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Hi all,

Sorry I couldn't make this meet, and I probably won't be able to make the next one either (my girlfriend is ill), but if there is discussion on the message boards I will be able to participate, and hopefully attend a real-life meet or two as well. Were you able to discuss your plans for the group all the same? I hope so.

Since it seems the other group members are all Americans so far, I would be interested in learning about what brought them to Glasgow which after all is not noted for the best weather in the world . Sometimes it is hard to appreciate what is in your own backyard - for example
relatively few Glasgwegians make it through to the Edinburgh festival while others travel from across the world to it.

Also I am interested in how they feel travelling to other European cities and seeing the same Starbucks, McDonalds, Pizza Hut etc - comforting reminders of home or a sign that cultures are becoming more homogenised?

I do hope that eventually we track down some people from South America (or who have travelled there) as I am big fans of both Peru and Argentina from the little holidays I have spent there and would like to know more about these cultures which get such little media coverage in the UK (other than Argentine soccer).

Hoping to get to know more of you soon,

Colin

Hi Colin, the first few meetups are small in any new or renewed group until things gather momentum. Don't worry about not making the first couple of meetups.

You may see a few Americans joining lately because I actively found and invited some of them.

There is a huge misperception that America has good weather. I blame this on Hollywood productions! Most places in America have a much more severe winter than modern Scotland even approaches, even in the Highlands.

I spent most of my life in Florida. It rains there more and more heavily than Glasgow. Most of the time what people here call 'rain', I would call 'drizzle'. So, is the weather better there? It is a matter of perception.

For my part, I hate the heat. Whether is the nature of my genetics (Irish and German) or just that I tired of it at an earlier age, who know. Most of the time Glasgow has what I call 'one jacket' weather, which is just fine by me. I certainly no longer feel pressured to get a tan. LOL.

I don't really go to American chain restaurants that often, but then again I did not in America that much either. The couple that I love...are not here (why oh why did you leave Dunkin Doughnuts???).

I know that to many the culture feels more homogenised....but I can see a big difference in the way people act and express themselves, but maybe that is because I have an outside view.

I have not been to South America, but I have been to several islands of the Caribbean on business. I loved the cultures and differences, but the depth of the poverty and class seperation was hard to witness.

I also worked in Miami for about 5 years. It was almost like living in the U.S. Just Kidding.
It is one of those places in the U.S. that English is just not spoken and it really has a culture of its own.

My reason for coming here was that I married a Scotsman and this is where they keep them.


I would say that if you have the desire to travel or even live elsewhere, then you should go for it. Everyone should have the experience of living in a different place, even if for just a little while.

I hope your g/f improves and we will get to meet you in the future.


Cheers, Kimberly

Wow - thanks for such a thoughtful and complete answer Kimberley. As you are saying America covers such a different array of climates and territories, encompassing places with boiling hot summers and freezing cold winters and milder climates in between. I think most people feel they have a clear (if wrongheaded!) idea of what New York and LA are like but I must confess all I know about Miami I learned watching Miami Vice in the 80's :-) It would be a bit like someone from another country watching Trainspotting and feeling they knew all about Scotland. I know lots of Scottish people take their holidays in Florida due to Disneyworld/ EPCOT but again that is a sheltered environment not like real life at all.

I can't think of a better reason for moving to a country than marrying someone, it sounds really romantic. Many people find it difficult to acclimatise to a new country and can feel isolated but it sounds like you have been very proactive with your Meetup groups and all, so I am glad you are enjoying your time here and not joining in the national grumbles about weather and the like.

Thanks again for taking the time to write, it was interesting to read what you had to say. As for Dunkin Donuts there used to be one on the corner of Argyle Street (opposite McDonalds and KFC, there's an Italian fast food place there now) and I used to really like it on occasions. I hear that Krispy Kreme donuts have opened a few branches in England, so maybe they will come to Scotland in time, but for now I guess a Gregg's fudge donut is the best available. I am not a huge donut fan but I really love the warm donut strips called churros that you get in Spain (there they dip it into a very thick type of hot chocolate - sinful but tasty).

regards

colin

Miami Vice! He he...I've not thought of that show for years.

Did you know that the U.S. version of Trainspotting was dubbed with 'easier to understand' Scottish accents as the test audiences could not understand what was being said? Pretty funny. I do get asked about drugs from time to time, but mostly people in the U.S. don't know where Scotland is and often get it confused with Ireland. Or, they think everyone is walking about in kilts..though to think about it on a game night in Glasgow.....it might be true!

When I had my last day at work before moving to Scotland, my operations manager took great pride in organising a lunch for me. At the end of the lunch , we had a cake...that was green with a big leprachan on it. Yeh, he thought it was Ireland all right. he had taken so much time and trouble that I just smiled and thanked him. I had to kick a couple of my pals under the table though to get them to stop giggling.

The doughnuts here are slightyly different..a bit greasier. Oh, I saw a Crispy Cream in Euston Station in London several months ago. I almost cried when I figured out it was closed as it was kind of late at night. The Crispy Cream near my mom's house has a drive thru where you can get hot donut singles.....yum. I DON'T need to be eating that sort of thing! so it is a good thing that they are not here. LOL.

In Miami, they do churros liked fried dough..sometimes a bit crispy and with cinnamon and sugar.

Florida is a great place to take a vacation, even without the Disney thing...but one would have to be into water sports, golfing, and beaches...that sort of thing...so yeh, most people do like it! Right now it is quite economical to go due to exchange rates, etc.

We are going in April for my Mom's birthday....a bit too hot for my hubby that time of year. He probably will melt.

I would love to go to other parts of the U.S. some day. I have not been West of Ohio and that is nearly in the middle.

Tell me about the parts of South America you have been to......anybody else have some interesting stories????

cheers,Kimberly