Meeting with a scot

[Graham]

As I sat in the doctors waiting room yesterday a man next to me leaned over and said:
"what tartan is that?" As soon as he spoke I could tell he was recently from Scotland.

Gunn, said I,
"where are you from?"
the UK.
"what part?"
Portsmouth.
"you mean you're not even scottish???"

At this point I felt like saying 'well is you're so scottish, why aren't YOU wearing a kilt. But in a doctors waiting room, full of people, I had to mind my tongue.

I did say, 'well, you're wearing denim Levi's, are you American?'
'So why should the scots have all the fun?' I said.

At that point he agreed and we began talking of Scotland and we exchanged phone numbers for a later meeting.

I wonder sometimes if Scots here may feel a little guilty that they are NOT kilted. Perhaps I may inspire him.

[GMan]

Graham actually held his tongue? Well once you get the gent kilted he can post here and try to catch up with all your posts Shouldn't take him long

I have yet to have that happen to me in that manner. Good job Graham 8)

[Graham]

Thanks Glen, wearing a kilt certainly generates interesting meeting with people!

[Jerry]

Graham, I had a sililar experience at last September's Williamsburg Celtic festival. I was taking some digital pictures of the massed pipe bands and the clans as they passed on review, when a gentleman with an obvious Scottish accent asked me about my Macneil of barra kilt. He also wanted to know about the festival and about all the kilts there. I explained that I was of Scot Irish ancestry and like everyone else wore the kilt to celebrate my heritage. He and his wife were visiting from Scotland (can't remember what town), but I invited him to the richmond va Highland games and explained that it was a much bigger affair, but he was leaving to go back home before then. In Williamsburg (Virginia) one is more likely to meet a Scot, or people from any other country, as it is a tourist mecca. It has a good part of the city kept as a restored 18th century colonial town.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I have sold kilts to not a few Scots ex-pats who never dreamed of owning a kilt back in Scotland, but now that they are abroad feel they need to have one.

I can't say what it is. Do they perhaps feel more a need to connect with their heritage away from their homeland? Or could it just be the throng of people who expect a Scot to have his kilt that they are now meeting? Whichever, it has happened very often.
Aye,
Matt

[Graham]

There is truth is what you say Matt, living now in Australia I feel more British and more interested in my heritage that I'm sure I would have done had I remained in the UK.

They say a Scot is more Scottish away from home, or an Englishman is more English away from home.

Age is also a factor, young people are not so inclined to think of their roots, the older one gets, the more hysterical....I mean historical one becomes.

[Colin]

Age is also a factor, young people are not so inclined to think of their roots, the older one gets, the more hysterical....I mean historical one becomes.

As one of many 20 and 30 somethings on this board, I am going to have to disagree with that. If you read my post about declining Scottish Societies in BC, I have stated that I feel like the generations are in a transitional stage, and many young people are looking beyond their current environment in search of roots to their past. I will also say that while some of the older generation may be more inclined to be more historical, I think the younger generation is likely to take up the kilt and other traditions of their past, more so than the older generations, which may like to read about history, but have no interest in resurrecting it for a new age.

[macwilkin]

Same here, Colin. The majority of our officers in our local St. Andrew's Society are in their mid-30's to late 40's, the "20 percenters", the 20 percent of the membership who do most of the work in organizing and planning events. I meet a lot of 20 and 30-somethings at Scottish games who have gotten into their history and genealogy, and are looking for a way to display it.

One of my favourite Scottish singers, Ed Miller, wrote a great song entitled "At Home with the Exiles" which discusses the expat's love for his homeland.

www.songsofscotland.com

(I think that's right -- if not, google Ed Miller and Scotland)

Cheers,

Todd

[GMan]

That is so true Colin and Todd. I have a great amount of interest from the people under 30 about kilt wearing. The ones over about 40 think it is silly or that I am an exhibitionist.

The ones who have a better chance of affording one don't, and the ones with a smaller budget want and can't.

So I guess kilt wearing keeps us young!

[Rob Wright]

That is so true Colin and Todd. I have a great amount of interest from the people under 30 about kilt wearing. The ones over about 40 think it is silly or that I am an exhibitionist.

The ones who have a better chance of affording one don't, and the ones with a smaller budget want and can't.

So I guess kilt wearing keeps us young!

Is it not funny how generational sterotypes get turned on their heads?

The few scots from the home country who have stopped in where I work have all been thrilled seeing someone wearing a kilt even if it is not a tartan traditional, I wear my USAKilts Victory at work.

I had compliments and intrest expressed by all different age groups and backgrounds.

Rob