REID KERR COLLEGE

Scotch Minestrone
December, 2010 Volume 1, Issue 1

Scotland as a multicultural country

Is Scotland a multicultural country? In order to answer this question, we first should ask ourselves about multiculturalism. What's multiculturalism? Multiculturalism is the acceptance and encouragement of many cultures in a society. It means that a multicultural country should encourage harmony both racial and ethnic, promotes understanding between different cultures and discourage any kind of violence, discrimination and hatred. Living in a diverse society can be a wonderful experience but are we prepared for this? Scotland is already part of several commissions, like the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Racial Equality Commission, the Multicultural Harmony, Children in Afghan Refugee Camp Disability Rights Commission and mans who reject immigrants. the Equal Opportunities One third of them feel the Commission, to name a few. country is being over-run by We all know that the United foreigners and the same perKingdom has adopted multicentage feel foreigners culturalism as an official polishould be sent home when cy and it is written in the set jobs are scarce. Many Gerof laws and principles under mans have showed sympathy which the United Kingdom is for a central bank board governed. All us, British or member who said last August not, must understand and the country was being made respect these laws which more stupid by poorly eduforbid discrimination based cated and unproductive mion ethnic origin, colour, religrants. But Germany needs gion, sex, age and mental or immigrants to grow. In fact, to physical disabilities. avoid knocking about one percent off the country's But as often happens, theory and reality are different. About one month ago, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany's attempt to create a multicultural society has failed completely. She said that approach is wrong, adding that immigrants should integrate and adopt Germany's culture and values. She also said that the country has the right to make demands on immigrants and not just subsidise them. Recent studies showed a high percentage of Gergrowth rate, Germany urgently needs about 400k engineers and qualified workers. A similar situation is happening nowadays in the United Kingdom. To keep the pace of its economic development, the UK needs qualified and productive migrants. But it's not easy. Immigration is a complex process. It doesn't finish after migrants have moved to their adopted country, indeed moving is just the beginning. To create a real multicultural society, integration must come from all sectors involved. First, from the government, creating conditions to settle mixed communities, and punishing any kind of intolerance or hatred severely. Secondly, from residents and British people, who should be educated and cultured to accept diversity and tolerate it. Last, from immigrants. Immigrants can't demand housing benefits and other government subsidies without opening themselves to different people. Starting with the language. When one doesn't speak the language of the country in which one lives that doesn't serve anyone, not the person concerned, the country, or the society. As Immigrants, we have the moral duty to learn English, and speak it fluently and preferably without an accent. That should start in the classrooms.

Inside this issue:

Scotland. Our promise land. Glasgow on your own. Festival banish the blues. Social life for International Communities. Immigration...? Why not? I view Scotland as home, but Im from Poland. Languages gaffes. Two faces of Bureaucracy . International tasty bites. The Magic of a Cup of Tea. International Players in SPL. Around Poland on a bicycle. United by history.

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Special points of interest:

Are we prepared for living in a diverse society? Why did she/he come to Scotland? Why we need to build up new views about us for local communities? May I offer you some tea? Haggis or Huggies?

Scotland. Our promise land.

The possibility of a fresh start, better prospects and secure future is an appealing factor to a 21st century immigrant in Scotland if not in the history of migration, immigration that the United Kingdom as a nation was encountered. Scotland as 1 of 4 nations to make up the United Kingdom, is by today's statics, 1 in every 10 adults, can trace their roots from overseas. Interview's I conducted with a handful of emigrants to Scotland managed to yield interesting and concerning factors which not only Scotland, but the E.U. as an amalgamation of European countries has managed to achieve economically and socially. The majority of my survey interviews was conducted among polish migrants, which are by the far a growing number of migrants from Eastern Europe to Scotland. For many the first thoughts of migrating to Scotland, the promised land, far from the poverty stricken towns & villages where a day-to-day job and monthly salary was insufficient to sustain an average family for two weeks, was a far fetched blessing, for some signifying the end of poverty and a chance to better their family & individual lives but the downside to this blessing was and still is the lack of communication for many & by some Scottish employers taking advantage of that. Using them as cheap labour, which comes as a disgust to many Scottish citizens, who feel exploited off their jobs in this current economic climate. But for many of these immigrants who escaped their homeland for reasons ranging from fear of persecution, poverty & search of greener pastures, half a loaf is better than nothing, they would rather work tireless hours in job markets ranging from a domestic cleaner to a bus driver. But most are happy to be in Scotland because they can exercise far much more freedom in different aspects of life which could have been otherwise impossible in their native. One interview of interest was with a doctor from Ghana this caught my attention to understand oth-

In all respect as an immigrant myself, this has further broadened my horizons and I'm very appreciative of what Scotland has done to my life.

