From the US to Scotland: 5 Culture Shocks I Had

As an American living in Scotland for five years, here are a few culture shocks I encountered since moving across the pond.

I want to preface this article by saying that I mean well. Though Scotland does have many flaws, I’m still optimistic that things will get better. The following is based on my experience after living in Scotland.

Understanding the Scottish Accent

The first big culture shock was understanding the Scottish accent. Growing up, my neighbors were Scottish. Since I understood them just fine, I assumed communicating with others in Scotland would not be an issue. I was embarrassingly wrong. When I first moved to Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital and second largest city, I was constantly asking people to repeat themselves and to talk slower. Luckily, after a few months, I became accustomed to the accent. However, throughout my time in Scotland, I occasionally have to ask someone to repeat what they say — this is especially true when I visit smaller towns.

The Food is as Good as People Say

No one ever compliments Scottish food, and now I know why. Compared to American food, Scottish cuisine is very simple. During my time in university, the dining halls served lots of boiled vegetables and unseasoned foods. At the time I thought that perhaps this is the dining hall just making what’s quickest. But no, my Scottish coworkers will bring plain food to work too. Perhaps this is just…