An American's Perspective on the UK

Having been in Edinburgh for roughly fifty days at this point, and having lived with an English family for a few as well, I have formed the rudiments of some opinion as to the national character and culture of the United Kingdom.

The UK is a completely different animal than the United States - my only real point of reference or comparison, in any case. England (~50 million people) acts as the chief constituent of the UK, accompanied by Scotland (~5 mil), Wales (~2.9 mil), and Northern Ireland (~1.7 mil). It is chief not only in terms of population but political leadership, as well, controlling, for instance, the entire treasury of the UK and collecting and redistributing its taxes back to the English, Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish. The three lesser-populated constituents of the UK may feed, dress, and clean themselves, but it happens that they still must look to England for their allowance.

It should be noted, however, that two of the UK's recent prime ministers down in foggy London town have been Scottish - Blair and Brown, I believe. Additionally, because Scotland doesn’t have an independent treasury, it becomes England’s added responsibility to provide free healthcare and public services for Scots. Whereas English students have to pay tuition to attend English universities, a Scottish student’s tuition at a Scottish school is totally subsidized by the government.

As a matter of nationalism or patriotism, views vary and conflict. As one Scot told me, in general, "Patriotism doesn't make sense. Pride in an affiliation you weren't given the opportunity to pick is crazy." He has a point. I am proud my affiliation with Franklin and Marshall because I applied and got accepted. Can one feel the same kind of pride for belonging to a country that he neither selects nor is selected by? In general terms, I'd say, "Yes," because it is perhaps what we learn and experience in our countries that makes us proud (or not) to live in them.

Regardless, the general opinion of England that I have gathered from my time with the Scottish is one not of enmity but surely latent annoyance in the least. The country is certainly a free one, yet lorded over by another organizationally. Imagine how the rest of the United States would feel if New England assumed Washington D.C.'s powers and the states within in it suddenly enjoyed greater benefits and privileges than the others, not to mention a sense of primacy.

I have heard the English, as well, describe their relation to the rest of the UK's nations in terms of ownership. "We own Wales and the rest, they just don't know it." Now I can’t endorse this personally, having no stake in it, and the fellow that said it was likely being 'cheeky' with me. Still, I think that it is a sentiment that is generally popular in England regardless.

On the other hand, upon saying that two Scottish natives had 'British accents,' I provoked a laugh which caused one to comment to the other, "Haha he called us British." This perhaps is simply patriotism. It is a fact, after all, that Scotland is part of Great Britain, as much as Wales or England is. All states in America being equally endowed and governed by an independent District of Columbia, it would of course seem absurd for me to balk at being called 'American' instead of 'New English,' or else whatever the word is for a person born in Massachusetts. My nativity to the Bay State and my residence in that of the Garden doesn't compromise or influence my inclusion as 'American.'

This phenomenon is not unique to the UK, certainly. America has its fair share of regional and geographical groupings as well - Northeast, New England, Midwest, 'North,' 'South,' &c - yet I could not imagine a man from Maine disliking a man from Colorado simply on geographic principles. Things like politics, religion, race, and economy may certainly cause those kinds of divides within the States, but - according my still-limited experience - I feel as if region of birth is more defining in the UK. Also, this must not be too exaggerated. The most intense reaction I've ever seen two UK natives give each other upon hearing they come from opposed places (England/Scotland, or even internally, Edinburgh/Glasgow) is friendly rivalry. Go to a football match when England's playing Scotland and I'm sure you see examples more intense.

Another quirk I've noticed is that being over here makes it seem like a small world. I have lost track of how many people I've met that know students at tiny F&M, and how many people know friends I have at other colleges. However, if you think about it by the numbers, most of these mutual friends occur at small liberal arts colleges scattered around PA, NY, MA, CT, NJ, and occasionally MD. Add up the number of students in that relatively tiny region, and then take the number of students from there that study abroad, and it is not surprising that a girl from South Jersey who goes to Gettysburg knows my friend at F&M from Central Jersey. Small world, or small pool?

I also figured that I should explain something about the word "Edinburgh' to anyone reading this. It is a word that I have found defies pronunciation, not only to those around the world, and not only to Americans, but even varies distinctly between Scots you meet depending on how many half-miles apart they grew up. The pronunciation defies spelling, as well. The Oxford English Dictionary spells it, roughly, "Edn'bere." I'd say my understanding of the sound comes to "Eh-din-Buh-ruh," or sometimes "Eh-din-Brah." Regardless, I've never once been told I have pronounced it correctly, and most times its easier just to slur what you're saying. So if you're talking to a Scot, don't say "EE-din-berg" or "Eh-din-berg." There's no 'g' sound to be heard.

Missed Midsummer Night's Dream last night - just forgot to go. So I bought it on iTunes and watched it with Michelle Pfeiffer and Kevin Kline (there's a very questionable mud-wrestling scene included that I'm not sure the Bard intended). Started one of my two remaining papers today. No trips planned upcoming but you never know.