What to Expect in Scotland

We fly out of Atlanta en route to Scotland on 14 May, 2011. We arrive at Heathrow in London, the world's busiest airport, and then take a shorter flight into Edinburgh, Scotland’s political and cultural capital. Using the local bus system, we will make our way to Herald House Hotel in Edinburgh, where will we spend the next six nights. While it may not be the most fashionable hotel in the city, you can't beat its location, which is just off the Royal Mile in historic Edinburgh. Each room has its own bathroom, television, safe, and internet connections (for a small fee). More images of Herald House can be found here.

Once we settle in, students will have a brief on-site orientation and neighborhood tour. Dinner will be at Deacon Brodie’s Tavern located on the Royal Mile. We will also take a ghost tour before calling it a night.

 

Over the next several days, we will visit the sites of Edinburgh and the surrounding area. In Edinburgh, these will include the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, Mary King’s Close, Holyrood Palace, John Knox House, the University of Edinburgh, Surgeon’s Hall Museum, the Scottish Storytelling Center, the Walter Scott Memorial, and the National Scotland Museum. 

We will intersperse those sites with day trips in the surrounding area. First up will be Stirling and its historic castle – a site made famous by William Wallace and Robert the Bruce in their struggles for Scottish independence against England. This struggle was made known to most Americans through the popular film, Braveheart. The next trip will be to Falkirk, just North of Edinburgh to visit the Falkirk Wheel and remains on Antonine Wall -- the Roman wall. Finally we will take a full-day tour through the Scottish Highlands. Sites will include Glencoe (site of an infamous 17^th Century massacre), Loch Ness (believed by many to house a prehistoric dinosaur), Ben Nevis, and the Monadhlaith Mountains.

Since we will have some free-time in Edinburgh, students may want to consider purchasing an Edinburgh Pass, which gets you into several sites including the Edinburgh Zoo, the Camera Obscura, the Whiskey Experience, 3-D Loch Ness Experience, Insect World, Hidden Gardens, Edinburgh Dungeon, and more.

We will then jump aboard a ScotRail train en route to Glasgow, Scotland’s other major city, where will stay for four nights at the Euro Hostel. While there will tour the historic homes, museums, and visit Robert Burns Cottage. The last day or two will be open days, which will allow students to explore the city, other parts of Scotland, or perhaps even parts of England on their own.

On 25 May, we will take the bus to Glasgow International Airport and fly home to Atlanta.

Cultural Matters: British versus American culture (the comedian's viewpoint)

Two funny videos about American and British culture. The first, by British comedian Ricky Gervais, from the David Letterman Show, is about American stereotypes of the British:
Video 1

The second is John Cleese (of Monty Python) on the differences between American and British football:
Video 2

Some Common British-American words

Although too much has probably been made of the differences between English words in the U.S. versus Great Britain -- playwright George Bernard Shaw once famously said that Britain and the USA were "two countries separated by a common language" -- there are some differences that any American traveler should be aware of. (Although generally, thanks to movies and TV, they will know what you mean even when you may not know what they mean.) I have listed a few common British words below in no particular order followed by the American equivalent.

ENGLISH                        AMERICAN

Pound                               The main currency; like our dollar.

Quid                                 Slang for the Pound  "Can I borrow five quid?"

Wayout                             Exit

Hire                                  Rent

Football                             Soccer

Takeaway                          Take-out (as in pizza)

Carpark                             Parking lot

Petrol                                Gas, Fuel

En suite                             Hotel room with private bath

VAT                                  Value Added Tax (sales tax) 

Chemist                             Pharmacist

Motorway                          Highway

Single carriageway            Two-lane road

Dual carriageway              Four-lane road

High street                        Main street

Give way                          Yield

Lorry                                Pick-up truck

Single-ticket                      One way

Return ticket                      Round trip

Toilet                                Bathroom, restroom

WC (Watercloset)             Bathroom, restroom

Mate                                Friend, pal, buddy

Telly                                 Television

Boot                                 Trunk

Bonnet                             Hood

Trainers                            Tennis shoes, sneakers

Trousers                           Pants

Jumper                            Pullover (sweater)

Kit                                  Uniform

Posh                               Expensive, overly fancy

Tube                               Subway

Biscuits                           Cookies

Scones                           Biscuits (sort of)

Crisps                            Chips

Chips                             Fries

Jacket potato                 Baked potato

Jam                                Jelly

Sweets                           Candy

Wind up                         Tease
Take the Piss                  Tease

Fag                                Cigarette

Hoover                          Vacuum cleaner or to vacuum

Letter box                      Mail box

Cultural matters: British Candy

Although not everyone is a fan of British food, most agree that Britain showcases some of the best candy around, especially for chocolate lovers. Sweeter and milkier than most American chocolate (many British claim that Hershey chocolate has a sour aftertaste), sweets (as candy is often referred to) is a regular feature of English life. The two biggest producers are Nestle and Cadbury UK (which was started by John Cadbury in 1824. Just this year -- 2010 -- Cadbury was taken over by the American company Kraft.)

Curly Wurly
My personal all-time favorite. Started in 1971, it's chocolate covered caramel.

Flake
A crumbly milk chocolate bar. Has an odd mouth-feel at first, but quite addictive.

Wispa (Cadbury) and Aero (Nestle)
Crunchy aerated chocolate.

Crunchie
Going back to 1929, this a honey-combed crunchy chocolate bar.

Yorkies
Named for York, England where it began in 1976, this is a large chocolate bar.

Smarties
A slightly larger version of American M&Ms.

Chomp
Chewy chocolate bar.

Dairy Milk
The classic English chocolate bar.

Jelly Babies
The classic English candy. Basically Gummi Bears.

Introduction

Greetings!  This is a blog for those students taking U.S. and Scotland Before 1865 course (HIST 2111) in Scotland Study Abroad Program (May 14 through May 25 2011) through Bainbridge College. This blog will serve as an introduction to the course and program. Over the next few months, I will post images, links, and other information about the course.

First, some basic information...

The course runs two-weeks in Scotland with a online component when we return, and is a three-credit course. The course can be used as either a HIST course or as a STAB (Study Abroad) course, which can be substituted for COMM 1100: Human Communications. Students stay six night in the heart of Edinburgh and four nights in Glasgow. The cost of the program is $2556, and includes round-trip airfare from Atlanta to Edinburgh, transportation from the airport to our lodgings, lodging in both Edinburgh and Glagsow, entrances to several attractions, a four-day Britrail pass, an excursion to Stirling, Inverness, Loch Ness and the Highlands, a health insurance policy providing coverage for medical expenses, and an pass for unlimited 3-day travel on the Glasgow Subway system.

For more information, contact Dr. Dave Nelson at david.nelson@bainbridge.edu