I have not had a good week.
My biggest fear when I moved to Scotland was that it was going to be an intolerant place. My biggest fear is that I would never be accepted. I was afraid that people would automatically hate me because I'm American or because I'm fat or because I'm ugly, or any of the other random reasons people decide to hate people they don't even know. My husband assured me that it would be fine. He was wrong.
Everything I was afraid of when moving here has come true. I love Scotland, except for the people. People in my office have made negative comments about foreigners "marrying all the Scottish men." They make these comments in front of me and the other girl in the office from Slovenia who is married to a Scottish man. No one ever sits next to me on the bus. People stare at me like I'm a circus freak. Complete strangers in public have mocked me and made fun of me for being fat. It's like living in perpetual high school here. It is my worst nightmare.
The people of Scotland could be okay if they learned to mind their own damned business. I lived in Seattle for 5 years and I guess I got spoiled by living among friendly and accepting people. I miss the west coast of the US. I miss living in a place where you can be whoever you are. I miss living among decent human beings.
Now I understand why my husband can sometimes be withdrawn and unfriendly in public. He's just trying to get by without being noticed. He's lucky though. He's a big enough man that no one is going to take him on. But I just look like a good target to the juvenile-minded Scottish public.
So far the only part of Braveheart that is true of Scotland is the line when the king of England says that the biggest problem with Scotland is that it is full of Scots.
Alana
Everything I was afraid of when moving here has come true. I love Scotland, except for the people. People in my office have made negative comments about foreigners "marrying all the Scottish men." They make these comments in front of me and the other girl in the office from Slovenia who is married to a Scottish man. No one ever sits next to me on the bus. People stare at me like I'm a circus freak. Complete strangers in public have mocked me and made fun of me for being fat. It's like living in perpetual high school here. It is my worst nightmare.
The people of Scotland could be okay if they learned to mind their own damned business. I lived in Seattle for 5 years and I guess I got spoiled by living among friendly and accepting people. I miss the west coast of the US. I miss living in a place where you can be whoever you are. I miss living among decent human beings.
Now I understand why my husband can sometimes be withdrawn and unfriendly in public. He's just trying to get by without being noticed. He's lucky though. He's a big enough man that no one is going to take him on. But I just look like a good target to the juvenile-minded Scottish public.
So far the only part of Braveheart that is true of Scotland is the line when the king of England says that the biggest problem with Scotland is that it is full of Scots.
Alana
