The Scenic North Sea

Today I had a really interesting experience. I got to do something that I really did not think I would get to do until I got back to the USA: I went on a beach picnic. Now, I am aware that Great Britain is infact an island country (well, really an island and a half), and that the water has played an important historical role in the development of the culture and history of Great Britain. Everything from seafood to the Royal Navy bears the mark of the large bodies of water around the UK. But all that said, being from Florida, I guess I have a specific mental idea of what a picnic on the beach is.

It looks sorta like this:
Not this:


But that's what I got. But it was a blast anyway. I got to meet some really cool people, hang with cool people I already knew, and eat another free meal. Perhaps growing up in Florida makes on a little spoiled to what the beach is like.

Supposedly people all over the world pretty much have only the above as their experiences with the ocean. I think that is really sad, but it does make me appreciate why the British were so keen on settling (ruthlessly conquering) the Caribbean. I bet Port Royal Jamaica must have looked like paradise compared to this.

The really cool thing though is how still this definitely home to all the Scottish students I meet. They will defend this beach as their spot to go hang out until the day they die. It gets a mind thinking, specifically about what it means to be home, to have a home, and the concept of "my space". Maybe in a couple days I will blog some more about this idea.