The School of Mists: How Scotland Forged My Critical

Par Gabriel Goldberg 19 February 2026 5 min read

Some journeys merely move us across a map. Others fundamentally reshape our worldview. For me, that turning point has a colour, the majestic grey of volcanic stone, and a name: Edinburgh. I'll admit it upfront: I have a visceral love for Scotland. If you read Metis Maven regularly, you know how deeply we believe that travel transforms perspective. You also know that in a world moving too fast, where entrepreneurial burnout lurks around every corner, finding intellectual refuges is vital. Scotland was mine. It was the early 2000s. I already had a degree and some professional experience, but I dreamed of studying in the United Kingdom for the excellence of its academic reputation. While searching for the ideal programme, I discovered a unique curriculum at the University of Edinburgh combining international relations and European politics. But beyond the programme, it was the city that called to me. Studying in the heart of Edinburgh means literally walking in the footsteps of the Scottish Enlightenment . It means breathing the same air as David Hume and Adam Smith. Every argument pointed towards this choice. And with hindsight, I know today that this departure shaped the entrepreneur and the person I became. Edinburgh Castle at dusk. A silhouette that never truly leaves those who have known it. The luxury of deep time and complexity When I think back to that period, three words come to mind instantly: intellectual exploration, international diversity, and discovery. Everything…