Monday 1 April 2013

A is for Aye!

Oh yes, that's the word all Scots use. Okay, a bit of background. I come from India, in particular, Bengal. Now, Bengal has had a very heavy British influence, and so, as compared to the rest of India, people in Bengal know wayyyy more about British people, their ways and customs and things. Now when you move to a different country for the first time in your life, you hear things about it, what it's like, what the people, the country, the weather is like, what they sound like, and such other things. I did too.
And then, when I got to Scotland, I was amazed! Everything seemed to match with what I'd heard, except for the people. They were friendly, and laughed loudly, helpful, very very enthusiastic and welcoming, absolutely adorable, and highly unlike what I'd assumed they would be like, quiet and reserved. I asked for directions, 'Aye' they'd say, and proceed to walk me to where I needed to go. 'I didn't think you people here were like this!' 'Aye, they'd say, we know! That's what the English are like!'
Scotland, good people, is very very different from England. People are warm, unlike the weather, which never is. They are also slow, in a good way, in the way they get to know someone, in how they drive, in how they repeat themselves because their accent is so different, but not how they drink ;)
Aye, they say to everything :D

The first time I was lost, in Bonnyrigg. The bus guy gave me a guided tour on
the way back to my place about 5 miles away, and didn't charge me a ticket

8 comments:

Paula said...

Good post. Aye!

Charlie said...

Isn't moving to a new country kind of the ultimate adventure? I love reading about other people's experiences with such a move and comparing them to my own. More often than not we all seem to be surprised by the same things. I guess that's human nature.

Udita Banerjee said...

It so was! Especially, if like me, you haven't ever been outside your native country. And also if it is so completely different!

Anonymous said...

Aye! Nice write, and great photo!

Tony Laplume said...

Fascinating insights. I'd love to at least visit Scotland!

Dani said...

I would love to move in live in that region. I could listen to them talk all day.
Dani @ Entertaining Interests
#warriorminion

Unknown said...

I love Scotland and having recently spent a couple of weeks travelling with some folks from Scotland, can completely relate to this post. Aye, Aye, Aye - I love it, could listen to them all day!!

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Cassmob (Pauleen) said...

I love Scotland, in part because my grandmother was Scottish. What we learned during a family illness is what you discovered-the Scots are oh, so kind and helpful. Not in a make-a-fuss way, just to get the job done and be considerate. They earned my high opinion of them. Apart from which I love the countryside. Aye indeed.