Things I learned…

...in Scotland

Patience: Everything took about three times long to do in Scotland and after a while there's nothing you can do about it. So take a deep breath and inspect your hair for split ends while whatever it is you're waiting for becomes ready for you. No mind that what your waiting for is the bank teller to stop inspecting their split ends.

Lots of people still live in very old-fashioned ways. I'm shocked to admit it, but the idea of not having a cell phone or something like that didn't seem to be an option. Mind you I don't have an ipod, but a cell phone? What would I do without it?

Some people have no problem with their own racism and don't feel like it's a problem to be so. I'm not completely naïve, I know that people are still racist, but I'm also so shocked to meet people who are so upfront about it. I always thought racists would keep it to themselves and only vent around the people they know agreed. But I suppose if you're racist, you're not really about being PC or sensitive to the feelings of others. America really is seen as some mythic strange new world by many people. Although they might feel similarly about America as I feel about Belize – not much, but it seems exotic – it's strange to experience the perceptions foreign nationals have about your own country. I also was in this strange and happy position, where if I didn't open my mouth people assumed I was Scottish and had no problem ranting about the problems of America directly in front of my. And I mean ranting, like seriously, things that could be extremely offensive if said in front of the wrong person. It was nice to experience such an uncensored view of people's emotions.

…about myself in Scotland:

Perhaps not by New York standards or LA standards, but compared to the rest of the world. I'm spoiled. And I mean spoiled in every sense of the word. My parents would hide 'spoiled' under the façade of 'privileged' or 'lucky'. While I didn't think I was privileged or lucky enough to get a new sports car on my sixteenth birthday. I did get a car while in high school. But I bought the 80's beast myself. Not that I paid for the insurance. Mind you even in a less obvious way. There were also fresh fruits and vegetables around, and meals were interested and varied. But I didn't realize there was another option. I didn't realize some people couldn't afford to eat the fun things I ate. I've never not been able to pay my heating bill. Mind you my last place was a bitch to heat and I preferred to wear a sweater and socks, but we were able to turn the heat on.

I'm interesting: I didn't believe it, but some people actually find me interesting to talk to and to listen to. People think I know stuff and am funny and value my opinion. Not to say that people in the US don't think I'm interesting. I just thought I was closer to normal on the scale of interesting, but man, there are some people out there who are not interesting. Not to downplay the importance of farm techniques or the best gear for go through round abouts at top speed, but honestly?

Despite the fact that I'm a dyed in the wool liberal, I now completely understand why people on the other side are in favour of smaller governments. There are some things the British government does that I think are absolutely ridiculous, like years car inspections to make sure it's in working order. Or the National Health Service's decision to not tell anyone the sex of their unborn child, in case they get it wrong and you sue them. I'm sure one case spoiled it for every new mother.

Just as a side note: I realize this post is rather narcisstic and mean and petty to a lot of people. That's not what I meant. These are things I learned while I was in Scotland, that does not mean these are ABOUT the Scottish people. Somethings I was just ready to learn at that time of my life and probably would have learned them in Scotland or where ever I was at the time. All the people I became friends with in Scotland are incredible people. I plan on being friends with them for the rest of my life. Being in Scotland simply exposed me to many, many things and people that I would never have exposure to had I not gone to Scotland. And I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything in the world.