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August 16, 2006
Republicans, stay home
Note to non-Americans: if you go on and on and on about America and how much you hate the Bush administration even after I complain too, I'm eventually going to take it personally.
Quincy, Greg and I went out to a great EIFF film called White Palms last night about Communist Hungarian gymnasts. Afterwards we hit a few pubs and met some drunken Brits wanting to bend my ear about their feelings on America. At one point I jokingly said I'd voted for Bush but sarcasm from a stranger was lost. If Quincy and Greg hadn't been there to verify that I was joking I may not be able to type this blog post today. To be fair, the evening ended well with the group exchanging mobile numbers so we could meet up for fringe shows. (Suspicious ploy to lure American into more public bashing? Possible.)
All in all, my experience with the Scots has been a welcoming camaraderie, almost like long lost cousins meeting for the first time and complaining about our respective leaders (Bush and Blair bashing) and comparing cultural idiosyncrasies. Boot versus trunk? Trolley versus cart? And I must say that in the few months I’ve spent abroad this year this was the worst case of American bashing I’ve encountered. I think I expected even more of it.
Here I am taking a quick break at work to post all of this. Sleep was hard to come by last night. Karsten woke up at 5am to eat half a pizza and 2 pancakes at 6:30am! If he is taller than me by the time we arrive home I won’t be surprised.
In other news, the kids and I went to the Camera Obscura gallery yesterday. The kids loved all the optical puzzles and I loved admiring the skyline via telescopes. It was a great alternative view to the city. Bestemor explored Edinburgh by foot and found bulk bags of peanuts and raisins at bargain prices. Kudos to Bestemor, our international bargain shopper.
Posted by jana at August 16, 2006 1:36 AM
Comments
What does Edinburgh have to offer in terms of dented cans? And the Camera Obscura place sounds really cool.
Posted by: becca at August 16, 2006 7:09 PM
If anyone gives your crap, you should just tell em you're an American and that means you're tough. Those Scots wouldn't last five minutes in one our bars where a simple argument can end in an exchange of semi-automatic gunfire (which happens so frequently it doesn't even make the news anymore). Heck, they can't even carry knives there. Buncha pansies.
Posted by: dunsany at August 16, 2006 7:30 PM
I totally understand...
Nick in the Midwest, "What? How can you possibly support these guys?"
Nick in Seattle, "Well, I'm certainly no fan, but it's not like they're evil..."
Nick in Edinburgh, "Alright, one more word about my country's president and I'm breaking out a can of shock and awe right here."
Okay, so honestly I haven't been quite as direct as that last bit. Brits are usually more even-handed about this than other Europeans, at least. Possibly even while drunk.
Posted by: Nick at August 17, 2006 1:43 PM
Did you know - the Scots have the highest rate of knive fights (stabbings) in the EU! They like to fight with knives. :-)
Posted by: andy at August 18, 2006 11:00 AM