This year we welcome SUISS alums, Shannon Damery, Alexia Forde, Laura Smith and Lena Rosenfeld, as our Student Hosts. They will meet you at Pollock Halls reception on arrival day, and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the summer school, or Edinburgh in general.
Alexia Forde (13th July – 8th August)
Hello fellow SUISSers!
My name is Alex, and I had the opportunity to attend SUISS for the Creative Writing program last summer which felt like a dream. Originally, I am from the forests of Canada but my passion for travel has led me to live and explore around the world finding homes in many beautiful and unique places, including Scotland.
In the past, I lived north of Edinburgh for years and found that the nature, literature, history, wildlife and mythology made the country a truly magical place. My photo was taken at one of the many rugged Scottish castles found along the coast, epic history found everywhere you look!
My time at SUISS was memorable, allowing me to form connections to beautiful people who share a love of reading and writing. The confidence I gained to share my work was so important to me, which I owe to the positive and safe environment created by our group. Edinburgh is the perfect place to explore and expand your knowledge of literature…where else will you find a landmark as iconic as the Scott Monument built for a writer and poet?
I am excited to get to know all of you and share another stunning summer in my favourite city. The time you spend at the university will be life changing, so get ready to write, read, share, learn and explore! The city has inspired so many artistic souls throughout history and once you look out from the top of Arthur’s Seat, I am confident you will feel inspired too.
Laura Smith (13th July – 8th August)
Hello fellow readers, writers, and travelers!
My name is Laura (she/her) and I am a high school English teacher from Wisconsin, USA. I am so excited to be returning to SUISS and to Edinburgh for a second summer. Last year, I had an amazing experience in the Text and Context program. Reading modern and contemporary texts with people from all over the world gave me so many different perspectives on literature that I brought back home to my students.
I also traveled all throughout Scotland. I biked the John Muir Way (from coast to coast across the country), I visited Inverness and Isle of Skye, and I took some day trips to Stirling, North Berwick, and other spots close to Edinburgh. So feel free to reach out if you are making any travel plans before or after the program, or looking for weekend travel ideas! (The picture of me is from Kilt Rock on Isle of Skye).
Get ready to eat haggis, befriend a highland cow, see streets that look like they are straight out of Harry Potter, and make memories! I can’t wait to meet you and spend some glorious summer days reading, writing, and exploring.
Shannon Damery (10th – 22nd August)
Hello SUISS-ers!