Let's start with the shallow ones.
- When you turn the hot water on, it's usually hot enough to scald you, so there's a "Caution: Very Hot" or "Scald Warning" sign at each sink.
- They say things like "wee" and "it's peeing outside" when it's raining really hard.
- They eat haggis and drink Irn Bru.
- Obviously, they drive on the left side of the road.
- Along with that, people often park on the sidewalks in the less populated areas and any which way they desire (so you don't have to park facing forward on the left side of the road).
- They use military time, which, as I mentioned, definitely tested my basic math skills.
- The portions for soda at McDonald's and other restaurants are notably smaller.
- There is massive waste-consciousness throughout the UK.
- Grocery bags are 5 pence each
- There are switches next to each individual outlet so that power isn't wasted when they're not being used
- Air conditioning is rare
- Etc. etc
- There's usually not much ice in sodas, and on that note, the Coke and Pepsi definitely taste a little different (a little more syrup-y, we think).
- They have much stronger feelings about Mel Gibson in Scotland.
- The table is usually set on the left, not the right like in the US.
- There's barely any meat on their sandwiches and toasted sandwiches are called "toasties".
- Sandwich bread is also buttered often.
- Things generally move a little slower.
- Dogs are often walked without leashes.
- Instead of "to-go" they say "take-away."
- Fox News is more of a comedy experience than a serious news program.
- The country is A LOT smaller - it's about the size of Ohio.
The shallower differences certainly play a role in revealing some of the bigger differences between the United States and Scotland (or sometimes the UK in general). For instance, the UK and Scotland particularly value sustainability and being environmentally friendly as seen through paying for grocery bags and switches on outlets. Paying for grocery bags is an initiative by the government revealing that it's part of the UK's value system to be environmentally conscious. The ability to park whichever direction on the side of the road and walk dogs without leashes reveals a more relaxed set of public laws. Perhaps this reflects a more homogenous society, but I found it interesting that a nation thought to have a great amount of government intervention doesn't sweat the small stuff like dogs on leashes or parking issues.
The similarities between our two lovely nations shouldn't be ignored either. Obviously we speak the same language, our pop culture is more or less the same, and we both have a pretty rocky past with England. Another rather fascinating similarity I found between Scotland and the States is regionalization. Although Scotland is roughly the size of Ohio, Scotland is just as regionally divided as the United States is. For instance, I had mentioned the city rivalries throughout Scotland (Aberdeen vs. Dundee and Glasgow vs. Edinburgh) - yes, they're rivalrous, but each city and region of Scotland tends to have a slightly different culture, just like you find between the different regions of the States. And just like we have red and blue states come election time, Scotland has "yes" and "no" cities in reference to the Independence Referendum.
Scotland and the U.S. are also extremely historically connected. I know I've mentioned the Declaration of Arbroath a few times - that document that may have had a hand in inspiring parts of the Declaration of Independence - but there are many many more connections. For one thing, Scotland and the colonies were important trade partners in tobacco, and perhaps more importantly, people. Scottish emigration to the U.S. has all but shaped our nation in the realms of education, religion, culture, and ideas. The real question is why we don't know about it. At the end of the Institute, we all had to write a big old essay, and I wrote mine on the connection between Scotland and the colonies in America in the 17th and 18th centuries. Something fascinating I read in T.M. Devine's book, Scotland's Empire and the Shaping of the Americas, 1600-1815 (really a good read, you should look into it if you're interested) concerned a sort of "Scottophobia" that emerged post-Independence in the colonies. Why, you ask? The Scottish immigrants were almost all loyalists. As you probably know, many loyalists fled the colonies after and during the Revolutionary War and those who stayed were not treated well at all. So perhaps the general anti-Scots sentiment that was a central part of colonial popular culture at the time wiped remnants of Scottish records from our historical recollections. It really is a shame. But it would make sense since Scots who did remain influential and prominent post-Independence were all patriots - John Witherspoon, the Ulster-Scots generally (Scotch-Irish). Anyway, it's crazy what happens to history when popular culture gets involved, isn't it?
