DIFFERENCES WE HAVE FOUND BETWEEN SCOTLAND AND SPAIN

Sheila Martin and Martina Gutierrez 

We have been here only for four days, but we have found so many differences between Scottish and Spanish people. In Scotland everything is so quiet, and people are friendly, while in Spain we are considered as really loud people and sometimes we only pay attention to the things that are important for us, so we aren’t really helpful with tourists. We have noticed that in Scotland there are so many charity shops with incredible prices, and compared to Spain where there aren’t so many charity shops to help different causes. Talking about shops the schedules here are incredibly sharp, they close early, at six pm! Thank God, in Spain they close later at ten pm, so you have more time to go shopping so it’s nice. Not only do they close shops early, but they also have dinner while Spanish people are “tomando algo” so as Spanish people staying in Scotland, we find having dinner at seven or half past six pm extremely difficult because later we are still hungry.

Surprisingly, seeing the neighbourhoods we have seen that everyone lives in big houses, and they  prefer not living in flats like Spanish people. Also talking about houses and the neighbourhoods we have noticed that our host mother doesn’t mind not keeping the door shut something that in Spain is necessary if you don’ t want to get robbed. As Spanish people we had to buy some sleeping masks because of the light, as in Scotland it’s never completely dark and in this country, they don’t have shutters, and for Spanish people it is uncomfortable and shocking.

And the most important difference for us is the weather, here is all the time raining - well, often! And as Spanish girls that live in a warm country, it’s something that annoys us.

 

First day in Dundee.

On the fist day, we met all of us in Gallery 48. Some of us had breakfast and others hadn't because they had already had breakfast in their new houses.

Then we went to Queen's Hotel because last year place (DUSA) was under restoration because they found Asbestos behind the walls. It was a shame that we couldn't go to DUSA since they had pool tables and lovely installations. Though the Queens Hotel was nice and very near the centre.

At midday, we went shopping for some sleeping masks - it is light nearly all the night in Dundee.. We went to Primark because we thought that we could find cheap and good variety of them.

After that, we went to a charity shop, the British Heart Foundation, where we bought little books to read during our stay.

At lunch time we went beside the V&A Museum and had our snacks there. We had awesome views of the river Tay.

Scotland's trip 2023: First contact with Dundee

 To begin with, we all met at the airport, where we felt a little bit nervous and we got the first impressions about our mates. Some of them knew each other, but others didn't. We checked in our luggage and waited for the first plane, destination London.

When we arrived in London we had to take a connecting flight to Edinburgh. First flight lasted two hours and the second one hour forty five minutes.On the whole, both were very pleasant flights.

Already in Edinburgh, Maria's family picked us up in the  airport, and the drove us to Dundee. When we met the families who seemed so nice. Holly, who is 25, gave very good vibes. And Jim and Kelly were nice, kind and polite. In general, very good impressions.

At tea time, the family asked about what we wanted to eat. They cook well! 

Finally we have some a rest for all the day.

Glagow

 19/07/2022

Differently than other days, on Tuesday we met at the train station. We went by train to Glasgow and arrived around twelve o'clock.

We had a coffee in Glasgow's Council square and then we tried to visit the Council, but a Bollywood movie was being filmed there.

Afterwards, we went to Glasgow's Modern Arts museum, which was very interesting and beautiful. What we enjoyed the most was an Andy Warhol painting.

Later on, we had a walk around the main streets and went to the underground. It is called the Clockwork Orange, as there is only one circled line and the trains are tiny and orange. We arrived at the other side of the city, and we went to Kelvingrove.

Kelvingrove is a beautiful art museum, the outside looks like a giant palace and has beautiful gardens. while the inside is full of interesting rooms. On the ground floor one room is dedicated to Egyptian art, another one to Scottish art and another one has stuffed animals. But what we enjoyed the most was the first floor: it had big rooms full of well-known paintings of artists like Picasso, Rembrandt, Monet, Cezanne or Van Gogh. There was also supposed to be a Dali painting but, sadly, it was in an exposition in New Zealand.

Finally, we went to Glasgow's University. It is a beautiful castle-like building where some of the Harry Potter

Sorry Folks thats it!

Then there was 4

 18/07/2022

On Friday morning we met in Gallery 48 as always, but it was very different than what we were used to because only four of us were left.

We went to DUSA after planning the week and did some writing exercises.

After class was finished, we all went back home to rest because the next day would be very long: we were going to go to Glasgow!

Scotland's 2022 Trip

 16/07/2022

On Saturday we had a fantastic plan: going to support the greatest team in the world based on Gavin's biased opinion: Dundee United. But while we were expecting this unique moment we spent the morning visiting the Verdant Works.

The Mills of Verdant were built in the XIX century for processing jute from India and turn it into textile works. More than five thousand people worked in difficult working conditions. These bold-eyed women made that Dundee gained the nick name of  "She Town".

The Victorian building, after the decay of the jute industries in the XX century was forgotten about. Thankfully, the mill was stunningly restored and opened to the public in 2015.

After a short lunch, we headed to Dundee United's stadium, we were full of hope. But, sadly, we were quickly disappointed. They scored an own goal and Sunderland FC, in the end, won the match 0/2. It doesn't matter, maybe next time!

 

Scotland's 2022 Trip

 15/07/2022

On Friday we went to class and did some long listening exercises. Although they were very boring, we all got good grades so we were very happy.

After class, Marisa went with María and Omy to Saint Andrews to visit the cathedral, the university and the golf course and to have a walk around the main streets. They both loved the small city very much and had a nice time there. They also completed a series of tasks that they had to do around the city, like taking a photo on the Swilken Burn Bridge.

However, the kids had already gone there a few days before, so instead they went to a trampoline park, which was a really fun activity. 

After being in the trampoline park, we went home early that day, so Ana and Javier could do their luggage.

PS: Marisa now wants to live in Saint Andrews.