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Scotland is the place where …
julienmanu
Member ✭
Scotland is the place where … I chose to live. Took me a while, but I got there eventually!
It’s the typical story really, a bit like when you fall in love. Usually you meet your first love close to you, at a young age; sometimes you’ve even known her forever. For me, her name was France and she was reassuring and familiar - although a bit grumpy at times. Lovely but too close, too comfortable. Then you kind feel you need to move on, and here comes the second love of your life – suddenly it’s a better relationship; you know yourself better, you mature as you get a bit older. Her name was Canada and boy did she teach me a lot about myself. Oh, Canada… I feel like I used you and left when I became a proper grown up… She’ll always be the one I’ll be thinking of with a smile on my face. But a smile is not enough.
Then…
Then you get cocky and start using Tinder… It’s fun, it’s short term, it’s quick, it’s sometimes very exotic , non-committing and exciting - but not always fulfilling. But hey, you gave it a try. Why not?
And then, only then, you meet the one; the right one, the last one. Her name is Scotland and I love her to bits. She’s the best of both worlds; she’s beautiful beyond belief and most importantly, we share the same core values. And guys, this is the best feeling in the world. This sense of solidarity, this ideal of togetherness. She makes me feel I am where I am supposed to be.
Also, she’s soooooo much fun!! She taught me how great it is to talk to strangers – and enjoy it! - how fantastic it can be to really laugh out loud silly, to not be scared of the unknown…
She’s not perfect you know, but man she tries hard. Scotland is simple and obvious. She’s just pure dead brilliant.
I understood Scotland is the place where I want to spend the rest of my life the day some of my Scottish friends gently convinced me to wear a kilt for a wedding. I thought I would be a fraud, I thought I shouldn’t steal other people’s culture. I thought this wasn’t for me. “French people don’t wear kilts”, my judgmental little old brain told me immediately. But then I understood you can’t steal something people want to share. And then boom, I knew it. Simple, obvious.
Scotland is the place I chose to love.
But really, it wasn’t a choice… Ask anyone who experienced love at first sight and you’ll understand how sometimes you don’t even have to try, it’s just right there in front of you; ready.
I love Scotland for what it is. And certain days, when proudly I wear a kilt, feeling the fresh Scottish breeze between my hairy French legs, I try - very hard - to honor my second country by repeating this famous saying properly:
Whit’s fur ye’ll no go past ye.
Scotland definitely didn't.
Sounds absolutely ridiculous with a French accent by the way... But I am working on it. Love works both ways, right?
Comments
I feel betrayed, hurt, heartbroken.....Scotland has been my life since...well... all my life...my first love...my everything....
....and now I find out like this that she is on Tinder, welcoming others and playing around...
I guess I'll just have to stretch my arms out wide and embrace this new open relationship!
Alba gu brath
Everyone's welcome so long as no-one tries to share my food.
That's a lovely heartfelt post Julien. I'm from the Western Isles and have always been very spoiled in terms of where I live. Sometimes it takes someone from outside the country to come in and remind me how lucky I am!
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@leodhasach
I hear ya in every sense on this post- what a wonderful articulation.
I was born in the Netherlands but always had strong ties with Scotland because of my Scottish dad. I decided to study in Edinburgh for a year to 'explore my roots'.. 4 years later and I am still here! Scotland has stolen my heart and I am proud to call it my home
Scotland is my home - a country I have deep, unbreakable ties to.
I adore the landscape and the tranquillity you can find in it. I love the shifting light and beautiful colours.
It's a country I can't get enough of. Sir Alexander Gray summed it up perfectly for me in his wonderful poem:
This is my country,
The land that begat me.
These windy spaces
Are surely my own.
And those who here toil
In the sweat of their faces
Are flesh of my flesh,
And bone of my bone.
Hard is the day’s task –
Scotland, stern Mother –
Wherewith at all times
Thy sons have been faced:
Labour by day,
And scant rest in the gloaming,
With Want an attendant,
Not lightly outpaced.
