The Germans and the Kilt - From Prince Albert to today

[Whidbey78]

I believe my ancestors were attending to the attendants.

That's okay. Mine were probably still living in trees.

I think that what draws people to it is part romance(the ridge running drumbeat helicopter shot thing mentioned earlier) and partly a connection to something mysterious. Many of us have not had the fortune to visit the place, fewer still get to live there and be part of it. Common sense says the romantic portrayal is mostly hokum, but I think the fact that we all, deep down, know there is much more to it that we simply cannot fathom without having grown there makes us curious, and draws us in. We can't be part of it, but we can connect ourselves to it through dress, sport, drink, how we decorate our homes, etc.

Unfortunately, I think those of us from this side of the pond could visit frequently and still not "get it." We may live there for years and it still wouldn't happen as we are not "organic" to the area. As they say in Japan "One cannot learn to be Japanese."

Any thoughts from the good folk on the Mother Ship??

[BoldHighlander]

Unfortunately, I think those of us from this side of the pond could visit frequently and still not "get it." We may live there for years and it still wouldn't happen as we are not "organic" to the area. As they say in Japan "One cannot learn to be Japanese."

For most perhaps, but it depends upon the person. I have known a few ex-pats who have moved over there & do "get it"

[Whidbey78]

Of course a few will, and the one's who don't aren't likely to stay. Considering most people I know don't even get the Red Green Show I doubt they would fare well on another continent. Hopefully one day I get the chance to find out if I can "get it."

I always said that with all the places(42 countries on six continents)Uncle Sam sent me it's good that I never found myself in Scotland, Ireland, England or Wales. I might not have gotten back on the plane home.

[BoldHighlander]

I always said that with all the places(42 countries on six continents)Uncle Sam sent me it's good that I never found myself in Scotland, Ireland, England or Wales. I might not have gotten back on the plane home.

I hear you!

[Micric]

Whidbey,

You mention if Uncle Sam had sent you to England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales, you may not have got on the plane home.
Then again, you may not have been able to get on the 'plane quick enough!...depending on where you were stationed.
All these places have their terrible areas. I always feel sorry for poor sods visiting if they don't know their way around, or what's what.

Re. if people from another land can "get it"...and get it right;

That's only half the battle.
To be accepted is the other half.( and without doubt, the ''righter" we get it, the easier the acceptance)
Even when accepted as a good and decent chap, in many places you are still not accepted like a local, for the simple reason that you Aren't local!

Example;
When we lost the farm to developement in NE England, we moved 50 miles to another farm. There we were told that;
"You have to have three generations in the churchyard before you're accepted"!

We did pretty well, and fit in, and had lots of friends, but I'm sure still weren't Really regarded as locals.
Not trying to be discouraging to anyone, but the "getting it" has two sides, ..one of them only partly in our control.

All best,
Richard.

[artificer]

Whidbey,

When we lost the farm to developement in NE England, we moved 50 miles to another farm. There we were told that;
"You have to have three generations in the churchyard before you're accepted"!

We did pretty well, and fit in, and had lots of friends, but I'm sure still weren't Really regarded as locals.
Not trying to be discouraging to anyone, but the "getting it" has two sides, ..one of them only partly in our control.

All best,
Richard.

Your story reminds me of something my father heard in Europe years ago and still laughs at (because of it's truth).

"Americans think 200 years is a long time, Europeans think 200 miles is a long distance."

Having to bury three generations in one place (barring some horrific accident ) to belong in an American community would mean that nearly everyone is a 'newcomer', and always would be.

[Whidbey78]

I've spent most of my life not being "truly local." Even when I go back to my original hometown in Colorado I don't fit because I've been gone over two decades. Considering how many places I've lived and the number visited and time spent living and working with people from all over, I feel pretty confident about not coming back from the Mother Ship. I spent a lot of time with British units in the Sandbox and the more time I spent the more I liked them. They proved to be the finest people I have encountered anywhere, though the Aussies right on par with them. And Canada...can't forget them (I think heaven is somewhere between Puget Sound and the southern tip of Alaska). One thing that I hadn't thought about is that even if one is accepted there, and even regarded as a "local" he would never really "blend in" unless he lost the American accent.

The little town I'm living in now--for about another month since I decided to re-enlist and leave on July 6--is like the one you describe. Even people who are here because they married a third generation local are "new" after twenty-some years and their kids going to school K-12 here, owning a business, and even being mayor for 2 years(my neighbor!!).

People are funny critters.

[creagdhubh]

I think Sir Walter Scott, Landseer, MacLeay and others combined with Victorian romanticism,escapism and a thriving and immature tourist industry have all assisted in the rose tinted view of the Highlands. Many still believe to this day, that not so many years ago Highland Scots gentlemen tripped across the peat bogs in their best finery, festooned with swords, pistols and Lochaber axes, taking pot shots at some unbelievable stag, whilst at the same time wrestling with monster salmon. All of course attended by shaggy, bearded kilt clad Highlanders to pander to the gallent gentleman's every need. It was nonsense then and it is nonsense now, but some of it has stuck in our brain.

Wonderful scenery we have, history we have, tradition we have, good food and drink we have, some of the finest shooting and fishing in the world we have, fine and historic golf courses we have, much more we have, but the one thing we have never had in the Highlands were "rose tinted" glasses unless they were worn by those that were living in a world far removed from reality.

Quite right Jock and well said I must say.

Slainte,

[Zardoz]

I have quite a bit of German heritage. My paternal grandmother was a first generation Prussian-American, so German heritage and tradition was pretty dominant in the family for the last couple generations. The Celtic line of my family had been 'homogenized' (also with quite a few German folks) for over 200 years in America, and we didn't really reconnect to it till my dad started doing some geneology in the late 70's.

But you know we see people in kilts with more German blood than me on the forum all the time, certain descendants of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and House of Schleswig-Holstein.