some things ive learnt about scotland

A moment of reflection.

Some thing’s I have learnt about Scotland along the way…

* Everyone here drinks a bright orange soft drink called Irn-Bru (pronounced Iron Brew) which is renowned as Scotland’s ‘other national drink to whisky’ (it outsells Coca Cola). Scotland is brought up on the stuff and is considered one of the best hangover cures… I am yet to try it but the neon bright orange colour puts me off slightly.

* When crossing at pedestrians and there’s a green blinking man sign, run for your life.

* Potato chips are called crisps and come in every flavour under the sun - it’s hard to find plain old potato chips. It’s funny to think that back home you never had to explain what type of chips (hot chips or potato chips) you wanted if you said you felt like chips, somehow you just know.

* Haggis is served (and eaten) in pubs everywhere traditionally with “neeps and tatties” (turnips and potatoes) and a “dram” (glass of whisky). I am going to try it but have to get past the idea of eating a sheeps heart, liver and lungs, oh the psychology of it. As for black pudding, dried blood - no thanks.

* People say “Aye” rather than “Yes” and also “ken” instead of “know”… as in “if you ken whit ah mean?”

* Music wise, the Scottish seem to love their Brit pop. Artic Monkeys, Lily Allen, Kate Nash, and lots of techno re-makes of oldschool songs are popular here (even chilli peppers and alanis morrisette songs are made into techno!).

* The drugs are dirt cheap (as friends found out on New Years).

* In Scotland, Scottish Gaelic for Edinburgh = Dùn Èideann. There is a city called Dunedin back home in New Zealand which translates to “New Edinburgh” and it is set up just like a mini Edinburgh by the Scots.

I ♥ Scotland.