Question...from a newbie

[Richrail]

from Reno, NV.

[Singlemalt]

I guess the reasons why your ancestors left leads you to an examination of history which is my favourite subject. Sure there are lots of stories about the clearances and the expelling of Jacobite rebels but I think these reasons represent only a tiny percentage of those who left Scotland. In my family I know my mothers family accepted land grants in Canada in return for their military service fighting Americans in the revolution and 1812. On my fathers side they were much more recent. My Grandparets came in 1919, I remember them well, they came to Canada for the simple, compelling but unromantic motivation of cruel and unrelenting poverty in Scotland. They had roots in the Highlands but moved to Glasgow and the shipyards for work. This boomed through the leadup and duration of WW1 but collapsed after. With no hope and no opportunity apparent in Scotland they took a chance on Canada. It worked out well for them and they prospered here, perhaps like your ancestors?

[heatherhono]

My ancestors seem to have done well here, I think im the first of my family to question the whole decision. Don't get me wrong im a very proud American and the majority of men in my family have served in the US military, that is how I found myself in England able to visit Scotland on holiday, I just found the culture shock of returning to the states very shocking. I miss the smiles and friendliness that were found on almost every face in Scotland and even in the majority of places we visited in England. I do not like how the norm in the US is to pretend that you don't see the people around you and if you do you don't acknowledge them. I also don't like the fact that it has become normal to not know your neighbours. When we lives off base in England in the town of St. Ives, we knew almost every neighbour for blocks and blocks and all of the neighbourhood kids would play for hours on the green. I also miss the rain, which I find very comforting although I know it annoys a lot of people. There is sooo much that I miss.

[JohntheBiker]

from Toronto

[Jock Scot]

My ancestors seem to have done well here, I think im the first of my family to question the whole decision. Don't get me wrong im a very proud American and the majority of men in my family have served in the US military, that is how I found myself in England able to visit Scotland on holiday, I just found the culture shock of returning to the states very shocking. I miss the smiles and friendliness that were found on almost every face in Scotland and even in the majority of places we visited in England. I do not like how the norm in the US is to pretend that you don't see the people around you and if you do you don't acknowledge them. I also don't like the fact that it has become normal to not know your neighbours. When we lives off base in England in the town of St. Ives, we knew almost every neighbour for blocks and blocks and all of the neighbourhood kids would play for hours on the green. I also miss the rain, which I find very comforting although I know it annoys a lot of people. There is sooo much that I miss.

Well, I don't suppose we are perfect by any means, but thank you for your fond memories.