One last Ceilidh

What is a ceilidh you ask? Well, first of all it's pronounced "kay-lee" and it's loads of fun. A ceilidh is a traditional Scottish evening of dancing! The International Society put on one for us at the beginning of the year, but it was rather awkward as everybody was still getting to know each other and didn't want to ask others to dance. But, this past friday, I had the opportunity to go out to a ceilidh one last time, the perfect way to start finishing out my semester.


Apparently every friday night they have a ceilidh at this pub called Sloan's, a really cool pub with like 3 or 4 levels, very old-fashioned, all made of polished wood and glass panels. And so after climbing about 3 flights of stairs, we arrived at the floor where the dance was to take place: a lovely open hall with wooden panelling and floors, stained glass windows and chairs and tables lined up against the wall. At one end of the room was a small bar, with small glasses and jugs of water at the ready (and they most definitely were used), and at the opposite end was the ceilidh band, this time, three guys playing guitar, tin whistle, accordion and various other instruments as they pleased! 


This is how ceilidh's work- you don't have to know any of the dances ahead of time, they teach all the steps  there. Everything is done in pairs, though you might do a dance with 4 sets of couples or so, and it doesn't matter if there is an even guy to girl ratio- dance with your friends! So ask a friend up and in you go, they teach the steps slowly at first, a very simple dance typically, practice once or twice and then they add in the music and off you go! At first they might have to call out the moves to remind you, but because things are so repetitive, it's easy to get the hang of! And then you go galavanting or polkaing across the room, skipping, hopping and twirling. It's great fun! Exhausting too, you really get a work out from dancing a ceilidh. More and more people kept coming until there were around 100 people there, and a really interesting mix. All ages, from about 15 to  70s or 80s came out to dance, some Glaswegian, some from all over (Malasia to Spain). And yes, get out your kilts if you have them! Scots never miss an opportunity to wear a kilt since they are so expensive to get in the first place.

Image I pulled of the internet to show you what a ceilidh might look like

Moral of the story? If you ever get a chance to go to a ceilidh in Scotland, DO IT! It's so much fun and quite easy as well!


On another note- don't go to the Barras in Glasgow. It's meant to be this cool market with like everything... but has largely been diminished to the point where it's a huge yard-sale of junk and fast food. So while that isn't the best place to go on the East Side of town (I live in the West End), there was a great Brazilian restaurant there called Boteco do Brasil where we got some tapas on our way home! And apparently there is salsa dancing there every Wednesday night!


In other news, everyone has started having goodbye parties here, which is a bit depressing. And I only have two weeks left! And then I'm back on a plane to Maryland. I have mixed feelings about this, just like everybody else. On one hand I can't wait to get home! On the other... I'm really going to miss Glasgow, Scotland and the friends I've made here. Just two more French exams left! Then a trip to Belfast and then home!!