Culture, Weather, and Where to Live in Scotland

According to “Live in Scotland,” Scotland has a rich culture that has much to offer. The Scottish Government even provides funding to the arts in Scotland. There are lots of different types of culture to choose from there. It has its own ballet and opera companies. There are also many companies that tour Scotland bringing drama, music and other things to remote areas. The Edinburgh Festival, which started in 1947, is now known worldwide and attracts musicians and authors from many different countries. Scotland has a wide range of music from folk and traditional to contemporary or classical. There are almost 300 museums and galleries in Scotland. The National Galleries of Scotland and the National Museums of Scotland in Edinburgh are great art museums to go to. Admission to most museums and galleries is free, and if they do charge, it’s rarely more than 4 pounds. Of course, there are many historic buildings and monuments that are free for the public to go to. Seafood, meat, poultry, cheese, and whisky are some of the products that Scotland produces that are known to be the best in the U.K. There are all types of international food offered there. Weather in Scotland varies based on where you are. On average there is rainfall on over 250 days a year in the highlands and 175 days a year on the Angus, Fife, and East Lothian coasts. It typically rains a bit more in Scotland than it does in England, but as the article says, “It doesn’t always rain in Scotland.” It is also typically a bit colder in Scotland than it is in England. The average July temperature in Scotland is 66°F, and the average maximum January/February temperature ranges from 41°F - 59°F. The average number of days with sleet or snowfall can range from less than 20 in the west coast to over 100 days in the mountains. There are six main cities in Scotland: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness, and Stirling. Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city, its unemployment is consistently under 2%, and in a survey done recently it was the second most prosperous city in the U.K. It is surrounded by beaches and is close to mountains offering a wide range of activities. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and has the strongest economy of any city outside of London. Unemployment is as low as 1.9% there. Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland, is known for its tourism, culture, and shopping. The city is surrounded by some of the best scenery. Inverness was ranked fifth out of 189 British cities for its quality of life. Their economy is dominated by the high-tech sector, and there are many students living there due to the first class schools. Stirling is the smallest city in Scotland, known for its historical heroes.
This article relates to my topic because I am not sure if I would want to move to England, Scotland, or Wales. The first two articles that I have read seemed to focus on England or the United Kingdom as a whole so it was nice to read an article that focused on Scotland. The temperatures in Scotland seem pretty mild which is something that I prefer. I also think it is great that museum prices are relatively low or free because some museums in the U.S. can have pricey admission fees. I was hoping that the website would have a little more information on the cities, but it did provide new information because I knew little about the cities before I read this article.
"Live in Scotland." Scotland is the Place. The Scottish Government, n.d. Web. 8 Apr 2010. http://www.scotlandistheplace.com/stitp/85.3.14.html.

British Customs and Culture

In the CountryReports.org section about British Customs and Culture, many aspects of life are talked about such as eating, fashion, family, religion, and sports and recreation. A typical family eats about three meals a day with breakfast generally being at seven AM, lunch at one PM, and dinner/tea at six PM. Breakfast is usually eaten at home; lunch is typically eaten at a café or restaurant near the person’s office; dinner is eaten at home usually unless the family is eating at a restaurant for a treat. The article says this about fashion: “Typically, men wear a suit and tie or smarter trousers and shirts. A woman wears a jacket and skirt/trousers, although it is increasingly common for employers to encourage more comfortable working conditions, which affects personal attire. Young people (men and women) tend to wear jeans and T-shirts” (Country Reports). The average British family has one or two kids. Most families with children are two parent families and usually both parents work. There are still elements of the British class system, which consists of upper- inherited titles, land, and social privileges, middle- industrialists, professionals, businesspeople, and shop owners, and lower- agricultural, mine, and factory workers. The class system is diminishing due to multiculturalism and a changing economy. British people prefer to live in houses. Many houses are narrow and joined by rows of terraces. Country houses have a garden encircling them. The law in the U.K. provides for freedom of religion, although England and Scotland have established churches: The Church of England which is Anglican and The Church of Scotland which is Presbyterian. 72 percent of citizens of the U.K. consider themselves to be Christian. 16 percent do not have a religion, and 12 percent had some other type of religion such as Judaism (0.05 percent) or Hinduism (one percent). England’s national game is Cricket, but soccer (football), rugby, horse racing, tennis, and motor sports are also popular. Kids typically play soccer, cricket, or rugby.
This article applies to my topic because it is important to know about the culture before moving to the U.K. or really, moving anywhere. I learned some new things from this article, and some things I already knew. I didn’t know about the religion demographics, which were interesting. Many things that the website mentioned about British culture I already knew. I didn’t disagree with anything per say, but I didn’t think that the article talked enough about the things that makes the United Kingdom different from the United States. Also, the author said many things about England. I wasn’t sure if he or she was making the common mistake of saying England as if it is the same thing as the United Kingdom or if he or she was talking about England in particular. I think it is great that different sports are common in the U.K. than the U.S. Although I am not really into sports, I would much rather watch a soccer (football) match than an American Football game. It was a great article for general information, but I think I will need to do further research about this.
"Customs and Culture." CountryReports. CountryReports, 2010. Web. 1 Apr 2010. http://www.countryreports.org/people/aboutThePeople.aspx?Countryname=&countryId=251.

Moving to the U.K.

According to Jo-Anne Woodward, there are several regulations that you need to be aware of before you move to the U.K. You must think about and plan essential things such as obtaining a visa, opening a bank account, getting health care, acquiring health care, renting or buying a home, getting a driver’s license, and finding a job. There are many different types of visas that allow you to work in the U.K. A Work Permit allows a person to work in the U.K. with the employer’s permission, meaning you have to find work before you get there. There is also a Highly Skilled Migrant Program Visa which is given according to education, current salary, and work experience. You can hit some snags when trying to open a bank account in the U.K. mainly because they ask you to provide a letter from your employer, passport, and proof of your residential address. Many people run into problems if they are not yet employed or if they are sharing a flat or home with someone and their name isn’t on the bills. Health care is provided to most residents through the National Health Service for free. Anyone visiting the Emergency and Accident section of an NHS hospital receives free care even if they have no visa. Waiting times can be somewhat long though. Renting a home in the U.K. is expensive, although many properties come with furniture. According to Woodward, “Consider whether you really need to drive, particularly if you live in London, where roads are congested, parking is scarce, and public transport is usually efficient.” If you end up deciding to drive you can keep your U.S. license for a year, then you must take a written and practical driving test. It is hard to find work before you arrive in the U.K. unless your skills are in short supply. Once you get there, it is best to learn the rules of interviews, CVs, and work practices when trying to get a job.
This article is very helpful, and the things mentioned seem crucial in a move to the U.K. I’m not sure I agree completely about the visa, because I don’t think obtaining a visa is only about your job and work experience. I will have to do more research about obtaining a visa. The NHS seems like it is mostly a good thing, although I have heard some negative things about it such as not having enough staff and the wait times that Woodward mentioned. I don’t think I will be renting a home in the U.K. due to the high costs, especially if I plan on living there for a while. I also will probably use public transport at first, until I become more familiar with wherever I’m living. Also, she implies that it is not even necessary to drive, especially in London, unlike in America where it is basically mandatory unless you live in a big city. This has helped me know a bit more about what to expect when moving to Britain.

Woodward, Jo-Anne. "Moving to the U.K.". Transitions Abroad. Web. 24 Mar 2010.
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0611/moving_to_the_uk.shtml.