Kilted Yoga. I spotted this among the gift shop items at the great Riverside Museum in Glasgow, one of millions of examples of Scottish culture that is frequently parodied and exploited, by the Scots as much as anyone else, almost always in good fun and always with a strong undercurrent of pride.

See, the Scots are a fiercely proud people, and that’s understating it. They take pride in everything that they do. From their land, food, and water, to their sports, raising cows and even their yoga practice. I experienced this strong sense of pride from the beginning of my visits here, and coming from America, this all seemed a bit much (does Scottish water really make that tea taste better?), but none-the-less I find it endearing and more than that, I sense there is something a bit deeper to be explored.

Since moving here it’s evident that beyond the kitsch touristy stuff, the Scottish people take a lot of pride in the quality of what they do. People are really into their chosen craft, they invest in deeply in their relationships with their co-workers and friends, and they draw a strength from their history (and their antagonistic weather) in a way that’s wholly new to me. You could argue that the taste or aesthetics of what the Scots do could be better (Irn-Bru?), but it’s tough to argue any lack of quality and craftsmanship.

Prior to moving here I didn’t think of myself as having such a strong sense of investment in my home country, let alone have it be a major source of pride from which I can draw strength from. Perhaps it is because the US is so big, or that I’m being ungrateful to my country’s history, or perhaps it’s just that I’m wired differently as an American, a product of my specific time and place. Regardless, I’m loving the glow of small-country pride in Scotland. It is infectious and energizing and, with the exception of kilted yoga, I’m looking forward to participating in it more.