When my program (IFSA Butler) picked me up from the Edinburgh airport, they took me to a beautiful four-star hotel for a 3-day orientation session. I had a wonderful view of Edinburgh castle from my room! I learned this castle was traditionally used for when Scotland was under siege-- it is one of the highest points in the city and is more fort-like, so if city was under attack, the royal family could move from the Holyrood Palace (which continues to be the Queen's residence when she visits Scotland) to the safer Edinburgh Castle.
During the orientation we went over basic health and safety information for our time abroad, as well as tips for successfully integrating ourselves into the Scottish social scene.
We also got to listen to the chief of police of Edinburgh, who had a very thick accent and was very silly. He told us, "If you are a ginger, welcome home. We invented you."
We were also given lists of "translations"-- sounds silly, but in my time here I've already had a few communication issues (one when I asked for Tylenol, and a girl "only had Paracetamol," which to me sounded very powerful and possibly illegal!).
Medical terms
U.S. U.K.
Tylenol Paracetamol
nurse sister
doctor's office doctor's surgery
emergency room casualty department or A&E
MD GP
shot jab
mono glandular fever
Food
U.S. U.K.
biscuit scone
sugar castor sugar
cookie biscuit
ham gammon
eggplant aubergine
fries chips
chips crisps
ground beef mince
Jell-O jelly
pickle gherkin
Popsicle ice lolly
roast joint
shrimp prawn
soda/cola fizzy drink
raisins sultanas
zucchini corgette
baked potato jacket potato
Terms used in the U.K. that are used very differently in the U.S.:
1. Dear - means expensive
2. Fag - cigarette
3. Homely - cozy
4. Knock me up - wake me up
5. Bum bag - do not use fanny pack (very rude in UK)
6. Ring up - to phone
7. Post - to mail
8. Mate - means friend
9. Pissed - drunk
10. Spot on - exactly right
11. Feeling peckish - hungry
12. Snog - kiss
13. Knackered - tired
14 Cheers - Thanks or goodbye
15. Quid - money term for a buck
16. Aye- Scottish slang for yes
My favorite part of Edinburgh so far is the architecture. Within Edinburgh, there is "New Town" and "Old Town." Old Town was the location of the original Medieval location of Edinburgh, which had been flourishing since 1100's ( today the oldest buildings still standing are dated from around the 1450's). The population of Old Town originally grew so much that it began expanding out, until eventually lack of proper drainage became a serious issue. In 1766 there was an architectural competition for who could design the best expansion to the city. The design that won was much more modern, with a more grid like (logical) city layout. To distinguish from the old winding roads of Medieval Edinburgh, the expansion was termed "New Town," although that is a deceiving term when the newest part of the city is still older than the ratified United States of America.
Regardless of whether you are in Old Town or New Town, the architecture of all the buildings are breathtakingly beautiful. Strikingly that most American buildings (besides churches), which are built to maximize space and budget. The architecture of Edinburgh is grand and tall, the only way I can truly do it justice is by showing pictures.
I don't have very many pictures of buildings yet, getting quality light during the day has been a problem (it is very cloudy/rainy here), and I'd rather not put up pictures that don't do Edinburgh justice.
More later!
Love,
Kate
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