What is the funniest thing you have seen in relation to MED? - Page 5

lizaj · 06-25-2008, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caroline_afifi

I find that romanticism is also related to ancestory.
I assume you studied Scotland because it is related to your roots?
I am just trying think what relevance this would have in America or Hawaii, do you have Scottish type studies for career purposes?

I hear many people here in the UK talk about their 'home' countries like they were some sort of Utopia and the best thing since sliced bread.

I think the bucket of icy cold water was probably the weather as everything else about Scotland is pretty great. I really love it and have since my very first visit. I suppose for me there was no culture shock involved. What shocked you the most and burst your bubble?

Liverpool has strong root connections to Ireland and it is often reffered to as the capital of Ireland but I feel there is also an over romantic ideal too somewhere.

Ah yes Utopia..my ancestors probably eaked out a sparse living on crofts before being cleared off their lands by Butcher Cumberland which meant moving to Aberdeen to try to make a living on the habour and then on to Liverpool as customs men and ships chandlers
...oh how I yearn to be back living in that romantic little old hut of mine being choked by the central heating peat fire,smelling the sweet wet heather and stepping in cow-poo..NOT

..signed...contented to be domiciled in an English city on a pension

Caroline_afifi · 06-25-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizaj

Ah yes Utopia..my ancestors probably eaked out a sparse living on crofts before being cleared off their lands by Butcher Cumberland which meant moving to Aberdeen to try to make a living on the habour and then on to Liverpool as customs men and ships chandlers
...oh how I yearn to be back living in that romantic little old hut of mine being choked by the central heating peat fire,smelling the sweet wet heather and stepping in cow-poo..NOT

..signed...contented to be domiciled in an English city on a pension

I can just see you now.. the buxom wench with the blackend teeth waiting by your hut for some gormless mut.

I was more thinking along the lines of people who live in the UK now from other countries (not within the UK). Of course the opposite can happen, when my husband returns to Egypt, he cant stand the heat, dust, traffic etc. it is totally bizarre when you think about it. Others talk about Egypt like it is paradise and he just sits and rolls his eyes but it is still 'Masr um il dunia'
to him too.

Brea · 06-26-2008, 01:40 AM

Hi,

Scottish history is my major. I am going to St Andrews next year for master's and PhD. I intend to become a college professor. Yes, I am of Scottish extraction, though I didn't know it until after I became interested in the history. There was a fair bit of romanticism there for me.

The ice water wasn't the weather, which I thought was rather beautiful for February when I first went. The problem was that I'd studied so much history I hadn't prepared myself for the present! However, the second time I went back, I took Scotland on its own, modern terms and decided to study romanticism and folklore, as well as its uses in the media. My senior thesis was about this, to explore the fascination with the culture that Americans seem to have. For instance, during my studies, I found that the Scottish government had done a survey to see what Americans thought Scotland was. One respondent asked if the Internet had reached Scotland yet, and thought Groundskeeper Willie was the epitome of the Scottish character. Put that kind of thing together with Highlander and Braveheart and you get a lot of very interesting ideas.

Caroline_afifi · 06-26-2008, 08:51 AM

Braveheart put Scotland on the map in Egypt and possibly many other places too. There is often no concept of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, just England. It took my husband a good while to get his head around it all.

However like you say...we dont all still live Braveheart or like lord of the rings!

Cities in the UK are a far cry from the countryside areas and village life is sooo different. The highlands are still one of my favourite places in the world.

Reen.Blom · 06-26-2008, 09:55 AM

Agree with Caroline! Who ever heard of Wales? someone must make a movie about it! LOL

As for the stereotypes.... every country is plagued by them, and after all mythology is not the worst thing to be known for!

After visiting South Africa, I am amazed by cultural and scenec diversity of this country, and yet the only thing you ever hear about it outside SA is Apartheid and Aids.... (Dont even ask, there is NO Internet is SA...:-P)

Mythology must be a blessing.....

Caroline_afifi · 06-26-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reen.Blom

Agree with Caroline! Who ever heard of Wales? someone must make a movie about it! LOL

....

Wales is famous for the lamb meat and unfortunately the English call the Welsh Sheep Shaggers (people who have sex with their sheep).

I was stuck on a train once with football supporters from both England and Wales (I was the only female). The English started shouting 'sheep shaggers' to the Welsh and someone shouted back 'who is the worst? us Welsh who shag the sheep or you English who eat it after we shagged it?'
The whole train fell about laughing..including me.

