Frequently Asked Questions:: 201

What do you like so much about Scotland?

I answered this question in my post Ten Things to Love and Dislike living in Scotland.

What is your least favorite part about living in Scotland?

I answered this in my post Ten Things to Love and Dislike Living in Scotland. But, I'll tell you now--it's the weather. Scotland would literally fit all my needs if we got more sunshine. Oh, and if travel back to states didn't cost so much.

Why did you and LD decide to stay abroad?

It has been almost 5 yrs since I moved to Scotland. Boy, time flies! It is so crazy to think about that. I hadn't planned on staying this long but here we are. I answered this in depth in the post 'Making it Permanent' but it really comes down to the fact that LD and I have lived in several different places/countries. Scotland is as good as any of them. We're getting older we we need to feel a little more settled. LD has a good job and we just can't walk out on that in this economic climate. Don't upset the apple cart as they say. If it's not broken, don't fix it!

What stereotype's are true {and what's not} about Scotland?

• Nobody goes around wearing their kilt all the time. It is saved for weddings, special occasions, festivals, and the like. 
• Haggis is not an animal. It is a traditional Scottish dish cooked in a sheep stomach. 
• We have a lot of country, but not all of it is. We do have cities! 
• Not everybody lives in a thatched roof cottage. They are actually really expensive. You could if you have over £1 million. 
• We speak English. Scottish is not a language. Up north you'll find road signs in English and Gaelic.
• Not everybody has ginger hair. 

What is the cost of living in Scotland?

Oh boy. You're asking the wrong person. We pay more taxes, such as NHS, TV license, Road tax, etc. But food and clothing are comparable to the USA. Housing is a bit expensive if you are comparing it to what you could get in America, but that is mostly because of the size of a property.