glasgow

Islanders are special. Not that non-islanders were not.
There are those small little everyday details that are somehow the most important in shaping my impressions of places, societies and lifestyles. Or maybe it is simply the naturally and automatically perceived and categorized things that seem weird and unusual to me and what I am used to. Few Scottish examples:
I Taps. Really? 
So we're in 21st century, right? I would find the existence of separate taps for hot and cold water rather amusing unless it was not so annoying and unpractical. Freezing and burning your hands for some good purpose like saving water might make sense but this is not the case anyway. So for now I am left wondering what might be the reason for maintaining this don't-forget-you're-mortal feature even in freshly built/renovated buildings. And freezing/burning my hands in between.
II Heating is for sissies.
Celts and Vikings. No doubt, they've been courageous men and hell hardy women. I mean.. I've swum in ice-holes and all, am pretty Nordic myself, yet I would prefer having central heating in winter time. However, Scottish won't necessarily share this wish with me. They'd certainly be cooler than the cold, also wearing clothes that just don't count as "appropriate" for the season. Those guys walking around in T-shirts are genuinely scaring me. Personally, I am cold, wrapped up and still cold. We're heating the place by gathering all flatmates in one room and closing the door. Half-joking (electric heaters give us some company every now and then).
III THE accent. 
Not that I'm just trying to complain here. It actually is adorable. Reminds me as well of being in a different country with a different language as I'm often gazing clueless at people talking to me. Add to this the confusion about weird sized coins and simple linguistic expressions and you'll get the image of a foreigner-me. I'm probably mistaken for a first-year student in this junction of academically thirsty ones.
IV The gray.
Scotland isn't for everyone. That's what I've been told. I do see where that comes from. It's grayish, overcast, coldish.. well, not the most liveliest place. What I like about the gray is that other colors look so much brighter on it. The walls have that something sombre and epic in them, the headstrong points I, II, III etc. create some image that triggers respect. Respect for an identity, for something local and un-globalized, for something that "is like that" just for being-like-that's sake. It's nice to be here for a while.