Caledonia

Dear blog,

Sorry for not posting this earlier but fortunately, my experience has not yet come to an end. I am currently sitting in Arlington House Hostel with Iain from Bellingham and Euan from Indianapolis as we try and soak up as much culture as possible before heading home.

On Friday I finished up work at the Illinois Saint Andrew Society, compiling the information from 71 interviews that I conducted over the last few weeks into a final report, delivered to the Board of Governors. The report was...well, long - 2 hours to be exact. I came across the issue that all the information and recommendations I came up with could be applied across so many cross-sections of respondents - age, gender, membership, Scottish heritage, you name it. However, the report was very well received and I am assured that it will play a large part in the strategic plan to be formulated in the next month by the Society. It's great to know that all the work I have done over here will play such an instrumental part in the goings-on in Chicago in the near future. As for the job I have been doing, I have learned so many valuable things over here, from how to formulate questionnaires and process information, to simply dealing with top businessmen and women from all around the world. It really has been a massive learning curve in many different respects, and I feel that I will be returning to Scotland (albeit reluctantly!)  with great business and people-to-people skills that I feel only this internship could have offered.

On the play side, the last couple of weeks have been great. As the reality is setting in that the novelty of the Scottish accent will soon be a thing of the past, it has leaped out on many more occasions and with greater enthusiasm than ever before. The culmination of this was a couple of nights ago, where we bought a football (soccer ball) for a kick-around on the beach. Unable to drop it off before we went out for a few drinks, the night soon turned into a game of street football with a bunch of Chicagoans right off North Clark Street, one of the main streets in Chicago. Even when finally asked politely to stop playing, the policeman extended a friendly hand with the introduction "Hey, my dad's Scottish!". Weird how small this world is sometimes...

On Tuesday the three of us took the Architectural Tour along the Chicago River and along Lake Michigan. Spectacular views, great overviews of the history of Chicago and a bunch of new friends made thanks again to the Scottish novelty. Upon being asked to take a photo of a man and his wife, we were soon hearing about how the man had been to Scotland before and people treated him just great, thanking the three of us on behalf of those he met. Having been over here now for 9 weeks, I am pleased and proud to say that I have heard only great opinions about Scotland and Scots around Chicago. Everywhere you go, the fact you are from a small country with a big personality and a big heart really makes you stand out and stand tall in the minds of many people. Although, the conversation on the boat was telling of another popular perception of Scottish culture. I offered "So, how did you know we were Scottish? Was it the pale skin?", to which he replied, "No, it's the fact that you're drinking beer at 3 o'clock in the afternoon".

When I think over all the things I have done over here, it does make me sad that I am going to leave in only 3 days. I have walked the streets of Chicago every day and experienced a different side to US culture on each occasion, experiencing both the love of America and the respect for other cultures. I have eaten cotton candy and drank Bud at Wrigley Field, cheering on the well-supported but notoriously faltering Cubs. I have watched the horses thunder by at Arlington Heights racetrack, placing optimistic but ultimately unreturned bets in the company of friends and top businessmen alike. I have kayaked down the Chicago River whilst conducting an interview and learning about the history of the city and watching turtles and herons climb the riverbanks. I have discussed US politics in the home of the former Consul-General and close friend of Barack Obama...

I have shaken hands with Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon and found out that he drinks rum and tonic, as well as doing a mean Scottish accent. I have met Jeff Sluman, Ian Baker-Finch and Peter Jacobsen, and attended a golfing demonstration where they carved out impossible shots and unthinkable strikes. I have been to concerts seeing Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails, John Butler Trio and Phantom Planet, and sang along to "California" like my life depended on it. I have been to the great areas of Chicago and the bad areas, and talked to people from all sections of Society, from CEOs and astronauts to those with nothing to their name but great stories and a warm heart. I have watched Rangers play at 6.30am with fellow Scots, and seen Scotland close Iceland out whilst eating a Scotch pie and beans.