This idea of a skewed version of history is one that drives my own desire to devote myself to its study, and moreover, to teach it. My time in Scotland has certainly demonstrated to me that an alternative perspective on history can be far more telling than the traditional ones. We, not even as students of history, but as people participating in daily life, must constantly strive to remember that a lot of what we've been told about our past and about who we are has been skewed by whoever it is that wrote it down. We have to keep in mind that our teachers and textbooks chose certain things to cover, but had to leave out some other things. Thus, challenging what we think we know about our past and especially our present is a crucial part of life we should all be practicing more. So, take a trip to a country that's not England, France or Germany. Try Poland, Turkey, Lithuania, Switzerland, the Netherlands or of course, Scotland! Get the alternative story and tell me what it is because there's always a new perspective on history.
Well, this is the last blog post. Now, don't forget why I titled the blog this way. What I've written here is in no way all there is to know about Scotland. Granted, it's a good start, but there's always more to know about a place and always a different perspective on the same history.
I know I've done it before, but a huge thank you to the US-UK Fulbright Commission for giving me the opportunity to have this unforgettable experience in Scotland along with all those who worked so hard to make it amazing.
And of course, thank you to all those who even read one paragraph of this blog - I'm glad I could share a Sampling of Scotland with you.
The similarities between our two lovely nations shouldn't be ignored either. Obviously we speak the same language, our pop culture is more or less the same, and we both have a pretty rocky past with England. Another rather fascinating similarity I found between Scotland and the States is regionalization. Although Scotland is roughly the size of Ohio, Scotland is just as regionally divided as the United States is. For instance, I had mentioned the city rivalries throughout Scotland (Aberdeen vs. Dundee and Glasgow vs. Edinburgh) - yes, they're rivalrous, but each city and region of Scotland tends to have a slightly different culture, just like you find between the different regions of the States. And just like we have red and blue states come election time, Scotland has "yes" and "no" cities in reference to the Independence Referendum.
Scotland and the U.S. are also extremely historically connected. I know I've mentioned the Declaration of Arbroath a few times - that document that may have had a hand in inspiring parts of the Declaration of Independence - but there are many many more connections. For one thing, Scotland and the colonies were important trade partners in tobacco, and perhaps more importantly, people. Scottish emigration to the U.S. has all but shaped our nation in the realms of education, religion, culture, and ideas. The real question is why we don't know about it. At the end of the Institute, we all had to write a big old essay, and I wrote mine on the connection between Scotland and the colonies in America in the 17th and 18th centuries. Something fascinating I read in T.M. Devine's book, Scotland's Empire and the Shaping of the Americas, 1600-1815 (really a good read, you should look into it if you're interested) concerned a sort of "Scottophobia" that emerged post-Independence in the colonies. Why, you ask? The Scottish immigrants were almost all loyalists. As you probably know, many loyalists fled the colonies after and during the Revolutionary War and those who stayed were not treated well at all. So perhaps the general anti-Scots sentiment that was a central part of colonial popular culture at the time wiped remnants of Scottish records from our historical recollections. It really is a shame. But it would make sense since Scots who did remain influential and prominent post-Independence were all patriots - John Witherspoon, the Ulster-Scots generally (Scotch-Irish). Anyway, it's crazy what happens to history when popular culture gets involved, isn't it?
This idea of a skewed version of history is one that drives my own desire to devote myself to its study, and moreover, to teach it. My time in Scotland has certainly demonstrated to me that an alternative perspective on history can be far more telling than the traditional ones. We, not even as students of history, but as people participating in daily life, must constantly strive to remember that a lot of what we've been told about our past and about who we are has been skewed by whoever it is that wrote it down. We have to keep in mind that our teachers and textbooks chose certain things to cover, but had to leave out some other things. Thus, challenging what we think we know about our past and especially our present is a crucial part of life we should all be practicing more. So, take a trip to a country that's not England, France or Germany. Try Poland, Turkey, Lithuania, Switzerland, the Netherlands or of course, Scotland! Get the alternative story and tell me what it is because there's always a new perspective on history.
Well, this is the last blog post. Now, don't forget why I titled the blog this way. What I've written here is in no way all there is to know about Scotland. Granted, it's a good start, but there's always more to know about a place and always a different perspective on the same history.
 |
| Scotland will always have a special place in my heart |
And of course, thank you to all those who even read one paragraph of this blog - I'm glad I could share a Sampling of Scotland with you.
hello very good blog good job
ReplyDeletegood job be a maverick logan paul yeet
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