Homework for the Overactive Brain

Today's Quote--"Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday to me..."

Sunday, March 30, 2003

 

Thoughts From Scotland
Returning Home

Going through customs in Newark was hell...though mainly because it seemed so rediculous and ineffective. Why wait in a line for 20 min when the guy at the end hardly glanced at your customs card? Because...Americans like lines. E and I checked our bags, so we had to wait in another line for a while...A went through with no problems since she didn't have a bag to check...but then E and I went to the gate (after having to go through security AGAIN! and I had to take my shoes off AGAIN! and there were soldiers with M-16's looking like they wanted to shoot someone simply because they were bored...AGAIN!) and discovered that A was no where to be found. We paged her and she eventually showed up only minutes before our plane began boarding. That was nerve wracking! We had somehow managed to miss each other. We got back to LAX safe and sound, and waited for P-Hat for what seemed like an eternity, but was closer probably to 20 minutes. When I finally got back to my room, around 8:30pm, I called home and talked for 1 1/2 hours. Then...too exhausted to do much else...I simply collapsed on my bed and went to sleep. I didn't unpack until Monday afternoon. And that, as they say, is history.

New World Views

So, one may ask, how was my first trip to Europe? Well, aside from war breaking out in the middle of it...It was very good. I learned a lot about myself (Yeah...I've got a nasty nature that chanting helps cure) and about the world (not everyone likes America (oh duh!) and sometimes...they're right). I also appreciate America more now, too. I really do love my country. Even though...*fill in many things here* I liked Scotland a lot, and I definately want to go back. There is so much more to see! So many more people to meet! I think we only skimmed the surface. And I'm looking forward to the possibility of more in the future. I definately want to travel all over the world! I want to see so much more...because I know I'll learn so much more.

It was sunny everyday we were there, which was VERY unusual...enough so that everyone we talked to mentioned it. We also had amazing timing. AMAZING! We would walk up to a train platform just moments before the train came. We would go talk to someone to find out that we were just in time for...something. Even though we came early to all of our hostels...it didn't matter that much, because we were able to enjoy the cities (or the country) around them for a while. And everywhere we went, we met extrodinary people. Of course...we never did figure out when or where people worked...it seemed to me like the only people who were working were construction workers and the police. And where or when do the kids go to school? No...we never did figure that one out.

What were the bad things? Well, the facuets that only put out cold or hot water (which was either very cold or very hot) so that you couldn't ever get lukwarm water to wash your hands...you either burned the germs off, froze them off, or splashed around until they were all over. No matter where we went (but especially in Glasgow) everyone was better dressed. We often felt like loud, obnoxious, slob, foriegners...or more accurately, Americans. People smoked EVERYWHERE! We all had a hard time dealing with the excessive smoke when we went out. Lucky for us the New Lanark hostel was smoke free...perhaps that's another reason why all three of us rate it the best. Alcohol was in your face wherever you went. Just because one is of legal age, doesn't mean that one necissarily wants to drink all day, everyday...but maybe that's just an American assumption. The money was different because there is no one 'federal' bank to make the bank notes...which could be confusing. People kept trying to pick fights with us about Bush...until they eventually (it usually took 20 min) figured out we all felt the same about him. There was litter everywhere. The Scottish brough was sometimes really hard to understand...especially if they were drunk, which was fairly often. Half of everything was in metric, and the other half in standard. Now that was confusing for EVERYONE! Scots and foriegners alike. Explain how you can drive 20 miles to buy liters of gas? Yeah, no one else could figure it either. Everything is so expensive...K and L and us couldn't figure how anyone could survive there! Common Law. The pigeions. Corn in everything. Weird sandwich combinations. (come on now people...Tuna and Pinapple? Really, let's get a grip.) All the good souviners are made out of wool (and I'm allergic.) When they said water closets...they meant water CLOSETS. Everything is closed by 6. Even when you've got a cold and need to go to the chemist. GRRRrrrrr. "Girls Night Out...Scotland" Yeah...didn't want to see that.

What were the good things? People are down to earth. The BBC is the best news source even if (or perhaps because) it's owned by the government. Almost every guy we saw between the ages of 14 and 35 were cute. Fish and chips. The clothes were beautiful. Public transport was really good. Everything has age and history. Common Law. I really liked listening to people talk...accents are nifty. Most people in customer service had decent english. Pizza Hut is like a sit down resturant. The people are friendly, even to Americans. When they said water closets...they meant water closets, everything was separate. The little streets with small shops. The sidewalks that are older than the entirity of America. Chasing the pigeons. Being able to switch from unabashed tourist to average park walker. People watching could be a national sport. There are just so many interesting people walking about. British English/Scotch English/Gaelic. The train signs were also in Gaelic. The weather was also in Ferinheit. Anti-war is good. Being off-campus. ;) Sheep...ducks...swans...cows...horses...need I say more? The scenery. The views. The water. The parks. The people. Kilts. Bagpipes. Did I mention fish and chips? Oh yes...I did. Candy. (ack...excuse me...Confectionary) Everything chocolate by Cadbury. :D Street performers. Tourist attractions. (Need I mention Annie MacLeod? Or the Millenium Ride?) Wooly Coos. History. Everywhere is history. Airport Security. It wasn't much of a hassle...and I felt more safe going through Scotland airport security than through American. Soccer (ack...football.) People...from everywhere together. Shoping in a market (AKA Supermarket...in Japan they're called Supers...hmmmmm). Vive La Summerfields. Billboards (aka posters) everywhere. Prawns and mayonaise sandwiches. Tea. Scones. Ice cream. Crisps. (Vive La Walkers) Mercedes-Benez Garbage Trucks. The feeling that I may have touched some of my roots. Not being the only tall person...actually being of average (or a little tall) height.

So, there was a lot. I know I said I was going to write sidenotes to everyday...but you know what? I think I'll just let you ask me to find out more. The memories may fade a little more, but eventually I'll get pictures...and that always helps. :) Yeah...so...That's about it folks!

GL 10:54 PM