During my first week of studying abroad, I learned so much about how other cultures operate (businesses, transportation, attitude, grammar, etc).
Starting off, businesses do not always open when they are supposed to. I went to the Kelvingrove part of Glasgow and the chef was two hours late to work, which was a regular routine. They also close down the kitchens around 8:45 and leave the bars open. In Europe, relationships are very important so they set aside time to drink and catch up with each other.
Transportation: They have public transportation here! I absolutely love it; it makes day trips easier and quicker. We have passed for the train and subway and I have taken full advantage of them. I think public transportation would be a good idea to integrate into the United States. It?s like the A&M buses, they make life easier.
Attitude: Before the trip, my family friend said that the people from Glasgow are the nicest people you will ever meet, and they are. If you ask a stranger a question about where a restaurant is located, they will walk you all the way over there to make sure that you reach your destination. People in America stay in their own little bubbles and do not usually make an effort to help others like this!
Grammar: Trying to figure out the accents has been a little bit of a challenge but if you can use context clues you can figure it out. The phrases they say here just brighten up your day such as ?Gluggle Jug? (a fancy glass).
I have learned so much about myself and Scottish culture. I have learned to work through differences to accomplish tasks and have some ideas that I would like to bring back with me.
