This month we were working along side a 5-person team from Scotland. Many jokes of accents and cultural differences arose. We taught them American card games. They taught us a Scottish card game (which we have renamed Scots). It was a great week and a half of cross-cultural socializing. It is truly awesome how we can have that instant bond with them through our shared love of Christ.
Well, one night we got on the topic of kilts… and wearing them. I said it would be awkward to wear a kilt, seeing how I was not Scottish and I would have to borrow one. But they said that it was actually quite comfortable and not entirely uncommon to borrow a kilt. So I said that I might try it someday (because I was certain they had not brought one to South Africa with them and it could be an empty promise). Well it turns out that one of the people that recently lived in one of the houses we were staying in was Scottish and had accidentally left a kilt suit here. And here I had just said that I would try it someday. Oops.
So they convinced me that it would be really cool if I tried on the kilt. What the heck. I mean, really, how many times am I going to have the opportunity to try on a kilt? And in Africa no less. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, and when in Africa, do as the Scottish do. But I still had to figure out how to even put a kilt on. There was a lot more to this thing than I had ever thought.
So I asked the two guys of the group, Johny and Furgus (AKA Goos), to help me. So there we are in the bathroom, me trying to make sense of this foreign thing to me. Johny and Goos of coarse know the routine, so they are coaching a half-dressed Nate in how to properly put on a kilt suit. It was the epitome of male bonding awkwardness. But hey, in the words of Stephanie Pridgen, “It’s only awkward if you make it awkward.” So I guess I made it awkward.
So I finally got it all in place, and Johny, Goos, and I walked over to the other house where the girls were staying. Heading out the door, I was somewhat scared about how cold I would be in this kilt, as it is only in the upper 40’s at night on the ranch. I was quite amazed at how warm the kilt kept me. Truly remarkable. As we passed a couple of the gals sitting outside the house, Johny and Goos made themselves walking walls to avoid letting their masterpiece being seen early. It had to be shown in the house!
We get in and all the girls start laughing and applauding. And as you can guess, almost every camera in the house came out and starting taking in the sight of a crazy American posing far too comfortably in an authentic Scottish kilt. I mean, really, how many times does one get the opportunity to see such a thing? And in Africa no less. After posing in far too many funny ways, I decided I needed to take that thing off before I wound up with some blackmail photos.
And as far as those burning questions running through your mind, “Do they really…” yes. “But did you really…” no. And we’ll just leave it at that.
So to end this most humorous blog entry, I would like to thank Kathryn and Debbie for talking me into it, Johny and Goos for helping me put it on (I could NOT have done it without you), and Katy for cheering me on. “Y’all” are amazing. May God bless you more everyday.
P.S. Thanks for the cards. They are being used well.
