Cultural Matters: Scottish Food

One of the joys of traveling is discovering new foods and treats. In Britain -- and especially Scotland -- there are plenty of opportunities. From snacks to meals to tea to desserts, we will discover all types of culinary delights. Below are few of the classic foods to expect while traveling in Great Britain.

Fish and Chips

The classic British meal. Usually made from cod (though sometimes other white-fleshed fish such as haddock or whiting), it is traditionally served wrapped in paper (newsprint in the past) with fries (chips in Britain). Although served in many pubs and restaurants, the best come from the traditional "chip shop", which are becoming increasingly rare to find.

Bangers and mash

My personal favorite, this dish is a pub staple. (The above was my lunch at the Queen's Head Pub back in June 2010 in Downe, England). Basically it is mashed potatoes, Cumberland sausages, and gravy.

Steak and Ale Pie

What to Expect

We fly out of Atlanta en route to Scotland on 10 May 2014. We'll arrive at the Frankfurt Airport in Germany, and then take a shorter flight into Edinburgh International Airport. We will then make our way to the  Smart City Hostel in Edinburgh's Old Town area. Each twin room has its own showers, sinks, and toilets. The hostel also has kitchen facilities, additional showers/toilets, wifi, public computers, coffee bar and restaurant. Once we settle in, students will have a brief on-site orientation and neighborhood tour, including historic Calton Hill. 

Over the next week, we will visit the sites of Edinburgh, which may include the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, Mary King’s Close, Holyrood Palace, John Knox House, the University of Edinburgh, Surgeon’s Hall Museum, the Scottish Storytelling Center, the Walter Scott Memorial, and the National Scotland Museum.

 

During our second week, we will visit the sites of Glasgow and the surrounding area. In Glasgow, these will include the Glasgow Cathedral, the Necropolis, the Riverside Museum, the Kelvingrove Museum, the University of Glasgow, the Lighthouse, the Willow Tea Rooms,  the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art, the and the People's Palace.

We will intersperse those site visits with day trips in the surrounding area. First up will be Stirling and its historic castle – a site made famous by William Wallace and Robert the Bruce in their struggles for Scottish independence against England. This struggle was made known to most Americans through the popular film, Braveheart. The next trip will be to Rosslyn Chapel, just south of Edinburgh. Finally students will have an opportunity (for an extra fee) to take a full-day tour through the Scottish Highlands. Sites will include Glencoe (site of an infamous 17^th Century massacre), Loch Lomond, Ben Nevis, and Oban.

On 23 May, we will travel to Edinburgh International Airport . One the return flight, we will spend one night in Frankfurt, Germany, where student will have the opportunity to spend the evening. The following day, we will return to Atlanta.

 

Introduction

Greetings! This is a blog for those students interested in the Scotland Study Abroad Program in May 2014 through the USG's European Council. This program is available to all USG students. This blog will serve as an introduction to the overall program. Over the next few months, I will post images, links, and other information about the courses. You can also join our Facebook page and our website.

First, some basic information...

The program runs two-weeks (10-24 May 2014) in Scotland with an online component before and after we return. There are two courses, a US I/West Civ I history course and a British Literature II course, both of which are three-credit college courses. These are lower level courses, but both can be tweaked to make them upper level courses as well (pending approval by one's adviser). Students will stay in the heart of historic Edinburgh at the Smart City Hostel. The cost of the program is $2,995 (plus tuition), and includes round-trip airfare from Atlanta, GA to Edinburgh, Scotland, transportation from the airport to our lodgings, lodging in Edinburgh and an overnight on the return in Frankfurt, Germany, expenses for the required field trips, breakfasts everyday, and a health insurance policy providing coverage for emergency medical expenses.

There will also be free time built in for students to sight-see on their own. In May 2013, students visited York, London, Ireland, and St. Andrews during their free time.

For more information, contact the Program Director, Dr. Dave Nelson of Bainbridge State College, at david.nelson@bainbridge.edu.