The other night I was with all of my roommates watching the USA/Canada hockey game I learned some intersting things about Scotland and the UK. It's interesting to hear how different major historical things are perceived in different countries...the differences in reactions to 9/11 compared to my views and their views...the differences in the death of Princess Diana. It's just intriguing to hear how they reacted. I think the best question asked was how the US reacted to Michael Jackson's death....ha.ha.ha. While of course I am the first one to admit of my huge love for MJ, I had to tell them truth of how every one of our tv channels was Michael Jackson watch 24/7 for 2 months straight. The were quite surprised at that, though they also said it was a big deal here...just didn't go on as long as ours apparently did.
Also, I knew Scotland hated England...but i didn't know they HATED England. I mean...there's shirts being printed right now in relation to the South Africa World Cup coming up that say "Anybody But England"...basically since Scotland didn't qualify, they're cheering for anyone but England...and they play the US first ironically! But supposedly these shirts are being looked at because there are some who think they're racist! I couldn't believe that. I don't know, maybe I'm being naive, but I can't quite see how that's being racist.....but what do I know? So anyways, there's some elections coming up here in Scotland that are gonna be a pretty big deal here in May and June. They're voting on trying to get complete independence from England...but here's the kicker, you can't actually vote "no". To put it easily, you can basically vote for " a little change", "moderate change", or "complete independence from england". Which is what everyone wants here anyways I guess. So the UK consists of Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Whales....and apparently they all don't like England that much, but especially Scotland doesn't. From how my roommates described it, it kinda seems like England is running some sort of little dictatorship over here!..to which my roommates agreed to that statement.
I also learned the in the UK, Catholic schools are paid for by the government....as in the government FUNDS the catholic schools....so none of the kids have to pay to attend. I found that very very interesting.
Another thing that I've come to learn...I've become very protective of my country. I thought about this today and try to relate when I explain this:
- When you hear someone talking about your friend...you get defensive right? It's almost as if you get this feeling where your blood kinda boils and you just kinda wanna just start shouting out all the good things about your friend.
- So then the same goes for when you hear someone bash a club or group or organization your a part of...or have good friends in. The same feeling occurs...you want to protect them.
- And then the same goes when someone starts bad mouthing your school or university...(aka also known as the KU/K-State banter haha just trying to make it relatable)...so you start going back and forth as to why your school is better...because you have pride in your school and you think it's the best..you know it's the best!
- Then the same thing goes for when someone stereotypes or makes fun of your town or state...you immediately become defensive and try to fix the image they have in their mind. Because you're proud of it and all the people that live there...even if some of those people are from the 'school down the road', because they're still in your state...which you're still proud of.
- And then there's our country...when someone tries to say something about your country...the same feeling happens. It doesn't matter if someone from your country is from the school you hate, or the club or organization your'e not fond of...or friends with the person that you don't particularly like...because everyone is now part of this category...everyone is a part of your country and you have pride in that and want to protect it's image because in your mind it's the best place to be!
I just kind of came to that realization tonight...it's not super deep or well though out, but I found it interesting how the same feeling can happen on such a small level, and then the next moment you're getting the same thing and trying to defend the entire country. I think it's great that we can all be "rivals" within different groups back home...but the second someone tries to bring down our country, we all come together.
So not so much interesting random facts of what I've learned...but just some things I've really actually have come to learn in just the few weeks of being here.
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