And now, a sillier post.

[superkittin]

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

Comments

scotland

[smackypants]

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!!!!

I lived in Glasgow for a little while. It's AMAZING if not freakin COLD there so be sure to bring a crap ton of mittens, scarves, hats, jackets, jumpers and socks....esp knee high ones if you so love those kinds. It's also super windy and foggy there. I'm talking CREEPY foggy there. Rolling in horror movie foggy...

Be sure to get a student rail pass too. You pretty much save nearly 50% on each ticket you buy and if you have to travel between cities for work it allows you to get student rates for mass passes and stuff.

I'm sooo sorry if you already know this but I get really excited when people go to scotland.

Haggis isn't bad at all (unless you don't eat meat). I love it and am not afraid to admit it. Just don't pay attention to what's actually IN it and if you like gravy...get more on your neeps and eat a forkful of neep/gravy with your haggis. Blood sausage isn't so bad either. It tastes like xmas...lots of nutmeg and spices and if you put a ton of vinegar and salt on it it's kinda neat. Again...don't pay attention to what's in it.

If you like pot pie sort of things and have access to an oven...Fray Bentos pies mushroom and chicken.... DELISH!@ I sooo sooo miss those things.

If you have a chance to go to glasgow...if you're arriving via grand central take a right on Gordon Street and walk a little ways towards Buchannan. On your right you should see a little tea shop/bakery called Ms. Cranstons. I used to work there and they have the BEST daily soups made from scratch you could ever imagine. And the best prawn rolls. And the best strawberry tarts. And no I'm not being biased! lol.

Amber

Re: scotland

[superkittin]

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]

Hey it's me again!

It's super easy to get from Glasgow to Edinburgh. There are certian high traffic times that travel is more expensive (something like before 9:30 am) but if you leave after then it's only about 7pd 60 or sommat like that (with student pass). It's only a 45 minute train trip... I knew people who worked in Glasgow and lived in the suburbs of Edinburgh (and vice versa)so it's not too crazy a commute.

I've found that most people who live in one city (either G or E) can't stand the other city and it's pretty much true in my case because I was a total Glaswegian at heart. Edinburgh is really artsy fartsy and historical and the streets creeped me out but it's the place to be for festivals and plays and theatre and art. Glasgow is more of a rough party city. Plus...the accent is very VERY hard to understand. I'm talking MARBLES in the mouth you can't understand. Like...AUCTIONEER at a cattle sale hard to understand.

Basically all I did to not appear like a total tourist is A) buy a city atlas which are available from the nearest Boarders bookstore (in scotland). This will show you every possible street and allyway in every portion of the majour city you are in. B) Buy a tourist map. I know that sounds lame but it'll cut the nitty gritty of the atlas to pure basics and it'll also show fun places to go that you know you'd like to go since you've never been there before. C) Try your hardest to get places on your own. I'm not saying never ask for help but I've learned that to not look like a total ass it's better to have help offered to you which won't take long at all because the Scots are very very helpful. I've had people walk out of their houses IN THE RAIN when I stood out on the corner trying to read my atlas to navigate to where I was going. They then proceeded to WALK me there themselves. I'm not kidding that you will get help if you look like you're trying to help yourself first. Experiment because this is hard to explain.

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Re: scotland

[smackypants]

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 the first of the line so we could go home. Drunk people=can wait...Working people=go home and sleep. Private cabs are also good if you know you're going to want to be picked up at a certian time/place/day etc. Otherwise you're waiting like...an hour. Did I mention they're usually CHEAPER? Black cabs are run by the city and are good to flag down at any time for quick trips. Usually there's a cab que (line) on a main street that sometimes can wrap around a block. Sometimes it's easier to walk home.... sometimes it's easier to find a cab share where if you and some other people are going the same direction... yall pay your own portion...there's a whole dynamic to that you'll have to figure out as time goes on but the cab driver will usually help out. Sometimes it's easy to be sneaky and jump the cab que by stalking a few blocks around. If you know you've got at least a 6-10quid trip it's good barganing ground to get a cab to pull over for you. Most wont because they can make more and faster money by staying in the cab que than picking up strays but if your tab is going to be large they'll stop for you. E) Talk quieter than you usually do. If you naturally talk quietish then you're fine. I am a loud motherfucker and it took me awhile to blend in better and not look so foreign. You'll quickly learn that you can hear and see an American coming a mile away. F) Fashion is a whole lot different over there. We're talking sexy fashion. If you're going out at night...you're going to want some nice clothes to wear. Also...shoes... if you're going to a club...they usually have dress codes that include no flats, or trainers. I could get away with breaking dress code for the most part because I wear a ladies size 13/14 usa in shoes and scots are tiny people (most of them at least in the area you'll be)and I had bigger feet than most of the bouncers. I'd just tell them if they can find heels to fit them...I'd gladly go buy them and come back to the pub. That usually got me in cos it was funny, and I stood up for myself. It's always good to do that...you'll learn that as you live there longer.

