Embrace The Changes

       For those of you who may know me, you will most likely agree with the simple fact that I, well, walk like a cheetah. It’s not my fault; I simply have a genetic mutation that gives me unbelievably long legs. Consequently, I have longer strides and walk at a pace that appears to be 90MPH. Good news: EVERYONE IN SCOTLAND WALKS LIKE A CHEETAH.

       Due to this spectacular revelation, I would like to devote my second tip to the cultural changes I have witnessed over my first two days in Scotland. No matter where you may travel there will no doubt be some slight differences in the way people act, talk, and behave. For example, when I traveled to Spain and Portugal during my senior year of high school, I was slightly shocked that they spoke an entirely different language. Whoa. Shocker!

       Cultural differences are to be expected whether you are traveling to another part of your home country or an entirely foreign land. The accent, or brogue, that Scots have is one huge adaptation, yet during our orientation program, they actually embraced it, making fun of how other people cannot understand them. We watched this hysterical video about it that I was able to find: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAz_UvnUeuU. Please enjoy.

       While I was out the other night with some friends for drinks, we each said what we liked about Glasgow so far. Many of the comments referred to the close walking distance of everything and how, despite being a city, it is not incredibly crowded or overwhelming. People are very welcoming here, and because the international program at the university is so large, many vendors are accustomed to curious little minds like myself as we stroll around aimlessly.

       Back to the point, when it was my turn to say what I liked best, I said how the dining style at the pubs and restaurants that we had been to thus far were more concerned with the overall experience of the customer’s time. Let me elaborate. The first dinner I had was with two other study abroad students from the US at this small pub called Distill. After strolling around a popular street for about a half hour, we decided on this place because of its decent prices and interesting menu. We each ordered food and drinks, but the waiters were not in a rush to get us our food. It seems that many people here love the experience of dining, those small yet beautiful moments where we connect with those around us and truly have a pleasurable experience. I have gotten to know so many people since I have arrived in Scotland, and it largely occurs around the comforts of a small dining table.

       Change is to be expected wherever you go in life. We face it at every corner when we start a new job, attend a new school, or welcome a new and unique person in our lives. These changes, in my opinion, should be admired and adored because they welcome us to a newer part of our own world. We are often blinded by our own tunnel vision, only seeing what we want in order to create some sort of self-defined normalcy in our lives; but if we allow ourselves to be open and vulnerable to the many differences in the world, we could witness something truly spectacular. You may even find that out there, in the not-so-small world, there are other cheetahs just like yourself.