Reen.Blom · 06-26-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caroline_afifi

Wales is famous for the lamb meat and unfortunately the English call the Welsh Sheep Shaggers (people who have sex with their sheep).

I was stuck on a train once with football supporters from both England and Wales (I was the only female). The English started shouting 'sheep shaggers' to the Welsh and someone shouted back 'who is the worst? us Welsh who shag the sheep or you English who eat it after we shagged it?'
The whole train fell about laughing..including me.

i thought the title was reserved for the kiwis.... LOL

Brea · 06-26-2008, 02:27 PM

Yeah, that sheep shagger bit gets thrown around a lot all over the place.

I don't really have much against things like Braveheart (pointing out that these are what got me interested too). I just like the idea of reality-education as well. If people were still doing Lord of the Rings style living I'd move there!! Mythology is probably a better way to be known than anything else. Still, I can tell you that a lot of people have a difficult time figuring how Trainspotting fits into their image of Scotland, to use another media example.

Shanazel · 06-26-2008, 03:00 PM

Sheep. A popular bumpersticker in my part of the world states, "Wyoming: where men are men and sheep are nervous."

My ancestors came from all over the British Isles. I always thought they wanted a chance to starve in a place with a better climate, but perhaps they had other reasons as well.

Reen.Blom · 06-26-2008, 03:04 PM

Well you know as they say Sapienti Sati...

Those who are serious will learn, those that are not.... they do not matter

06-26-2008, 01:40 AM	#43 (permalink)
Brea V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,283	Hi, Scottish history is my major. I am going to St Andrews next year for master's and PhD. I intend to become a college professor. Yes, I am of Scottish extraction, though I didn't know it until after I became interested in the history. There was a fair bit of romanticism there for me. The ice water wasn't the weather, which I thought was rather beautiful for February when I first went. The problem was that I'd studied so much history I hadn't prepared myself for the present! However, the second time I went back, I took Scotland on its own, modern terms and decided to study romanticism and folklore, as well as its uses in the media. My senior thesis was about this, to explore the fascination with the culture that Americans seem to have. For instance, during my studies, I found that the Scottish government had done a survey to see what Americans thought Scotland was. One respondent asked if the Internet had reached Scotland yet, and thought Groundskeeper Willie was the epitome of the Scottish character. Put that kind of thing together with Highlander and Braveheart and you get a lot of very interesting ideas. __________________ www.breamorgiane.com

06-26-2008, 09:55 AM	#45 (permalink)
Reen.Blom V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Between Heaven and Earth Posts: 2,263	Agree with Caroline! Who ever heard of Wales? someone must make a movie about it! LOL As for the stereotypes.... every country is plagued by them, and after all mythology is not the worst thing to be known for! After visiting South Africa, I am amazed by cultural and scenec diversity of this country, and yet the only thing you ever hear about it outside SA is Apartheid and Aids.... (Dont even ask, there is NO Internet is SA...:-P) Mythology must be a blessing..... __________________ Join WORLD BELLY DANCE DAY! www.worldbellydanceday.com

06-26-2008, 02:27 PM	#48 (permalink)
Brea V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,283	Yeah, that sheep shagger bit gets thrown around a lot all over the place. I don't really have much against things like Braveheart (pointing out that these are what got me interested too). I just like the idea of reality-education as well. If people were still doing Lord of the Rings style living I'd move there!! Mythology is probably a better way to be known than anything else. Still, I can tell you that a lot of people have a difficult time figuring how Trainspotting fits into their image of Scotland, to use another media example. __________________ www.breamorgiane.com

06-26-2008, 03:04 PM	#50 (permalink)
Reen.Blom V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Between Heaven and Earth Posts: 2,263	Well you know as they say Sapienti Sati... Those who are serious will learn, those that are not.... they do not matter __________________ Join WORLD BELLY DANCE DAY! www.worldbellydanceday.com

06-26-2008, 08:51 AM	#44 (permalink)
Caroline_afifi V.I.P. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 1,335	Braveheart put Scotland on the map in Egypt and possibly many other places too. There is often no concept of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, just England. It took my husband a good while to get his head around it all. However like you say...we dont all still live Braveheart or like lord of the rings! Cities in the UK are a far cry from the countryside areas and village life is sooo different. The highlands are still one of my favourite places in the world.

06-26-2008, 03:00 PM	#49 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,654	Sheep. A popular bumpersticker in my part of the world states, "Wyoming: where men are men and sheep are nervous." My ancestors came from all over the British Isles. I always thought they wanted a chance to starve in a place with a better climate, but perhaps they had other reasons as well.