By Nick Makarov
EDINBURGH — Part of the allure of studying abroad lies outside of your host country. Much of the small talk with my peers in London revolves around upcoming weekend trips.
My first such trip was to Edinburgh, Scotland. Prior to my departure I did not know much about the city. I knew that there was a castle, a cafe in which Harry Potter was born and a loch containing a sea monster a couple hours north. At the end of the day, I decided to travel to Edinburgh because it came highly recommended by my mom, who made sure that I pronounced it “EdinBRUH” rather than an Americanized pronunciation similar to “Pittsburgh.” With the knowledge necessary to avoid ostracism, I felt confident tackling England’s northern neighbor.
We arrived on a Thursday night so we could get a head start on the town in the morning. Around 9 a.m., I set out to explore with seven other students. After about an hour of trying to decide where to go, we decided to scale Calton Hill. In Edinburgh there are two hills that tower above the rest of the city: Calton Hill and Edinburgh Castle.
If you Google search “Edinburgh” many of the pictures would come from the top of Calton Hill. The views from the top of the monument-infested miniature mountain certainly give Edinburgh a personality. The most visible landmark was a bridge dividing Old Edinburgh and New Edinburgh. From my point of view, beautiful Old Edinburgh rested to the left of the bridge, while the bustling banks and H&Ms of New Edinburgh were to the right. The stunning view of Scotland’s capital perfectly exemplified the country’s rocky transition toward independence.
Last September, there was a referendum for Scottish independence that did not pass. Talks of independence have yet to cease. There are now many interest groups funding each side of the debate. While I was only in Edinburgh for a couple days, everyone I met was relaxed and friendly. They all seemed to have a “whatever happens, happens” attitude. Hostility and aggression were absent from the Royal Mile (Old Edinburgh) and Princes Street (New Edinburgh) alike. It was almost as if the Scots knew they had nothing to prove.
Often you find that citizens of a nearly-independent country have a need to prove a distinct identity, but in Edinburgh the Scots clutch onto reliable norms and traditions in the midst of potential political upheaval.
Debates between the Labour Party and the Scottish National Party continue, with fracking and parliamentary power being two main points of conversation. Fracking is also called “Hydraulic Fracturing,” and it consists of sending a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into the earth with the goal of extracting oil and gas. Supporters of fracking emphasize benefits such as cheaper energy and more jobs. Opponents draw attention to the environmental annihilation and the community health hazards that often come paired with hydraulic fracturing, including poisoning of local water. The Scottish National Party recently implemented a ban on fracking, while the Labour Party hopes to instate tighter regulations on the practice. Scottish politicians and I are similar in the fact that we want to preserve Instagram-worthy views.
The Scottish people are proud. They ooze pride to the point of putting a kilt store on every corner. Scottish people have a clear identity, and they cannot say for certain whether independence is the right move. They just happen to have a stronger, more powerful big brother in England. Cutting immediate ties with them could prove to be detrimental to the country’s infrastructure. It will be interesting to see how the situation develops within the next year, especially because it is an election year.
Politics aside, I would recommend visiting Scotland. The entire town of Edinburgh is coated in various types of dark stone, which gives off a spooky Winterfell vibe that will have you transfixed at what could be around the corner. I wandered alone the city for about three hours (even though I totally have friends) with no agenda. I walked past vibrant street art and cozy family-owned pubs and ended up on top of Arthur’s Seat for another breathtaking view.
I would also like to stress how easy it is to travel out of London. I spent around £80 round-trip on the flights, and the Airbnb cost was negligible. Not once did I feel unsafe, worried or stressed as I was parading around Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace or the William Wallace monument. Our Airbnb hostess Eleanor was extremely kind and I felt that the entire city of Edinburgh was completely hospitable to us first-time Scottish travelers.
