definitely. Often just so unfounded. The most incredible girls have the lowest self esteem and are so insecure, and they just shouldn’t be. I can’t wrap my head around it, I just want to shake them!
**This isn’t totally true, “I learned some good funny German sayings, like shit the wall, “scheiß die Wand an” … and I can order coffee really well!”