If It's Not Scottish, It's Crap

So, being American in another country, albeit one that speaks a derivative of English, can be interesting at times. Lots of little cultural things are very different when one lives abroad. 

For instance:

• Christmas Crackers - Pulling apart decorated pieces of cardboard with hats and horrible jokes on Christmas Day
• Boxing Day - a holiday right after Christmas, because we need another holiday right then. Remember after New Year's Day there are no national holidays until Easter.
• Driving on the Left (wrong) side of the road - I don't care how long I live here I will still forget which way to look when crossing the street on a weekly basis.
• Pubs (bars) closing at 11PM - This idiotic act forces people to go out right after work and drink a lot really quickly then go and eat this VILE food-like substance called donner kebab. Keep bars open a little longer so that we can all go have a proper dinner first!!
• Football (soccer) - Now, I do really like English Football (I like the Rugby a bit more). But, I HATE being mocked by English people for my fellow Americans' use of the word Soccer. It's a term the English coined, not the Americans!
• Being European - Great Britain is part of Europe, therefore if you are from Britain, you're European. Furthermore, England is part of Great Britain, so if you are English, you are also British. Deal with it.

Now, all English (British) bashing aside, it's that last point that has me thinking about Evie and how she will identify herself as she grows. It's amazing how we think of ourselves differently depending on where we live. For instance, when I lived in NYC, I always said I was from the south (well the first few years it was quite obvious). After that I would elaborate that of course I was from Tennessee, not backwards Alabama or snooty Georgia. When I moved to Texas, people in Texas actually thought I was from some part of Texas (the accent again). So, I was constantly starting with "I'm from Tennessee, the REAL south". I mean as if someone actually WANTED to be from Texas. Because I was living in the US, I never had to identify myself as an American, it was just assumed. 

Now that I live in London, I have to identify myself as an American first. People never ask if you're American. They say it's because they don't want to offend anyone who might be Canadian. Seriously?!?!! You're worried about offending the Canadians? What wars have they ever started? We're the ones that have the nukes within a finger's reach, worry about offending us with your "Canadian" accusation. But, I digress. I like having to first identify myself as an American. I think it's actually made me more patriotic. Sure, I have to endure snide remarks about our health care system, and the fact that we elected Bush twice, and our love of guns, but it's nice to think of one's country when identifying where one originates. And then I so eloquently remind them about those nukes and guns, and they continue on to the next topic English people like to confuse Americans with, the offside rule in football. But, again I digress.

Something else that is quite common in America is to also identify yourself with your ancestors, i.e. German-American, Italian-American, African-American, etc. That does not really happen here. If you're born in England, you're English plain and simple, forget the rest of you ancestors. For instance, Ian's Father (not Grandfather or Great Grandfather or some distant uncle) is from Scotland. He's Scottish. Now in America (and in any genetics class), that would make Ian half Scottish. But, he refuses to acknowledge his Scottish roots. When I ask him about it, he gives me some chest thumping English chants and genuflects to the queen (or something like that).

So, how will Evie identify herself? My personal opinion is that she should identify as an American-English-German-Scottish-Southern-Tennessean woman. But, let's face it, that's rather long. So, I guess we'll have to shorten it to American-English (hey "A" comes first!!!). 

Realistically, as long as we are in England, Evie will identify herself as English. There is nothing wrong with that and I hope to teach her to be very proud of her country. England has a long and rich history and is a beautiful place to call home. But, I want to make sure that she also knows that she is American (Tennessean) and Scottish and German as well. So, we have the USA map in her room so that she knows her geography. I speak German to her during the day, so she learns about my family history and a second language. And her Grandpa George will teach her all about all the famous Scottish football players (starting with the new Liverpool coach Kenny Dalglish). 

No matter what, the greatest part is that when she's tired of being from one place, she always has another heritage to choose from. And maybe one day she can get her Daddy to admit that he's half Scottish.