Heather here! I'm finally getting a chance to catch my breath and get some thoughts together to post! It has been a wonderful trip so far and the best part is that we don't have to go home yet! We have another three weeks to go!
I've had two wonderful host families so far, the Chorleys in Dalghety Bay and the Sopers in Kircaldy. Both have taken me walking along the beach. I've found some nice shells and a fabulous fossil too. I enjoyed the cats at the Chorleys and the dogs at the Sopers and now I have horses at my new hosts' for the next few days, the Blacks. They breed Clydsedales - just a bit bigger than my little Arab at home!
So far I've been able to cross a few things off my wish list including standing in a field of wild heather. This was at the Vane Farm Nature Preserve near Lochleven Castle that Caitlin talked about earlier. It was quite a steep hike, but well worth the beautiful views.
I've also been able to visit both of my company's Scotland branches. The managers and I had a nice visit and compared notes about workers compensation in the U.K. versus in the U.S. I discovered that there is no governmental board regulating workers compensation in the U.K. and that any work injuries are covered under employer's liability insurance. The injured worker also has to prove that the employer was at fault, or in some way caused the injury in order to obtain any benefits. This is very different from the U.S. where it doesn't matter who was at fault for the injury.
As a group we have toured a linoleum factory and also a commercial laundry. I was happy to see that the laundry looks very much like my client's laundries I have toured in the U.S. We have also visited the Kirkcaldy Town House and the Kinghord Ecology center as well as quite a few other museums and art galleries.
We are so busy that I'm barely keeping up with my journal, and I have to check our itinerary to be sure of what day it is!
The food has been absolutely wonderful so far! Each of the clubs we have visited so far has fed us quite well and with generous amounts of food! It's a good thing that I've been able to take many walks on the beach so far!
Well, that's all for now. We're going to be visiting St. Andrews tomorrow. My hosts may be able to take me to a horse show later as well - I hope!
--Heather
Beautiful view! I would like to see the fossils when you get back. It's also nice to have host families that share some similar interest as you do. Enjoy the rest of your journey.
ReplyDeleteScott S.