I was going to the gym on Saturday when 3 young Chinese men approached me, asking if they could interview me about exercise in Scotland. Always up for helping out students, I thought, 'Why not?'
They asked me what sports were popular here; what sort of exercise I do; my thoughts on team sports; what sports are offered at the University of Edinburgh (it was at this stage they realised I wasn't a student - I don't look that young, do I?).
The interview ended with an odd question where they asked what I would say to someone 'fat and lazy' about exercise. I tried to talk about walking as a form of exercise, and got the response 'Why would they listen to that? They are FAT and LAZY?'. All right then, I thought, no need to get too worked up about it. I rephrased the same idea and I don't think that's what they wanted to hear, and they thanked me for my time and I went to the gym.
On Sunday, I took our kid to the Royal Mile, because she really wanted to see Elaine Davidson, who lives in Edinburgh and regularly sets up shop on the Royal Mile. Our kid somehow thinks Elaine is some sort of family friend. Elaine is great, but she has no idea who we are; she's just super-nice to everyone.
We ended up at the Castle, where we were approached by a group of a dozen or so Italian students, who wanted to interview me. Always up for helping out students, I thought, 'Why not?'
I still don't get the point of this interview, a day later. I was asked questions like 'What is a popular Scottish food?' (Haggis), 'What is a popular Italian food?' (Why are you kids asking me this; you're the ones from Italy), 'Who is the most popular Italian athlete?' (again, you're the Italians). I did answer all their questions and they thought our kid was cute, although she didn't like that daddy took 5 minutes indulging these strangers and their questions, because you're not supposed to talk to strangers (good point).
We did, eventually, see Elaine, but she was talking to someone so we did a quick hi-bye.
Later that afternoon, I was walking to Sainsbury's, waiting to cross the road, when I saw an elderly woman who was staring at me and giving a half-smile. I gave a half-smile back. She came up to me and asked if I had a lot of hair under my hat. I showed her my hair and then we talked and walked to Sainsbury's together.
I'm not a social person (I would actually say I'm anti-social), but I've always liked talking to elderly women. I've said I'm an old soul many, many times. Occasionally up for talking to elderly women, I thought, 'Why not?'
We talked about hair, parenting (in her time and mine), and it was one of the more pleasant walks I've had walking to Sainsbury's.
What's the point of this blog? I've been quiet about the world has been going for a while and I thought, 'Why not?'
We live in a world of growing isolationism when someone running for president of the the country where I am a citizen, who I am not willing to give the dignity of even naming, talks in such extreme isolationist rhetoric that I don't feel like I would be welcome to live in that America. I live in a country where 'the people' have decided that they don't really like foreigners and want to keep them out, which makes me feel unwelcome where I am now (not Scotland specifically, but I have no plans to head south of the border anytime soon). I'm someone who has never felt 'at home' anywhere, but not feeling at home and feeling unwelcome are two very different feelings.
Here I am an American, living in Scotland, on a random weekend in July, who had social interactions with some Chinese students, some Italian students, a Brazilian woman with piercings all over her body and a woman who may have been German (although it makes no difference to me where she was actually from).
I like diversity. It's a good thing. It has made the world far better than worse. Who are these morons who want to end it?
