Pre-trip

Scotland is a nation in northwest Europe and is one of four nations comprising the United Kingdom. It occupies the Northern third of the island and shares its only land border with England. It is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the southwest. The mainland is divided into three areas: the Highlands in the north, which are generally mountainous, the Central Belt in the south, which is generally flat, and the Southern Uplands in the south, which are a range of hills and mountains. Apart from the mainland, Scotland consists of over 790 islands including southland, Orkney, and tea Hebrides, divided into the Inner Hebrides and Outer Hebrides. The capital of Scotland is Edingburgh and is the second largest city in Scotland. The largest city, Glasgow, is home to approximately 40% of Scotland population.

The climate of Scotland tends to be cool, damp, cloudy, and oceanic. The day to day weather can vary enormously and tends to be unpredictable. The average temperature in the winter is 43 degrees F, with January and February generally being the coldest months. The average temperature in summer is 65 degrees F., with July and August being the warmest months. Rainfall varies widely across Scotland. The wettest parts of Scotland experience an average of 250 days of rain per year, while the driest parts experience an average of 150 days of rain per year. Scottish weather is usually cooler than that of England, with the coldest areas in the highlands and northern latitudes because of the Atlantic Ocean and the hilly terrace.

The Scottish economy is closely linked with that of the rest of Europe and the wider Western world, with a heavy emphasis on exporting. Glasgow is Scotland leading seaport and is the fourth largest manufacturing center in the United Kingdom. Oil is an important resource in Scotland. Shipbuilding and light engineering also form a large part of the city's manufacturing base, however they have seen a recent decline in the last couple of years. Fishing and agriculture are important, along with the manufacturing of computers and mobile phones. Scotch whisky production continues to have a significant part in the economy, along with the country's tourism industry.

There is no official language in Scotland, however there are three officially recognized languages: English, Scottish Gaelic, and Scots. Almost all residents of Scotland speak English.

The education system in Scotland is distinct from the rest of the United Kingdom and was one of the first countries to implement a system of general public education. Education in Scotland is free in publicly maintained local authority schools from nursery school (3-5 years) through secondary school. At about the age of 11, primary school students enter secondary school. Student may legally leave school at age 16, however very few do. Students who earn a certificate can continue their education at colleges and universities. Scotland has many universities, including St. Andrews, which was founded in 1410 and is the oldest in Scotland. For over two hundred years, Scotland has had a higher percentage of its population educated at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels than any other country in Europe.

The culture of Scotland is heavily influenced by England, however is also very distinct and internationally recognized. It has developed and has been shaped over many years by the experiences of Scotland inhabitants and their contacts with others. Artists, performers, poets, writers, architects, film-makers, athletes, journalists, historians, teachers, and citizens have all had a key role in presenting and representing Scottish culture. Scottish music is a significant aspect of Scottish culture. The Great Highland Bagpipe is an example of a traditional Scottish instrument. Scottish literature is also an important aspect of the culture in Scotland, which includes literature written in English, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Brythonic, French, and Latin. Scotland has many national sporting associations including the Scottish Football Association, which is the second oldes national football association in the world, and the Scottish Rugby Union, along with its own national sporting competitions. This gives Scotland the opportunity to have independent representation at many international sporting events, such as the World Cup, Commonwealth Games, and the Rugby World Cup. However, Scotland is not independently represented in the Olympics. Scotland is considered the "Home of Golf," and is well known for its courses. Scotland also has many national symbols including the Flag of Scotland which dates from the 9th century and is the oldest national flag still in use and the Royal Standard of Scotland, which is a banner showing the Royal Arms of Scotland and is used particularly at sporting events. The unicorn and the thistle are used as symbols of Scotland, and Tartan, a woven textile pattern is featured on many kilts. On November 30th, St. Andrew's Day, a national holiday of Scotland is observed. These symbols all combine together to form a strong and identifiable Scottish culture.

The United Kingdom monetary system is based on the pound sterling. The pound is divided into 100 pence (pennies). Currently, the value of one U.S. dollar in Scotland is worth .574.