Travel is about going somewhere different. The Grand Tour was an education in alternative ways of living and great cultures; and you came back learned, educated, improved - different.

In a discussion about laptops with my host, buying one for his daughter (an outdated version of mine, which I thought slow), I felt an awkwardness and embarrassment about being here: my laptop, cameras. First wave of homesickness; guilt of privilege, as I am able to travel. I question the value & purpose of my project; its meaning - to whom?


A few things about difference, belonging and place-identity:

There is a Gaelic word for 'sheep-shagger' used for anyone further north: the lowlanders about the highlanders; the highlanders about the islanders

I get the feeling that Burns' night (spent with people at least over 40 years older than me, in Ullapool golf club), is better out of Scotland (what are the young Ullapool people doing? I remember fun Burns' nights in Oxford at college; Paul said something about his best Burns' night in Jamaica)

Americans of Scottish descent, are coming back to Scotland to teach Gaelic, apparently

None of the people I've met (who I see as local) have been born and bred, grown up and stayed here


A question:

Can you only belong to a place once you've left it?


A couple of ideas:

Being local is a state of mind, a commitment to a place, because you have a choice.

There's always someone more local than you. There's no need to be competitive about it. Or to hate tourists; life here not only depends but is made possible by tourism. People who can live here are themselves privileged.


A conclusion:

It's okay, to be here.