Article by Jamie Maclean

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Scottish Tradition in the U.S. By: Jamie Maclean

Every year, on January 25, family and friends gather around the table and watch as Derek Maclean recites from memory “Address to the Haggis” by Robert Burns. The table is completely covered by food, from mashed potatoes to turnips. Everyone watches as Derek reads the final lines and slices open the sheep’s stomach that encases the haggis. The celebration—Burns Day—is in memory of the Scottish poet. His poems are famous worldwide and carry many values embedded in Scottish culture, such as respect for the poor, humility, and responsibility, which are also very evident in Derek. As a Scottish immigrant, Derek finds that the poems and tradition are a way for him to stay connected to his culture, especially during the COVID pandemic, which has prevented him from making his annual visit home this Picture of Derek year. He grew up in a small town called Stornoway which is on the Isle of Lewis, an island off the coast of Scotland, only reachable by ferry or airplane. The entire island only has about 10,000 people, which has created a very tight knit community. Growing up, Derek spent a lot of time outdoors hanging out with friends doing activities such as fishing and playing soccer. Until he was 18, he had only left the island twice for family vacations. He was always very interested in science and geography and majored in chemistry at the University of Edinburgh. After he graduated, he struggled to find a good job in the U.K. and eventually decided to move to America for a better job in


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Article by Jamie Maclean by Freestyle Academy - Issuu