Scots expats post-referendum

[ipsos]

Hi,

I wondered if I could ask a question about how Scottish expats feel about their Scottish sense of identity since the referendum?

I'm from a very Scottish family, but have lived in England for work for 18 years. While I've been away I've always felt like one small ambassador for Scotland, and wished they would make use of me. The Irish have special programmes to make sure that they use their expats to help out their home economy and I think that's great. It means that Irish people can still feel Irish, while living elsewhere.

However, since the referendum, I feel as if my home country would be perfectly happy to just sever ties with me as so many of them seemed to want to do with the UK.

I wondered - do any other Scots abroad feel a bit lost, post-referendum? Who are we now, and are we still wanted? Do I need to get an English sense of identity instead? I wondered if anyone had any helpful ideas, or felt the same at all.

Is this of any interest?

That's an excellent thing! Thanks for that. What a lovely positive response.

I feel a bit lost, though I am not sure if it specifically due to the referendum. My parents aren't Scottish, though my Mum still lives there, so that might be exacerbating things, but as an expat I am astounded at the lack of support or societies for Scottish or British expats. I think it doesn't help that DD is at a French school (not in France) and there is a tremendous amount of support there that doesn't exist for Brits. The only thing on offer is a very expensive drinking club which doesn't let you join if you have dual citizenship and won't let non Brits (e.g. locals) on the premises.

It makes me feel quite unwanted.

The GlobalScot thing looks good, but sadly I am not a business.

Dh was involved in setting up GlobalScot's predecessor - that's why I knew about it. It wasn't just about businesses, it was about individuals who could help promote Scotland's interests.

I'm not sure of any organisations aimed at individuals. If you're a graduate of a Scottish University, what about the Alumnus Association?

If not, and if you want to be more political, I'm sure that any of the political parties in Scotland would be happy to accept extra support, even if it is just for telephone canvassing. Depends on whether you think any of the political parties contribute anything positive

When I lived in NZ as a teenager there was a Scottish Country Dancing Club, which was where I learnt my Eightsome Reel, Canadian Barn Dance, Dashing White Sargeant etc. Came into great use at St Andrews, when I used to have to push 7 other people who didn't have a clue around during the Eightsome Reel

I looked up last night and there are quite a number of societies here but they all meet in the evenings, when I can't really get out because of young ds. I suppose maybe in a few years though.

It's a funny thing having mixed nation identity really. I lived abroad as a child too, so I've always thought of myself as British/European rather than specifically Scottish. All these referendums on separation (Scotland and now the EU) make it much harder to think of one's self as having an international sense of identity. I can't begin to imagine what it must be like for people who are having to flee from war and poverty and things. That must be a big challenge for their sense of identity too.

It must be very complicated, you're right. At least my long periods abroad have been largely through choice.

One thing I have learned is what an amazing privilege having a UK (or any EU) passport is. My husband doesn't have one, and going anywhere is very challenging. Where I live, a person's worth is very much determined by the passport he or she holds. I sort of hoped the migrant crisis would call attention to the absurdity of this, but it seems to have had the opposite effect.

I live in Cairo and I don't think my university has an active alumni network here. If it does, I suspect it is an informal network of older men who wouldn't take kindly to a Scottish woman in their midst!

I actually find it easier to have an international identity than before the referendum and debates because it makes me appreciate more the arbitrary nature of national identity. I don't mean to say that it is of no value, but how do you decide who is in and who is out? Is the shared identity cohesive or divisive? Who owns that identity? Is it being used for the interests of a few or is it of general benefit? I don't mean by this to cast aspersions on Scotland's case specifically. These are just thoughts experiences in other countries have brought to mind.