MRI...Scottish Music...?

So, recently I had an MRI of my heart done. Nothing is wrong with me, I'm just diabetic so I agreed to do it for some research that these doctors are doing about the affects of diabetes of the heart. It was an interesting experience, and I was practically waited on like some sort of princess. They asked me what kind of music I would want to listen to during it, and my mom piped up and said Scottish folk music. They looked at me like I was crazy, and I just smiled. I bet nobody has ever requested that before. It was mostly mideval music, they asked me if that was okay. The whole thing was really funny.

One of the doctors tried to relate to me using that interest. He asked me why I liked it. I could have told him a billion reasons. I like it because there is beauty in the worlds, and charm to the melody. I could have told him that the fast music makes me want to dance (and the only dance I am half-way decent at doing is some sort of hopping thing). I could have even told him it makes me feel like I am somewhere beautiful where I belong, with people who are like me and accept me. Instead, I just said that I liked it becasue I liked it. A simple answer with really no depth. He started asking me if I read any scottish literature (thats where I got Laiden's daughter from) and I said no. The only scottish writing-related person I know is Robert Burns, because he wrote many of the folk songs I love. The funny part was, the doctor talking to me about all of these things was asian, (also american, but a full blood asian american)

I've imagined talking to alot of people about Scotland, most of which would most-likely be uninterested in it, but I've never imagined talking to an asian person about it, and having them take an interest in it. Instead, I've imagined talking to asians about korean dramas, japanese manga, anime, dragons, kitsune, geishas, technology, and how china is on a roll right now. When I went to D.C my roomate was a girl that was chinese and spoke little english. Obviously our conversations weren't restricted to cultural stuff or anything, but she taught me a few chinese words, and we ate rice whenever we went to the mall to eat.

What I've come to learn though, is that people are always interested in things that are different than them (unless they are close-minded people). So maybe that is why. I mean, there were tons of other doctors there for me that talked to me, but none of them started a conversation about my interest in the songs other than a comment that it was a unique request. Chances are that one of those doctors was Scottish (can tell by looking) but they didn't seem to care.

It seems to me like alot of white americans have lost their culture. I've felt it before. I mean, how can you not feel it when you are surrounded by centers that help chinese immigrants, and groups trying to better the success of their race in the country? There is no group like that for Scottish people in the USA. Granted, scottish people probably had/have an easier time integrating into america, but it won't be like that forever. White people are now a minority here. So it makes me wonder if maybe someday someone will make a Scottish heritage building or something. Probably not though, its probably too late to do something like that. I'd like to see some more people interested in their culture though, its lonely sometimes, to have something I love that I can't share with someone else. Hopefully the highland games will help me out with that.

Anyway, the point of this wasn't to get all political or anything. I just wanted to say that I listened to Scottish music in the MRI machine for an hour. Fun stuff :)

--JSparrow