Most people my age are not fascinated by historic battles, figures, architecture and communities in the same way that I am. In preparations for my departure, I have been reading up on Scottish history. I have always believed that the actions of our forbears and the events that they lived through shape us in ways we seldom recognize. Of course, its hard for me to read about William Wallace and Robert the Bruce or the Jacobites and Bonnie Prince Charlie and not be engrossed. The great castles I hope to see when I visit were more than just large mansions for the wealthy (even though they may be that now); they were constructed to protect Scottish land and people. When you look at all the fighting between the clans or between Scotland and England, war was present in their lives for centuries. Growing up when I did and where I did, I never experienced that. However, Scots came to Canada in the tens of thousands (including people from my own family) and it would be foolish to believe that those experiences did not enstil characteristics and values in my ancestors that influenced the world they helped build here and the children they raised here.
In terms of history, the clan system is a style of government and community that I’m very interested in. When I think of most nations at that time, they all seemed to used some version of a feudal system: king/queen at the top with nobles (large landowners) beneath and then a whole lot of peasants (serfs). Clan chieftains were elected and despite having elements of the feudal system, authority came from the clan and not the other way around. Also, children were frequently raised by clan members other than their parents. Apparently to encourage cohesion within the clan.
I’m looking forward to the opportunity to explore some of my own Scottish roots. My grandmother’s mother was part of a clan, but I think there are also some connections on my fathers side as Wright seems to be a name common to families in an area in Southern Scotland. It could be a coincidence, but I could also have more Scottish roots than I thought.
In my reading, I’ve also been very impressed with the number of key intellectual and literary figures that have come from Scotland. I even picked up a book of Robert Burns poems from the library book sale. David Hume was one of the most influential philosophers of his age. Sir Walter Scott and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gave us characters and works that are still relevant today. Adam Smith is basically the founder of modern economics. Other great Scottish people did their work in Canada and the US: Alexander Graham Bell, Andrew Carnegie, Alexander Keith and of course Sean Connery.
Speaking of Alexander Keith, besides being English speaking, another advantage of going to Scotland is they drink the alcohol I like. The more wine friendly areas in France, Spain and Italy are usually higher on most people’s travel list, but I’m not most people and don’t really like wine that much. I’m too busy anticipating all the small microbreweries and their many kinds of beer. And because its Europe, I can enjoy it outside or at one of the many pubs. Whiskey tours are also offered in the north east where they have almost half the distilleries.
Scotland, particularly Edinburgh or Glasgow (or even Aberdeen) are more on the scale I’m looking for. Paris, London and Rome may have a lot of opportunity in terms of jobs, but they are far too big and have too many people. I think it would be overwhelming to live in a city like that. Edinburgh is only about a million people. Half of what I’m living in now… Plus where else could I get my very own Loch Ness monster souvenir.
Wright After Reading 