The Real Scotland
69
Dispelling the Myths
For five years the British Government have been trying to promote Scotland as viable tourist destination to the American people, after a little success they decided recently to carry out a survey to learn the average Americans perception of Scotland and its people.
Having just read the results of the survey, and having just stopped laughing, suppressing a giggle as I type, I thought to myself that I should do my part for Scotland and try to help educate the people of America, and hopefully have a little fun in the process.
Lochness Monster
Technology
Some people said that they would never visit Scotland because it is a backward country.
If you are reading this page you will note that you are surfing the Internet yes it is true Scotland has the Internet, we even have broadband, apparently there is some question in America as to whether the internet has reached Scotland yet, along with electricity, the microwave oven and the light bulb, hang on a minute, I just have to change the candle, ok I'm back. Sorry I took longer than expected I was just winding up the gramophone.
The People
According to the survey Grounds keeper Willie is how Americans see the Scots people," He personifies the Scottish temperament" grouchy, angry and always ready to fight, this I assure you is not true and if you don't fu****g believe me come and tell me to my face I will knock some sense into you.
The typical Scotsman is a kilt wearing, bagpipe playing Neanderthal. On special occasions, yes some of us do wear the kilt, and yes at those occasions there will be a bagpipe player but not all of the time, oh and sheep are not scared of us, they love us really.
The American people questioned did have a good grasp of Scottish history, they know about the Lochness monster and Sean Connery, both the most recognised Scottish icons, they know about William Wallace and Robert Burns but they could only name one famous Scottish Person who is alive today the already mentioned Mr Connery.
I hope I have help to clear up some of the myths relating to Scotland and have encouraged you to think about a Scottish vacation, after all if the Scottish tourist board and the Government can't convince you to pay us a visit what chance do I have lol have fun.....
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Comments
I'm due for a visit as well.
It would be hysterical if it wasn't so pathetic. I love my country but sometimes I want to smack the collective lot.
I can't wait to go (Summer '08 for 10th anniversary). My biggest issue is I have a good idea I am not going to want to leave.
I'd love to visit - I saw a documentary about Edinburgh and thought it was gorgeous.
But yes, most Americans' perceptions of other nationalities are based on what they see on the Simpsons! ;-)
Jimmy - why are you doing this to us? For a Scot even to mention Wallace and Connery seems more than a little defensive. As for the cartoon - come on mate - it's 50's, at best.
Ummm. . . you have airports, right? Or do we have to ride horseback from Wales or someplace?
Cuz of course, living out in the American West, we don't go nowhere unless we can ride a horse through Tombstone on the way.
When I hit the ultimate bestseller list and have a umph as much money as J. K. Rowling, I will be there!
I love Willie the grounds keeper... reminds me of practically every one in my family in Tennessee (USA). While they are a gracious, hospitable, and welcoming clan. They might, in a moments notice open a bottle of whiskey, play a tune and begin to dance then fight, call off the party and not see one another for five years. When it would all begin anew. I think they (we) are Scottish.
I'm Scottish and when my parents were on a cruise ship in Hawaii most people didn't know where Scotland was or thought is was in England. However on my photo blog I get a lot of comments from people saying that they would love to visit Scotland.
I like it. It's good to laugh. I have a lot of web pages about tourist destinations I have visited throughout Scotland and they get a lot of very favourable comments from the US.
I am from North Dakota in the states and we get the same reaction as you do,ND is unknown to a lot of people, not sure if it is because we are next to Canada or what... they don't believe we have electricity, Internet,.... We usually just play along and tell them that we are expecting to get electricity any day, and plumbing is next year... lol.
Scotland is definitely on my to do list.
lets just hope for your sake that the people who are clueless don't come to visit, they are most likely more trouble than they are worth. lets keep the beauty of Scotland to those of us who can actually appreciate it.
I am an American that is obsessed with Scotland and would love to take many Scotland vacations. There I admitted it.
If most of the Scottish were like grounds keeper Willie then I am afraid the Scotland tourism would be through the roof. Oh, does Craig Ferguson count for a famous person from Scotland. If you aren’t an insomniac than you might not know him. His show is on really late.
Visit me at http://scotlanddreaming.com
I'd like to know where they submitted their survey, because I haven't met a soul that doesn't know where Scotland is and none of them have thought it was a backward country. Seriously, people thought it was backward? Please tell me that was a joke.
My family has wanted to travel to Europe for years, especially Scotland and Ireland. [I'm not sure you all would want the Hatfields back over there. ;o) ] Any way, I even wanted to go to a design school in Edinburgh, but wasn't able to for the same reason we haven't been able to take a vacation since 1987, a complete lack of moolah. Still, it doesn't hurt to dream of the day a rich, unknown, distant uncle kicks the bucket and leaves us this massive inheritance, which the government would immediately take a hefty chunk out for themselves.
Jewls, honey, I know your pain. :o) I'm from Kentucky, Lexington to be exact, and whenever I travel to other cities or meet people from other states I tend to get the attitude that everyone from KY are just a bunch of stupid backwoods hicks. There are stupid people all over the country inlcuding New York and Los Angeles, but the biggest difference between their idiots and KYs is we can't keep our morons off the television. (Reference the "Duct Tape Bandit")
are all jimmys' like him
i'm a mix of scott, irish @ cherokee - so you should never give me firewater!
some-day i'm coming home & i can't wait. hope i don't die before i make it! i'm 50 i will retire when i'm 60. if i make it i will be there!
lex. i'm just south of you. berea. be proud of you're heritage.
does anyone know the name hasty?
Loved your hub - I was in Scotland this summer and thoroughly enjoyed my visit - only it was not long enough. We stayed in Loch Rannoch where it is so beautiful, but then all of Scotland is. Hope to return some day. BTW - I tasted haggis - not my favorite : )
My father is from Norway and my mother's parents are from Glasgow. And I'm my mother's son. Ruddy faced and blue eyed. Even my Dad said I look 'Irish'. And you know what? I got in a fight tonight!..lol
I ordered pizza from our local place. I was told it would be 40 minutes. It came 1 hour and 15 minutes later. My 4 year old daughter was crying to eat and go to bed. And I had to give her a bath. I was FURIOUS. I blasted the delivery guy, stiffed him, then had my wife (she's of Irish McDonald descent and more temperate than me) call the place to complain. I would have called but I figured if I did we would have been banned. She got us a free salad next time we order though.
Scottish temperament? Yeah, I got it. We're 'fine'. But don't F*ck with me :)
Marye Audet says:
2 years ago
well I guess I am the only american that longs to visit..someday someday someday...it is on my list!