A piper.

er aspects I didn't know, he spoke of how doctor's qualifications from other nations are partially recognised & how the had to sit further gruelling board of Scotland doctors association exams before they came practise in Scotland. In all respect as an immigrant myself, this has further broadened my horizons and I'm very appreciative of what Scotland has done to my life, though I feel with further studies & improving my English both written and spoken the sky is the limit, in Scotland the land of opportunities.

Glasgow on your own.

What surprised me the most when I came to Glasgow for the first time was the architecture. Glaswegian architecture is very diversed. Aside from red sand stone old style buildings it contains a lot of modern buildings, beautiful bridges over the River Clyde but also small charming streets with cosy cafes. In the city you can also find a lot of beautiful gardens and parks. Glasgow is the second trading centre after London. The three main shopping streets: Sauchiehall Street, Argyle Street and Buchanan Street are called by the locals The Golden Z. It is an ideal place for shopaholics. Glasgow is teeming with life from early morning to late at night. Pubs, restaurants and streets are full of people. Over the River Clyde there is the biggest exhibition and conference centre in Great Britain, where almost every day some events take place. The cheap flights era makes access to Glasgow very easy and affordable from almost every country in Europe. Glasgow has something to offer 365 days a year. Even though the weather is usually terrible, everyone will experience something unforgettable.

I am a traveller by nature. Amongst many other countries I have visited Scotland.

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Newsletter Title

Festival banish the blues.

Festivals are occasions where people of various communities and religion come together to celebrate the joys and happiness of life. There are lots of festivals enjoyed throughout the world that are celebrated with great pomp and show. And although in different countries traditions and customs differ, everywhere lots of festivals are celebrated differently . One of the most important and the merriest festivals is Christmas. So how is Christmas experienced in Poland? As in the other countries, preparations for Christmas starts a month earlier in order to get everything ready on time. In Poland the majority of families celebrate Christmas as a festival bringing together a number of relatives. The most important big achievement during Christmas in Poland is Christmas Eve. The whole family sits down to dinner during which, as required by tradition, is served 12 dishes. In the remaining days everyone sings carols and devours the delights prepared specially for this Christmas time. Another important festival is New Years Eve .The starting of a new year is always enjoyed in great celebration in all countries. Bringing lots of hope for new beginnings and success. In Poland, like throughout the world, it is party time when people come out to party and have a fantastic celebration. Considered as a cultural celebration, it stands for the end of a years calendar and the starting of a new. One of the holiest festivals in the Christian calendar, Easter, is celebrated in Poland, with great fanfare and religious fervor. In Poland, Easter Sunday begins with a visit to the church at the solemn mass. After returning home, the whole family sits at a Easter breakfast, which begins with egg sharing and good wishes. Easter Monday (also called Wet Monday) is the second day of Easter holidays. In the Polish tradition of the day everyone plays water jokes on other people, even strangers, get water thrown on them. Celebrations of Festivals in Poland are an integral part of social culture. SuchaZapis fonetyczny Over the years, the festival has become a wonderful occasion to meet with long lost friends, close relatives and family members, and to have a lot of fun together. We cant imagine how monotonous our days would by without pleasant interludes given by festivals.

Festivals are occasions where people of various communities and religion come together to celebrate the joys and happiness of life.

Social Life for the International Communities.

Social life for the international communities is very important in a globalized world because it helps people to find them self in a new place and a new life. In Scotland there are a few big organisations which promote self help for communities. You can find out about international food other countries and cultures and also get some advice about many diverse needs including advocacy, policy, commuVolume 1, Issue 1

nity development, translating, law and many other things. I think all of the organisations and meetings should be publicized and advertised not only within the international communities but for local people as well because it will help them to know more about immigrants, understand their positions. It is a fact that cheap tabloids write articles about immigrants which include

negative things which are not true. That is why we need to build up new views about us for local communities. If you like to find out more about international communities and let give a chance yourself and the other communities to know more about each other please have a look at attached links: http://www.wsrec.com http://www.polishplace.pl http://www.reidkerr.ac.uk /international_students
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Immigration? Why not?

