“Do you like living here?” The question inevitably arises when someone first discovers I’m not American, but Scottish. My answer is always immediate, always the same – but it wasn’t always true. “Oh yes, I love it!” You see, I…
What It’s Really Like to Watch the US Election as an Expat
Let me be frank: as a Brit in the USA, I am completely fascinated by the US Election. Every time I speak to someone from home, they are equally as incredulous. “What’s going on over there?” they ask. The actions…
Autumn in New York: My Expat Observations
As an expat, I’m never quite sure whether to call this glorious new season ‘autumn’ or ‘fall’ – usually, my words change depending on who I’m speaking to. It’s a language conundrum I come across quite frequently as a British…
Skerryvore in NYC: A Lesson in the Power of Music
The first time I saw Scottish band Skerryvore play, I was in McNeill’s pub in Stornoway. It was the summer of 2008, and one of those nights that becomes a bit of a local legend: ceilidhing between the bar and…
September 11th, New York City, and My Expat Experience
Nearly everywhere you go in Manhattan, the tower at One World Trade Center – the ‘Freedom Tower’ – stands tall above the rest. It dwarfs the streets and structures that surround it. During the day it reflects the sky, shades…
NYC Tartan Week 2016: My Expat Experience
I’ve been to NYC Tartan Week many times before. I’ve reported in sky-high heels from fashion shows, interviewed Scottish authors and designers, and heard the strain of bagpipes on the wind as I docked at Ellis Island. But NYC Tartan…