By Taylor Buettner |ContributorPassport: Check. Suitcase with wheels that won’t break off: Check. Scarf and raincoat: Check. Dramamine for the seven-hour trans-Atlantic flight: Check.This summer, I got the opportunity to travel out of the country for the first time. I honestly wouldn’t have picked this country as my first choice, but Scotland was nonetheless an experience.Imagine a free range of every shade of green; sandstone and brick buildings that stand more than a hundred years old; crisp and clean air, comparably much better-quality air than back home; and wet streets, umbrellas and rain boots everywhere.Over the span of 13 days, our AU Study Abroad group began by sightseeing in Edinburgh, traveling to four other cities and then ending in Glasgow.After Edinburgh we traveled north to Inverness, then west to Isle of Skye (some of us called it "Isle of Cry," because we quite literally cried a lot there—don’t ask), south to Oban (pronounced “Oh-pin,” as spoken by locals) and lastly to Glasgow.As we traveled, we stopped at many unique buildings and monuments. We explored cathedrals, churches and castles enriched in Scotland’s history. To be able to stand somewhere and feel the walls and see the ceilings of these historic places creates a feeling that is unexplainable and indescribable.The observation that stuck most with me was realizing how spiritual other cultures are compared to the culture I know. We got to visit this beautiful forest called Clootie Well, where fairies exist, and prayers are heard.Steven, a local Scotsman we ran into at the Well, shared with us that people typically visit this Well in hopes that their prayers will be heard. You bring an “offering,” a piece of clothing or ribbon, dip it into the well, and then tie it onto a tree and pray.
Every single location I stepped foot on offered something very different than the last. Each place we traveled to is a hidden gem and artifact to Scotland, its people and me.My experience in Scotland was just that—my experience. And my experience was just a preview of what Scotland really has to offer. Scotland isn’t just kilts, bagpipes and Harry Potter; it’s a wealth of historic battles and eras, it’s modern yet lax and in my opinion, very homey.I highly, highly recommend making your way over to Scotland at some point in your life. I promise you won’t regret it. Contact Taylor Buettner at tbuettner@augusta.edu.