Yet do thy children
Honour and love thee.
Harsh is thy schooling,
Yet great is the gain:
True hearts and strong limbs,
The beauty of faces,
Kissed by the wind
And caressed by the rain.
I haven't been out of Scotland for about 20 years I think! I love our wild free landscapes and I actually do love our weather!
It's our rain that gives us our lush green countryside, beautiful plants, flowers and trees. We always have fresh water coming out of our taps every day. So I try not to complain about the rain too much lol.
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When I met my partner, he and I began walking, first in the Lake District and then visited the highlands and immediately felt at home. It was so hard to describe, but almost as it a wave of calm washed over me and I felt so relaxed. I behave like an excited kid when holidays are coming and get goosebumps when we go on holiday there, and I'm always gutted when we have to leave.
eeeek, we leave this Saturday morning for a week in Ardmair and I can't stop smiling just typing that!!
Exactly three years ago today, I arrived in Edinburgh with two large suitcases, not knowing a soul and not knowing much about Scotland besides some of the classics like kilts, haggis and bagpipes, but I was ready to get to know the country and stay here for a year.
My first impression was the beautiful landscape, amazing architecture and the warmth of the people. I still remember how on my first day here, a friendly airport bus driver offered to look after my luggage while I crossed the road to get a taxi. (It was still there when I got back!
)
As time passed, I realised that I wasn’t ready to go back home to Denmark – I wasn’t done exploring Scotland and that is why I’m still here- three years later.
I'd love to walk the West Highland Way. I was hoping to try it next year, but I need to get into the long walking training!
You could make it a challenge for yourself to move to Scotland. Any photos of your walk? I'd love to see some
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This is why I love my homeland......Scotland
Days are gone Oh my land my home
When our fathers fought to be free
Now we have our say, we would lead the way
Once more Oh Scotland for ever
Proud and brave Oh our fathers gave
For the right to think as we do
And in freedoms name we would stand again
Once more Oh Scotland for ever
High above on this land I love
Is the flag that is dearest to me
Let the banners fly In a Scottish sky
Once more Oh Scotland for ever
Days are gone Oh my land my home
But In memories still they remain
So proud to be in a land that's free
Once more Oh Scotland for ever
As for walking the whw its all about planning. I stayed in 2 self-catering houses...one near Drymen and one in North Ballachulish...and used them as a base for a family holiday so i got dropped off and picked up later on. Meant we could still do things later on as and when we wanted to.
The walk itself is a bit tough up past Rowardennan to the end of loch lomond but nothing too strenuous and well worth walking. Ill try and put some pics up if i can
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If you don't already know it, I think you'll love one of my own favourite Burns songs called Ca' the Yowes. I remember singing it in a competition at the Edinburgh International Festival when I was a Wee child in primary school and it has been a favourite of mine ever since as it's so moving.
There's a lovely rendition of the song with some amazing scenic photos of Scotland on YouTube at
Chorus.-Ca'the yowes to the knowes,
Ca' them where the heather grows,
Ca' them where the burnie rowes,
My bonie Dearie.
Hark the mavis' e'ening sang,
Sounding Clouden's woods amang;
Then a-faulding let us gang,
My bonie Dearie.
Ca' the yowes, &c.
We'll gae down by Clouden side,
Thro' the hazels, spreading wide,
O'er the waves that sweetly glide,
To the moon sae clearly.
Ca' the yowes, &c.
Yonder Clouden's silent towers,^1
Where, at moonshine's midnight hours,
O'er the dewy-bending flowers,
Fairies dance sae cheery.
Ca' the yowes, &c.
Ghaist nor bogle shalt thou fear,
Thou'rt to Love and Heav'n sae dear,
Nocht of ill may come thee near;
My bonie Dearie.
Ca' the yowes, &c.
Fair and lovely as thou art,
Thou hast stown my very heart;
I can die-but canna part,
My bonie Dearie.
Ca' the yowes, &c.