Sometimes I just feel overwhelmingly foreign or Other.
I was heading home from a knitting meet-up, when my bus was invaded by half-cut neds. They started hurling bits of food at people and a tall black guy stood up to tell them to show other people respect. Ah. That led to other people proclaiming “Eh mate, they’re jus weans an’ the wan nae showing any respect is you.”* And the bus driver didn’t want to get involved and the swearing got worse and the racist insults kept coming (not just from the neds). I kept my head down, said nothing and texted Other Half so he’d pick me up from the bus stop. I felt rotten because I did not have the guts to stand up beside the sensible guy asking for some order – but I clearly do not speak with a Glaswegian accent and I did not know how I’d handle getting slurs directed at me.
So.
I finished knitting a beautiful hat during my Christmas holidays and I had things I wanted to say about New Year’s resolutions, but I won’t write about these things tonight. Instead I’ll go have some tea and snuggle up beside my Other Half while I try to remember I actually do love living in Glasgow.
*) My transcription skills are sorely lacking sometimes.
Hugs. Its really difficult in that sort of situation.
I had a strange journey home as thankfully the train was back on but running weirdly as the East kilbride and Paisley trains hadn’t been seperated causing much panic and hilarity. I ended up being told jokes from Christmas crackers by a German guy and his Scottish wife and having random chats with other passengers. The train is much more fun.
Oh dear. Part of why we’ve escaped to Kintyre (the other part being “Cause we can!”)…fewer neds here, however the local Co-op has run out of all basics with only vague promises of deliveries in the morning. There’s a good chance we’ll be having cheese and Stollen for our New Year’s dinner!
I know, it’s awful isn’t it. I feel a complete moral coward when I don’t stand up to people in situations like that. I used to, but since incidents like these http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1495757/Man-charged-with-London-bus-stabbing-murder.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7176471.stm have put me off and make me more reticent. I hate myself when I let that kind of incident go by, it’s just plain wrong. Hugs. x K
Thanks everyone – I think my body reacted to the stress by giving me a cold (or perhaps it’s the chilly weather?). Happy new year!