Scotland is a great place to live and work. People from all over the world have found a warm welcome in Scotland and enjoy the variety of lifestyles on offer. Scotland is a multicultural country. People from all around the world choose to live, work and study here. There are places of worship for many religions all across the country. Scotlands wide range of facilities and communities reflect the many different cultures of the people who live here. You can practice your religion at various venues throughout Scotland. There are large Islamic communities in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and a significant Jewish community in Glasgow. Mosques, Sikh temples, synagogues and Buddhist and Hindu places of worship can be seen alongside Christian churches. In 2004, eight Eastern European nations joined the European Union. Membership benefits include the ability to move freely between member nations for any reason, the most obvious being better job opportunities. Although some EU countries put restrictions in place to stem an unbridled flow of legal immigration, Britain and Ireland (and Sweden) did not. This open door policy has had a profound impact on the British Isles. By 2006, 264,560 migrant workers from Poland had relocated to the UK. 82 percent of those workers are between 18 and 34 years old. That number has now swelled to an estimated 600,000 or more. When you see a a great job in Scotland you think it would be a fantastic place to live and work, then you'd be right but relocating to Scotland is a big adventure and we emigrants know about it well. Many people dream of living in Scotland, surrounded by our friendly people, intriguing history and magical countryside, but what about those who've actually made the move, why? A few reasons Social reasons: The UK is a multicultural society, highly tolerant of all lifestyles and has a low crime rate. Employment Factors: The UK has a low unemployment rate of under 5% and a high job turnover rate creating opportunities, a typical working week of 35 hours, generous leave allowances, statutory maternity and paternity benefits, 12 public holidays per annum and good rates of wages and salaries. Economic Criteria: UK is the 4th largest economy in the world that is not prone to wild fluctuations in performance. It has a strong economy with a low inflation figure of 3% - the worlds most even distribution of wealth and surprisingly low taxes. With these factors combined alone, the UK is a very attractive destination for skilled workers. Cultural Wants: Cultural and historical activities and sites galore plus the bonus of cheap and easy international travel costs. Education: The UK can offer sophisticated, world-leading education facilities including world famous universities, free state schools attended by over 90% of school-aged children with the remaining 10% attending private sector schools. Healthcare: The UK has a world-class free healthcare system available to all without discrimination. Welfare: The UK has a large welfare system to help you out if one of lifes disasters befalls you or your Family. Is it any wonder the UK is a favorite destination for both tourists, and, in particular immigrants, seeking a life of virtual freedom as opposed to their own native, struggling economic and autocratic or dictatorship societies where many are socially and economically disadvantaged. So why not? Ask yourself If you could have a better life what would you do?

Scotland is a multicultural country. People from all around the world choose to live, work and study here.

I view Scotland as home, but Im from Poland.

Building mobile phones hardly seems fitting work for an economics graduate ,yet 25 year old polish immigrant Magdalena M. has no complaints about her job in the mobile phone company in Inchinnan. It gives her a much better wage than she could ever earn in her home country. She is very happy with her life. She used to work in a building company for some time just after she graduated from University
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but it was very boring and she didnt enjoy herself. In the mobile phone company they keep her busy and Magda really enjoys it. As well as working on the production line she does some interpreting when her boss has explain something to the other workers. Why did she come to Scotland? She felt it could be a life changing opportunity she may not have again. Magdalena brought her

daughter, now 5 years old with her. She is now at school and switches from polish to English with ease. She was the main reason why the young mum came to Scotland. She thinks it is really good for Ola to grow up in a multicultural country which gives her a chance to explore life. It will also be great for her to be fluent in two languages. It would make Magda very proud and would prove that moving to Scotland and changing her life to-

tally was the right decision. Is Scotland her home? Yes. She smiles every time we talk about it. Of course she is homesick, its natural. Especially because she doesnt have anybody apart from her daughter, but she has never been lonely. The Scots have been wonderful and friendly. These have been the best two years of her life.

Scotch Minestrone

Language Gaffes.
There is nothing funnier than language gaffes. Language gaffes are very common especially in English. In my article I would like to share with you a couple of my favourite anecdotes. I have lived in Scotland since Jun 2007 and now my English is not too bad. I can communicate with people without problems but after spending nearly two years in college. I still make English gaffes. For example lately in my English class I asked one of my teachers about haggis, the famous Scottish dish, and there was nothing wrong with that but unfortunately I pronounced word haggis as huggies the brand who produce baby nappies. year my friend was in Bucharest on vacation. He found a quite amusing sentence in a lift in his hotel: The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable. Perhaps they meant that English people are the best at complaining? My other friend showed me a picture from her last trip to Russia. On one photo I saw a description in English at the entrance to a cemetery: You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday. Poor Russian artists. So you can see that is a lot of language gaffes in English language.