I have made great friends over here, firstly with the Media Bridge high-school students in my accommodation and then with Columbia students as they embarked on their Orientation Week. I have sung and played guitar for a number of people, and offered the kilt for anybody interested to try on at will. I have played golf three times, each tome with new players and with different stories of Scotland and how badly everybody wants to go there. I have lived in great accommodation funded by Saltire Foundation (thank you!) and some pretty rough accommodation funded by the Andrew McFarlan Foundation, which has considerably less financial clout. I have listened to Pat Ryan appeal to the Chicago populace as to why the 2016 Olympics must come to Chi-city and listened to others who are more concerned about where on earth the money is going to go...

But more importantly than all of that, I have realised that whatever you do, whether it is being a Saltire Foundation intern, the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or Tray, who shines shoes for pennies on Michigan Avenue, if you go for it in Chicago with a real grit and a balance of work and play, you can have the best time of your life. And in essence, that is what I have had. A fantastic social, professional and cultural experience that has meant the world to me and has given me the confidence to go ahead and do whatever I want to do. And I guess you can't put a price on that confidence.

So I guess all that is left now is to thank everybody involved for this experience. The Saltire Foundation for providing more than financial assistance, but great support in terms of encouragement and making themselves available wherever possible. The Illinois Saint Andrew Society, for giving me huge support in effectively taking on my own project and turning that into a rewarding project for all. Jim and Gus as well as other over in Chicago, for easing me into a position that was daunting at the start, and extremely comfortable by the end.

Thank you all, and I hope that I can go on from here to make sure that my contribution to Scotland is anything like the contribution that the Saltire Foundation has made to my experience in Chicago.

 

"I don't know if you can see the changes that have come over me...Caledonia, you're calling me, and now I'm go-o-ing home..."

Goodbye from Gotham City!!!

Comments

[Andy McLellan]

I'm not going to lie...I've been welling up slightly whilst reading this.

Glad you've had a fantastic time though mate and congratulations on all you have achieved. Many hugs, pints and kisses are waiting for you when you come home.

Hope you have a safe trip back, give me a call whenever you can.

Take care dude

xxx

[Caroline]

Hi Andrew

I, for one, am happy your time for coming home is nearly here. It's been wonderful reading you humorous accounts of your time in Chicago - sounds as if it won't be too long till you'll be wanting to return to the friendships you have made there. That's great!

Isn't it nice to know the work you have put in will be ongoing in the months ahead? ... a fantastic legacy.

This has been an amazing adventure I am sure, and I am looking forward to hearing all about it face to face.... and giving you a hug!

See you at the airport ... looking forward to it!

Mum x x x

[Caroline]

Hi Son,

What a wonderful testimony with which to sign off from Chicago!
I spent most of the day yesterday with Irene Johnstone, Julie Morrison and Chairman Crawford Gillies from the Foundation - as we worked on a keynote speech to delegates in Hong Kong in a couple of weeks' time.
We were looking to capture the essence of the Foundation - what interns get out of it - what host companies get out of it - and ultimately, what Scotland gets out of it.
You've answered all these questions with your concluding epistle.
It takes courage to embrace the task you've undertaken...on your own and in a foreign land. It's much, much easier to stay at home for the summer, play golf, relax and chill out before your final year.
But what you've done, what you've achieved and what you've given to - as well as taken from - the experience will, I believe, prove a pivotal moment in your life.
I'm so looking forward to hearing your personal accounts of the past 9 weeks...seeing the changes in your outlook...and watching the Ryder Cup together as golfers from the Old Continent put your New Continent friends to the sword (well, metaphorically).
Enjoy your last full day. Have a safe trip. Thanks for keeping in touch and entertaining us with your brilliant prose - and I'll look forward to the second hug (we'll let Mum have the first) when I see you on Monday evening (as work prevents me from coming to the airport sadly).
Lots of Love,
Dad

[vicki]

I have a funny feeling you're home already but I thought I'd add this anyway...I've loved your stories of you adventures in Gotham City and I, too, can't wait for you to tell them face-to-face when I see you. I'm going to rather miss this adventure I've been sucked into believing I'm sharing with you....was it all a dream?.......

See you soon bro,

Lots of love,

Vicki xxxx