Two weeks, five wearings... my first exposure to the kilt

**Coastie** · 21st April 11, 04:25 AM

Originally Posted by Spartan Tartan

Yeah, me too

But my favorite was making sure I had a good canopy. My "stress" always went way down after that check....

I'm glad you're enjoying your kilting experiences.

The worst I have got here in Kentucky has been confusion... no antagonism at all. In fact one fella in my bowling league swears he will wear my kilt the last week of bowling. I tried to explain my 48 inch waist casual kilt would by no means fit his 34 inch slim and trim waist.

He is still determined to wear my kilt and I take that as a sign I doing the Lord's work and spreading the word.

**Coastie** · 21st April 11, 04:00 AM

Let me tell the truth, I was always more worried about the landing than the chute. That 5 point body check... left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg... head. After that I was always pumped and ready to jump again.

**MichaelPHahn** · 21st April 11, 01:59 PM

It's the culture. I had the priviledge of teaching technical classes in London several times over a three year period. While neither culture is better or worse, there is a definite difference when it comes to expectations of personal space and familiarity. Persons raised with "Southern Hospitality" will attempt to look you in the eye, smile, and engage a passing stranger with a comment. This includes positive comments about almost anything ("If you can't say something nice, though, don't say anything.") when I was in London people would do almost anything to avoid eye contact, as I passed them, and would cringe if I said "How do you do?" women would just about run away if I smiled at them and tipped the brim of my cap (I must have appeared to have been an evil deviant).

I would like to say that once I observed the different behavioral norms I complied, but actually I gained much pleasure in pushing the envelope by doing such things as smiling at folks. Wicked me!

**BruceBC** · 21st April 11, 03:21 PM

Having spent a few summers in London I would agree with the eye contact comment. My lord, if you make eye contact with someone on the street you would have sworn that you were jack the Ripper. In order to blend in I learned to stare at the ground when walking. Each to their own.

**Zardoz** · 21st April 11, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by BruceBC

Having spent a few summers in London I would agree with the eye contact comment. My lord, if you make eye contact with someone on the street you would have sworn that you were jack the Ripper. In order to blend in I learned to stare at the ground when walking. Each to their own.

This reminds me of a conversation I had with my mother in-law! She was a "military brat" that lived all over the world for the first 20 - 25 years of her life, and has traved quite a bit since. She was in England and Scotland for a week a couple of years ago, and she commented on the same eye contact - talking to strangers thing. She said it was easier to engage a stranger in Riyadh than in the UK.
She had some thoughts on it, but honestly, posting them would be a 5 violation.

**Father Bill** · 21st April 11, 03:26 PM

So . . . advice from our "Professional Scots" - what's the eye contact rule in Scotland?

**Spartan Tartan** · 21st April 11, 03:31 PM

It is certainly worth the time to understand social norms when visiting another country. If for no other reason, than to understand expected behavior. (I suppose we each decide how much to comply, now don't we

)

**robbiethepiper** · 22nd April 11, 04:52 AM

Originally Posted by Father Bill

So . . . advice from our "Professional Scots" - what's the eye contact rule in Scotland?

Same as the rest of the UK. Its generally accepted that making deliberate eye contact means you want to have sex with someone, sell them something or ask a financial favour.....

**Spartan Tartan** · 22nd April 11, 05:01 AM

Originally Posted by robbiethepiper

Same as the rest of the UK. Its generally accepted that making deliberate eye contact means you want to have sex with someone, sell them something or ask a financial favour.....

Really?! Wow.

**Jock Scot** · 22nd April 11, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by robbiethepiper

Same as the rest of the UK. Its generally accepted that making deliberate eye contact means you want to have sex with someone, sell them something or ask a financial favour.....

------or, you are about to get a black eye, or worse!

I come from a fairly rural back ground, although towns a cities have ventured into my life from time to time, and I am sure it was not as it is now, some 70,60,50, 40 even 30 years ago. Certain places in the major cities of the UK had grim reputations, but usually a nod, a raise of the hat, a touch on the brim even, or a smile from passing strangers was commonplace then. It still is in the Highlands amongst the older locals.