There is nothing funnier than language gaffes.

Can you imagine how embarrassed I would be if I asked the same question in a restaurant? One of my friends tried to say: from the bottom of my heart but she said: from the button of my heart. That expression caused a lot of fun. Last

Two Faces of Bureaucracy.

The average man in the street expects that public departments exist for helping people to solve problems which he meets in every day life. Clerks should be helpful, friendly and be able to solve our problems quickly and efficiently. The majority of matters such as registering and insuring a car, dealing with providers of electricity and gas in Scotland can be solved by phone or by using the internet. Moreover most businesses connected with Inland Revenue like taxes and insurance dont required appointments. Even registering as self-employed is possible by making a call.
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In Poland the majority of official matters are solved at the counter window. In order to solve even the most simple matters citi-

zens need to see a clerk face to face. Sometimes they must visit several different clerks to solve some matters like for example registering as selfemployed. It takes on average 30 days in compari-

son to making a simple phone call in Scotland which saves a lot of time and stress for the citizen. Another dull thing which exists in Poland is the special ID which is needed as a proof of address. It is very annoying when people change their place of living, because they need to go to the town hall and apply for a new ID with the new address. In Scotland any bill or bank statement can be provided as a proof of address. The law in Poland is changeable and ambiguous. It seems to me that administration in Scotland works much more efficiently and faster than in Poland.
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International Tasty Bites.

A terrific benefit of living in a multicultural country is the huge variety of food. For about 50 years Scotland has been enriched by other cuisines, like Asian, Pakistani, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Italian, Mexican, and Central European cuisines. This is very positive aspect because traditional Scottish food is very often interpreted as a food with very bland flavour. This is true when you try porridge or haggis, but not all the food is very plain. Some people find Scottish food too fat. Despite this it is still worth a try and you can find good dishes, like scotch pie, succulent beef casserole, delicious crumble with custard cream, or just very sweet fudge. now. Every day you can eat something different, one day it can be chicken korma, the next tikka masala, pasta bolognese, pizza, curry, chicken kung po, barbecue ribs, Vietnam chicken, fajitas, tortilla or bigos. If you are interested in cooking you can try to cook these dishes yourself. In almost every supermarket you can get Chinese, Indian, Polish, or Mexican ingredients. The recipes are available in newspapers, local store newsletters or on websites. As in Poland we say Smacznego which means bon apptit.

A terrific benefit of living in a multicultural country is the huge variety of food.

About 50 years ago other cuisines werent so popular. However, because of the large immigration to Scotland on almost each street you can find different types of take-aways

The Magic of a Cup of Tea.

I dont want to write about the lifestyle itself. It exists and it is seen spontaneously especially if you touch the culture and tradition of a particular country yourself. I would like to write about the way I perceived the country I live in - Scotland and what I paid the most of my attention to - the ceremony and tradition of drinking tea. From the outside point of view the incredibility of it lies in the fact that Polish perceive drinking tea as a normal activity, whether during a meal or just to warm them up. The process of drinking tea means nothing to us. It is like tanking our body with liquid. That is all. There is nothing included in it. There is no tea-time and any deeper meaning.
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May I offer you some tea? Do you fancy a cup of tea? What is so special about it? The social tea-table is like the fireside of Great Britain, a national delight, and, if it be the scene of domestic conversation and agreeable relaxation, it should likewise bid us remember that every thing connected with the growth and preparation of this favourite herb should awaken a higher feeling that of admiration, love and gratitude. Having a cup of tea with someone brings a connection and opportunity to reveal or exchange emotions, whether through the conversation which is accompanied with, or simply through the time we have

an occasion to spend, even in silence, drinking a cup of tea. Great Britain is strongly associated with tea. Even, if some may think that tea drinking in this country is on the wane I still reckon that it beautifully exposes

this custom. A cup of tea, black or with milk, is a British tradition and many people, including myself cannot think of the country without thinking of tea. As is often the case it is the little things that are the most revealing.

Do you fancy a cup of tea?

