Comments | superkittin: And now, a sillier post.

superkittin

And now, a sillier post.

Jul 14, 2006 16:03

Today at work, Heather (my coworker at The Whale Museum) and I decided that there should be a World Diversity Toilet. Any time you get tired of someone, just flush them down the WDT and send them to another part of the world! That way we can mix up our peoples allll over the place ( Read more... )

world diversity toilet, scotland, work, haggis, random

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scotland smackypants July 15 2006, 02:12:53 UTC

Hi...I don't think we know eachother in real life...I wandered through via Rifkinite's lj and noticed you're going to Edinburgh! CONGRATS ( ... )

Re: scotland superkittin July 17 2006, 17:48:22 UTC

Dude, you rock! Random LJ comments are awesome, especially from people who've been to Scotland! When did you live there? I sooo wanna go to Glasgow cuz I've heard so much about it from a friend who went. Do you know how easy it is to go between Edinburgh and Glasgow?

I'm making a list of places to go to and food to try so you've definitely helped me out on that effort. =)

Dude, the creepy fog sounds rad! Good thing I know how to knit... I have a feeling I'm going to be knitting a bunch before I leave the states!

I've heard a lot of negativity from the locals towards tourists to Scotland... What can I do to appear less like a tourist? (I also live in the summers on a tourist trap island so I can understand the dislike of tourists!)

Re: scotland smackypants July 17 2006, 19:03:46 UTC

Hey it's me again ( ... )

Re: scotland smackypants July 17 2006, 19:04:14 UTC

D) Know the majour route roughly to get from point A to B if you're taking a cab. Not every cab driver is an asshole but if they realise that you have a chance to be a STUDENT and not a tourist...they won't rip you off by taking you all over side streets (hey if you don't know where you're going anyway you wouldn't know the difference). I've caught at least 2 cab drivers I never had before on city cabs trying to take me all the hell over the place to just get up a big hill and over 11 blocks. I'm just told him I lived there and knew where we should be going and he zipped back on track and apologised profusely. The cabs there are BLACK cabs or PRIVATE HIRE cabs. You want to learn the best private hire cab in the city you are in. Private hire cabs are CHEAPER and they'll come to your house and even buzz your flat to let you know they're there (or call your mobile). If you have a job...see if they have priority lines for employees. I worked at a bar and when one of us called the local Private hire they immediately bumped us to ( ... )

Re: scotland smackypants July 17 2006, 19:04:58 UTC

Shopping is CRAZY. grocery shopping especially. Names are strange over there for some veggies... Courgettes are cucumbers, Sweets are turnips, if you're making a pie you don't look for crisco you look for something like baking SUET. Grocery store patrons are literally mow you down cut in front of you kick your ass. I don't know how Edinburgh is but it's that way in glasgow. Some places you actually have to PAY for bags for your groceries...it's to help the environment and encourage you to carry your own stuff home. You'll soon learn that you don't really have to go far to do most grocery shopping as you can find a little bit of everything all over and nearby to your house. Meat is cheaper if you go to the local butcher....but make sure you tell them you live up the street cos I've had experience in butchers pricing things at tourist prices to make more money...if they know you live there they usually have 'local' pricing that's not posted we can't really hide our accents so it's easy for people to assume you're a tourist. ( ... )

Re: scotland smackypants July 17 2006, 19:05:25 UTC

You'll get asked if you're a tourist a lot. Like A LOT. and you'll also get asked if you're Canadian. I learned it's better to just say what state you're from because you'll get eyes rolling at you if you proudly proclaim you're American. Say THE STATES. Or just say OREGON (I'm assuming you're from Oregon) Or Oregon over in the States. The next common comment is something like 'Ohhh...the Oregon Trail!' Or some other whacky Geographical location that isn't even close to Oregon...like Utah...or Texas. You're either from 'that mormon place' or 'texas'...or a cowboy. Don't just say America. It's kinda assish to proclaim so just get it in your head to say The States or just your own state ( ... )

Re: scotland superkittin July 17 2006, 19:46:22 UTC

Oh my gosh, I am sooo loving all this info! I'll bet you could write a guidebook about Scotland. =)

I know I have a bazillion questions but I just don't know what they all are yet... That's why you sharing your experiences is so damn awesome.

Is taking a cab usually necessary to get places? In Portland I never took a cab and usually walked or took the bus. Also, I don't own an umbrella and never use one in Portland but I hear it rains A LOT in Scotland. How is the rainfall in comparison with Portland in the fall/winter?

