Greetings from Switzerland

**gealach** · 7th February 17, 01:08 AM

Hi all

My name is Gin (yes, that's actually my real... nickname) and I have always been fascinated by those islands to the northwest of european mainland. I have been to England and Ireland multiple times and am looking forward to my first journey to Scotland in 2018.

I love my whisky, the pipes & drums and each and every one of the few Scots I know so far. Luckily my fiancé shares this love. This is why I, without any genetic connections to Scotland, intend to wear a kilt at our wedding. I have gathered some theoretical understanding of this great garment but, as you can imagine, there are many questions floating around in my head. So I am very glad to have found this forum.

Being Swiss, my first question goes to @Riverkilt: What is it with the drunk yelling "Hey Switzerland!!"? Excuse my ignorance, but I just don't get how anyone could mistake a kilt for a Swiss attribute of some sorts.

**Riverkilt** · 7th February 17, 07:12 AM

To be polite, the man yelling "Hey Switzerland!" seemed to be from another country just south of the U.S., very intoxicated, and probably not well versed on Scottish history. He was panhandling for change to buy more booze and I'm guessing my uniqueness fueled his ambition that he could score some change from me - not knowing that at that time I was an alcoholism counselor running a detox facility.

Best he could conger up from his besotted mind was that kilts were from somewhere that started with an S.

Pure conjecture. No telling what damage booze had already done to his brain or how much geography/history he learned in his youth.

For me, it was extremely funny - but you kinda had to be there...

**gealach** · 7th February 17, 07:25 AM

Thanks for the reply Riverkilt. The thing that went through my mind though is this: Had it been me with the kilt, he would have been right for the wrong reason. Life's strange sometimes.

**John_Carrick** · 7th February 17, 07:42 AM

Welcome from Ireland

**Kiltedjohn** · 7th February 17, 08:17 AM

Welcome from a Scotsman living in middle England.

I, too, wondered about the Switzerland reference. As well as beginning with "S", both countries are noted for their lakes and mountains.

**Tomak** · 7th February 17, 08:20 AM

Hello and welcome from Southern California.

**gealach** · 7th February 17, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by Kiltedjohn

Welcome from a Scotsman living in middle England.

I, too, wondered about the Switzerland reference. As well as beginning with "S", both countries are noted for their lakes and mountains.

That is very true indeed. But only one of them has the kilt.

As stated above I intend to get married in a kilt but will have to get measured at a Swiss kilt shop and a proper Full Highland Dress ordered for me from Scotland. I hope that goes well.