Scotch Minestrone

International Players in Scottish Premier League

Football is the greatest passion of almost every Scot. Every weekend many clubs and pubs are full of football fans. Every week they watch the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers. ties. Age of the money came and foreign players behind them. After many years, many famous footballers came to Scotland like Artur Boruc, brothers de Boer or Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Paul Gascoigne in Rangers. In Scotland there are no restrictions for international players. Some people can say that this is action against local development of young Scottish people who want to play in football. On the other hand football is a business. If Scottish top clubs want to still exist in European football, the buying of foreign players is necessary to keep a high level of football. There is no indication that something may change in the future. Whether we want it or not, international players will always come to Scotland to keep a high level of Scottish football.

Probably no one knows that Scottish people watch their domestic top level league more, than any other nation in Europe, nevertheless The SPL is ranked only 16th in the UEFA rankings of European League. SPL has a long history dating back to 19th century. At that time Henrik Larsson, former Celtic football it was just local rivalry player. between local boys. Over the years, the rivalry beMany of them became gan to intensify. The clubs icons of the clubs like have changed their prioriHenrik Larsson in Celtic or

Football is the greatest passion of almost every Scot.

Around Poland on a Bicycle

From Scotland the best way to get to Poland is by plane. There are two airlines: Ryanair and Wizzair. Both airlines allow you to take your bike on their plane with some requirements like packing and weight. The best season to cycle in Poland is May-September. You are supposed to cycle on the right side of the road. A high visibility vest is not compulsory and cyclists usually don't use them. However, you should have lights and a bell. You can cycle on all roads except motorways, but I recommend avoiding main roads because of heavy traffic. You can escape from dangerous traffic on roundabouts and junctions by getting off from the bike and walking along a pavement. I suggest you carry spare parts and a padlock to secure your vehicle. You don't need third-party insurance or a driving licence if you are over 18, but you shouldn't drink alcohol. Road signs are very similar to these in Great Britain. There is a lot to see in this central Europe country. You can visit historical places with UNESCO class architecture like Krakow and Wieliczka. Other towns worthseeing are Czestochowa,Gdansk, Gniezno, Poznan, Wroclaw, Zamosc. If you prefer nature and its beauty you can spend some time in one of the numerous national parks, like Ojcowski, Karkonoski, Solinski or Wolinski Park Narodowy.

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Reid Kerr College

Renfrew Road Paisley PA3 4DR Renfrewshire Scotland

Phone: 0141 581 2222 Fax: 0141 581 2204 E-mail: sservices@reidkerr.ac.uk

This newsletter was produced by ESOL Higher Class.

Adamska Sabina (International Tasty Bites) Adamski Artur (United by History ) Andrzejczak Justyna (Around Poland on a Bicycle ) Cipriano Italo (Scotland as a multicultural country ) Duda Gregorz (Two Faces of Bureaucracy ) Rolek Kamil (International Players in Scottish Premier League ) Siembab Anna (Scotland. Our promise land ) Spaczynska Agnieszka (Immigration? Why not? ) Stadnik Magdalena (The Magic of a Cup of Tea ) Surma Ewelina (Social Life for the International Communities ) Suski Zbigniew (Glasgow on your own ) Szulc Julitta (I view Scotland as home, but Im from Poland ) Wlazlo Agnieszka (Festival banish the blues ) Zippel Wojciech (Language Gaffes )

Tr a ns for m y ou r fu tu r e

Were on the Web! www.reidkerr.ac.uk

United by History.
Every country in the world has experienced the influence of different countries in its culture and history. Poland and Scotland have had impacts on their history many times throughout the centuries. Although migration to Scotland from Poland is well known but not so well known is that in the 16th century many Scots migrated to Poland. People from Scotland started arriving in Poland in the sixteenth century. At that time the Scottish government changed the official religion from catholic to protestant. This decision changed the situation in Scotland. The Protestants started to persecute the Catholics. So Scottish Catholics started to look for a country where they could live without fearing for their lives. At that time all Europe except Poland had been plunged in religious wars. However Poland had religious tolerance so Scots were welcomed. Scots had a considerable impact on Polish culture. The north part of Poland near Gdansk was the most popular place for Scottish people to live. Thus many towns and villages in this region have the names which refer to Scotland like Szkoty or Nowa Szkocja which means Scotland and New Scotland. Also Polish surnames become more Scottish like Machlejd (Mac Loud) or Makalinski (Mac Aulay). The family line of Bonnie Prince Charlie also confirms another historical connection between these two countries. The mother of the young pretender Maria Sobieska came from Poland. She was the daughter of the Polish king Jan III Sobieski. Scottish History contains many Polish and Scottish connections which should be revealed to the public.
Bonnie Prince Charlie.