People & Places
From Scotland to America
A chat with an American stranger on an Internet chatroom changed Laura Adams life. She explains why and how
It's strange to think it's been five years since the biggest adventure of my life started. It all began one rainy Saturday in September of 2002, when I was 17. Boredom led me to do a random Internet search to find someone to chat with on MSN Instant Messenger. Seven months later I was flying out to Seattle from Edinburgh International Airport to meet my online chat buddy, Stuart. It was in Washington Dulles airport where I first learned one of the biggest differences that I would run into in America is humour it actually isn't normal to visit someone for two months when you've never met them before, apparently. I suppose I must have sounded like a mail order bride and was questioned by Customs, so I missed my connecting flight to Seattle. The humour difference is so great that I often find myself laughing out loud whilst others look on wondering if Scottish is just another word for insane. My accent attracts people from across rooms and I've learned to avoid certain words because they're pronounced differently, or my accent makes it unrecognisable to American ears.
After a while you get used to the blank looks when you're in the midst of a conversation such as when you get excited and your accent becomes thicker and the tempo quicker. Most people don't let on they haven't understood a word you just said, though the blank stares do tend to give it away. Scotland isn't a third-world country so I never expected the culture shock when I came to America. I was used to a place with decent, regular public transport, smaller servings of food, toilets that don't get blocked and the NHS. I'd never dreamt of drive-thru banks and pharmacies or so many fast food restaurants, Christian radio stations or Earthquake drills. All these are part of life here in Rexburg, Idaho, though. I quickly realised it's essential to have a driver's licence here in order to get around. The towns aren't set out with a Main Street or High Street running right through it. Everything is spread out here-and-there and a lot of shops look just like lonely little houses in the middle of a residential neighbourhood.
Five months after I had returned home from America, Stuart came to Scotland to meet my family and to find out just how different my little country was compared to his big one. In March of 2004 we were married in my hometown on the east coast of Scotland. The reason we were married in Scotland was because we hadn't known each other face-to-face at least for the required two years that would allow us to get the US Fiancι visa and be married in America plus, what American wouldn't want a Scottish wedding? We spent a day at the Consulate in Edinburgh getting our marriage papers notarised one of the many hoops we would have to jump through. You never can underestimate the work involved in the immigration process.
I flew to America alone again two weeks after we were married due to a passport mix-up. I had to fly with a round-trip ticket because if I had a one-way ticket I wouldn't have made it past customs. I stated the reason for my trip was to visit family, but you can't assume you're going to be able to stay. Immigration is a tricky game. We got started on the immigration paperwork right away. Luckily, we have a friend who is an immigration attorney and was able to help us far more than the Immigration Hotline my advice is don't even waste your time! It's a long, stressful, expensive process. Once the first batch of papers were filed at the Consulate in Seattle I wasn't allowed to leave the country until I got my Green Card. It was six months after filing the paperwork, being finger-printed, and going through a medical examination that I had my big interview, and another month until I got my Temporary Legal Resident Green Card. Once I had my Green Card I was able to get my Social Security number and I was also able to work. When filing the paperwork for the Green Card you have the option to buy a work permit. It takes three to six months to get to you, though, so considering it took six months for me to get my Green Card, buying a work visa would have been a waste of money. The temporary Green Card is valid for two years, and this is a good amount of time to collect all the paperwork you'll need for your ten year Green Card enabling you to become a Legal Permanent Resident. The INS (now USCIS) want proof of your relationship and life in America: for instance, bank statements, housing contracts, health insurance, car payments, photographs with your spouse, birth certificates of any children born to you whilst being in the country, tuition payments and proof of income the list goes on and on. It's well worth it, though.
Stuart and I were both raised Christian, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon). Our religion teaches us that families can be together forever and not 'til death do you part'. In order for us to be together forever we go to our Temple to be sealed together as husband and wife. This is seen as a secret ceremony in the United Kingdom and therefore you have to be married civilly first. In America, though, Temple Marriage is accepted as a public ceremony. This is a good example of how religion seems to be more of a part of everybody's life here. There are a lot more denominations and churches all over the place, and it's a normal thing to go to church every Sunday and to have friends who are members of other congregations. In Scotland I'm not even sure I knew anyone who went to church, other than the few that went to mine. It's also amazing to me how much climate can differ from state to state. Oregon and Washington probably have the closest climates to what I'm used to, but here in Idaho there are only two seasons summer and winter. For me, Oregon is the perfect place for us to settle down when Stuart is finished with his studies.
One of my favourite memories of being here is the week we spent in southern Oregon exploring the redwoods, watching hummingbirds in my grandfather-in-law's garden, walking along the Rogue River and spending a day in the little town of Brookings on the coast. In terms of other cultural differences, there are a few important things that I've had to get my head around. Health insurance is a new puzzle to me. It's essential to have and yet it's difficult to get the kind of coverage you really need, and doctor and dental visits are very expensive. Stuart gets student insurance from the school and to add me to his would cost him more than he pays for himself because I'm not a student. We're learning that insurance is a game those without money can't play. I also don't recommend injuring your back whilst working for a big company and holding your breath for the Worker's Compensation you're entitled to.
Another aspect of why Brits love America is the good old currency conversion. Living here I notice that thinking in Pounds Sterling clothes are cheaper, but food prices seem to be about the same, or even a little more expensive depending on the items. Whilst there isn't as much history and fewer traditions here, there's still a lot to experience. Americans love British people and make you feel very welcome like part of the family really because somewhere down the line you could be. Thanksgiving is the biggest holiday here, next to Independence Day. The day after Thanksgiving is kind of like our Boxing Day with huge sales! Christmas dinner doesn't necessarily involve turkey and it's pretty much guaranteed that there will be no Christmas crackers. I'm almost sure I prefer British food to American you can't quite beat a steak pie and chips! Bread is sweeter and, oh, how I long for Warburton's. My first experience with bacon in America was one day when my father-in-law made breakfast and announced the bacon was on the table. I ran upstairs, took a look around but couldn't see it. Someone then pointed out the plate with teeny wee strips of crispy meat on it streaky bacon. Farewell bacon butty. There's also a nationwide lack of banana milk here at McDonald's you get strawberry, chocolate or vanilla milkshake, but no banana; also pies are a sweet and not savoury food. You may also be introduced to vegetables that you never knew existed, which makes you look like a child who doesn't want to eat your greens, but its only because you don't know what it is, of course. Turnips are known as 'rutabaga' and seem to be quite tiny compared to those we'd have for Robert Burns night with our haggis and mashed potatoes. Chickpeas are known as 'garbanzo beans' and coriander is 'cilantro'. The list is endless, and that is only food names! All in all, the experience has been positive and the change is welcome. Life is more laid-back and there's more time for fun. Who wouldn't love that?
Laura Adams' blog can be found at www.sugar-grenade.blogspot.com
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