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Re: scotland

[smackypants]

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. AGain...not always the case but worth paying close attention to prices.

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Re: scotland

[smackypants]

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.

Black is very common to wear esp when you're working. So's brown... neutural colours. I was pretty much the only one in the city that had a red winter jacket. Umbrellas are a necessity...I know people who own at least 4. Cos there's different types of rain and weather that can go with the umbrellas. I'd get a really really well enforced umbrella that can't blow inside-out and a cheap travel one and a better than cheap travel one that will hold up if you're walking accross town to pick up lunch. I can't explain it...

I'm sooo talking your eyeballs off. I got more stories and tips so ask away and I can try and help you.

A

Re: scotland

[superkittin]

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]

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).
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Re: scotland

[smackypants]

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.

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Re: scotland

[smackypants]

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...

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Re: scotland

[smackypants]

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...

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Re: scotland

[smackypants]

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)))

Strip clubs...I only went into one and from what I can gather it's mainly sexy outfits and underpants and if you want to see nakedness you pay for it. Porn stores.... They're around but if you ask where they are no one will tell you. Porn is a bit of a stuffy issue there.

Poundsavers....our equivilant to the 99cent store.

Toilet paper....the stuff with the puppies on it is the BEST. And sometimes they give you little presents when you buy a 12+pack :)

Holidays are a big thing. Wayyy more holidays than here. I had a hard time getting used to the work ethic there. I 'worked too hard'. My typical day at work went thus: Morning prep: 7-8am Open@8 1st tea around 10. 2nd tea around 12 Lunch around 2. 3rd tea around 4...close shop at 6...home...pub by 9. Drinking till 12 (bars close at midnight). Home by 2am. lather rinse repeat.
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Re: scotland

[smackypants]

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.

Think that rain sequence in the movie Forrest Gump. It'd rain and rain and rain and rain and then suddenly it'd stop. And it's windy as hell there. WINDY WINDY WINDY hence the suggestion for scarves, 2 pairs of mittens, long underwear hats.... I never had much use for an umbrella so if you're like me....hats. lots and lots of hats. Or a jacket with a big hood. And still have an umbrella cos sometimes the rain is weird and comes sideways or up from the bottom.

Kids are super cute and curious there and they have filthy little dirty mouths. I've had rocks thrown at me before so I just pick rocks up and throw em back. Little fuckers. It can be like kid mafia sometimes but just keep walking. When in doubt just keep walking. Don't look anyone in the eye especially if you get scared or pestered by drunks.

If you feel unsafe at all you can always find and ask to walk with couples. I would walk home from my 2nd job at the pub at 1-3am right up night club alley where drunk scary people liked to hang out and I learned that if it was one of those nights it was safe to find a couple and ask if you can walk a ways with them. I've never been told no and in most cases they insist and are the first to ask you to join them for safety.

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Re: scotland

[smackypants]

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.

Tipping...non existent. Don't bother. You'll just look more like a tourist. In bars...it's good to tip if you've got a large group or if you're really nice....you can say "have one for yourself" which means the bartender can take whatever they drink in monetary equivilent from your change. I drank stella so I would tip myself 3-4quid. Sometimes the bartender will just take a tip from your change anyway so if you catch that you can get bitchy and ask for your change. And then go to another till next round if you're at a busy bar.

Customer service we're accoustomed to here...non existent...just get used to waiting a lot. Lots and lots and lots and lots of lines for everything. It's just the way things are....

More questions? I'm just shooting whatever comes to my head....

A