Scotland

Scotland is an incredibly proud nation known globally for its independent spirit and unique cultural contributions. However, Scotland is much more than kilts, shortbread, and thistle. It is defined by things like its football fans, hospitality, and an undying love for its deep history. If you tread lightly and show a genuine interest in the culture, you will find some of the most incredibly warm, welcoming, and fun people imaginable.



In terms of social activity, the pub and club cultures are important among Scots both young and old. The legal drinking age is 18 so on weeknights you’ll usually find college-aged students out enjoying a drink or two at a pub and then moving on to a club anytime between 11:00pm and 2:00am. Weekends are usually when you’ll see older Scots at the pub or restaurant bar to unwind after the work week.

Commonly played on the television screens of these pubs are regional, national, and European football (known as soccer to Americans) games. The 12 regional teams are part of the Scottish Premier League and have very devoted followings depending on what part of the country they hail from. Probably the largest and most well-known rivalry is between the Celtic and the Rangers, both from Glasgow. Scotland also has a national team made up of players from all around the world that competes for a spot in the famous World Cup. Many Scots are extremely devoted fans, much like the rest of Europe.

English is the primary language, but Scots and Gaelic can also be heard. Scots is a Germanic language spoken most commonly in the Lowlands, while Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides. A 2010 Scottish Government study found that 85% of respondents claim to speak Scots to a varying degree. There were 58,552 native speakers of Scottish Gaelic in Scotland in 2001. Some schools in Scotland provide education given in the Scottish Gaelic language. They are mainly located in the main cities of Scotland and in areas with higher amounts of Gaelic speakers. Gaelic medium education is becoming increasingly popular throughout Scotland, and the number of pupils who are in Gaelic medium education at primary school level has rose from 24 in 2 schools in 1985, to 23 in 12 schools in 2010.

A weather report given in Scots Gaelic:



A Bible passage read in Scots language:



The Scottish Parliament, based in the capital city of Edinburgh, is a democratically elected body comprising of 129 members who are elected under four-year terms under the mixed member proportional representation system. As a result, 73 MSPs represent individual geographical constituencies elected by the plurality ("first past the post") system, with a further 56 returned from eight additional member regions, each electing seven MSPs. The most recent general election to the Parliament was held on 5 May 2011.

While it suffers from a poor reputation, Scotland’s weather is not too dissimilar from other areas in the UK. Despite being somewhat cloudier and wetter with lower average temperatures, the weather really depends on one’s location in the country. Due to the extremely northern location of Scotland, the winter days are very short but residents are rewarded with very long summer days, averaging around five hours of complete darkness. “Measurable rainfall occurs on over 250 days in the Highlands to 175 days per year in other parts” (http://www.scotlandinfo.eu/weather-climate). The chilliest months are January and February, with an average of around 41 to 45 °F. The summer months average around a comfortable 66 °F. “Snowfall occurs on less than 20 days near the west-coast to more than 100 days in the Cairngorm Mountains mainly in the months December to March” (http://www.scotlandinfo.eu/weather-climate).

Snow-covered mountains in March

Warm and sunny in April








Stormy on one side, sunny on the other in May








A June 2011 report from Manpower (UK recruiting firm) said that Scotland had the worst job outlook in the UK. Public sector cuts hit the country hard, and smaller companies are more likely to hire than larger ones. Changes in legislation affecting temporary workers are putting employers off hiring and outsourcing is becoming popular, especially in governmental sectors (BBC article). However, the Life Sciences, Energy, Electronic Technologies, and Financial Services industries are currently the strongest industries in Scotland.

Living & Working in Northern Ireland

The country of Northern Ireland is located on the island of Ireland, separate from the other countries of the United Kingdom (UK). Northern Irish culture is deeply rooted in Irish culture. Although in the past century there has been some cultural influence from the countries of Great Britain. The dominant religion of Northern Ireland is Protestantism, tying it to Great Britain. (1) There is some contention from those within the Catholic Republic of Ireland about the UK’s influence on the island. This contention has spawned organizations like the Irish Republican Army (IRA), who seek to disrupt and terrorize Northern Ireland. (1) Despite this, Northern Ireland has come into its own cultural identity as a relaxed and easygoing country. (3)

Northern Ireland is the smallest economy of the four countries in the UK. (2) The largest city, Belfast, is the economic base for the region. It is a city known for an industrial economy with a history of exceptional engineering and shipbuilding at the turn of the 20th century. (1) Recently the IT sector has seen a substantial rebound and the highest employment demands are among programmers. (5) There is also increased demand in the field of construction as many more businesses are expanding and building new offices. (5)

One of the biggest challenges facing Northern Ireland’s job market is the increased transition of public sector employees to the private sector. (5) Government budgets are getting tighter which forces many government employees out of work. This makes the pool of available candidates for jobs larger, meaning companies will be on the lookout for higher talent.

Once a job is secured in Northern Ireland there are certain cultural idiosyncrasies that should be observed in the workplace environment. The Northern Irish usually appreciate their personal space, and will move away from someone who is standing too close. In Belfast, no one is expected to be on time since the traffic can be so bad and there is no public transportation option. Those who choose to arrive early to meetings may be viewed as odd. (4) At meetings, there is generally a fair amount of small talk before business discussion begins. (4) Decisions are ultimately made by the leader, but not without hearing a group consensus first.

The culture of Northern Ireland is a melting pot of Irish and British cultures. The influences of both great cultures have helped Northern Ireland carve a cultural identity of its own. The city of Belfast shines as the modern economic and cultural hub of the Northern Ireland. Although the region faces its share of challenges, the Northern Irish are a proud independent people with a unique culture.

Sources: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)