I've heard that people will ask about US politics a lot... Did you experience that too?

Another thing I heard was that there's a good gay/les scene in Edinburgh and Glasgow... Do you know about that?

Okay, I'm gonna keep thinking about questions as long as you don't mind answering! =)

Re: scotland smackypants July 18 2006, 00:06:05 UTC

I walked nearly EVERYWHERE because I was scared (afeart) of the public bus system. The buses over there are all run by different company's and they all have slightly different times and fares and from what I could gather slightly different routes. Plus taking the bus is very 'RUN OR DIE' kinda. Like...you literally have to flag down the bus you want/need or they'll drive right by you even if you're in a bus shelter. I've actually had to stand infront of a bus to get the damned bus driver to stop for me once or twice when I was with friends....Like I said I hated the bus system...I wouldn't go anywhere without a 'seasoned professional' with me ie: a real scot or someone who rode the systems all the time.

I did learn that if you're having a tough time figuring out your stop is you can ask the drivers (who are in their own little plastic cage/bubbles).
cont...

Re: scotland smackypants July 18 2006, 00:07:14 UTC

I kid thee not the drivers are in their own little bubbles! it's because drunk wasted assholes get really really mad and disgusting. I had some guy throw glass beer bottles at a driver because he wouldn't let him on the bus for being toasted. He then proceeded to lay down infront of the bus and the bus driver proceeded to nearly run him over which got the man jumping up ON the bus and nearly breaking a hole in the window before police came and smashed the guys face into the curb. Very scary but everyone protects everyone there. All the ladies got pushed to the back of the bus and the menfolk went to the front just in case he managed to get in and start randomly stabbing people.

Down in England it's a bit more...civilized but I never did enjoy England much. ha ha.

cont...

Re: scotland smackypants July 18 2006, 00:11:09 UTC

I dont' think Edinburgh has an underground. I just walked everywhere which is why the atlas comes in handy.

Hmmm...

Yes, get an umbrella. Even if it's just one. I'd ship things from here because it's so much cheaper here no matter which way you look at it shipping or no shipping charges.

loaves of bread will spoil in like 3-4 days. Cheese is a little different and took me a bit to get used to. If you like bacon you have to ask for STREAKY bacon if you want the stuff we get here...otherwise it's 'bacon rashers' which is kinda like canadian bacon but saltier and looks like a porkchop. Dairy is a little different tasting... yoghourt is really really AWESOME over there I loved it and I miss the hazelnut yoghourt I used to get from Safeway...

Yes, there's safeways. Yes there's subways. Yes there's mcdonalds.

Milkshakes aren't really 'milkshakes' they're flavoured frothed cold milk that's coloured...no icecream...it's kinda hit or miss...

cont...

Re: scotland smackypants July 18 2006, 00:15:13 UTC

television is uncensored after 9pm. That's when nakedness and swearing is free for all.

Men cry a whole lot over there. Football matches...lost girlfriends...on tv...in the street...during movies.... Lots and lots of emotional dudes.

Dating is very much highschool like. If you're in a bar and see someone you like you send your friend over to tell the person you fancy you fancy them and if they're interested they'll come over and talk to you.

Bar etiquite is...no ladies alone...EVER. Go with a friend or go during the day for a lunch. I made one too many mistakes the hard way going into pubs alone. I travel alone so I have to kinda stumble around and learn things the hard way. Nothing bad it's just like open season on the meat market...

cont...

Re: scotland smackypants July 18 2006, 00:22:55 UTC

the gay and lesbian scene is totally hip. It's very much not as uppitty over there as here but it also depends on what part of the city you're in. I've stumbled over my fair share of people humping in alleyways or handjobbing it in movie theatres or busses.... I mean, it's not like it's everywhere but it's there. You just say sorry and go on your merry way. 'Oops...' (((keep walking ( ... )

Re: scotland smackypants July 18 2006, 00:30:45 UTC

On the rain front.... It rains ALOT. A LOT A LOT A LOT. There's a joke....you'll see all 4 seasons in one day over there and it's true. I've had days where it would rain, hail, SNOW, then thunder lightning, and then sunny hot and then cool and breezy all in one day ( ... )

Re: scotland smackypants July 18 2006, 00:36:28 UTC

I'm not trying to scare you at all. I promise you it's very safe in scotland...especially Glasgow since you'll hear a lot of shit talk about Glasgow if you're living in Edinburgh. Safer than the states to be exact but ya just gotta observe and be aware of what's around you ( ... )

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