Heya,
My name is Jennifer and on 4 August I'm flying from SFO to LHR and thence a train to Inverness. I met my BF online and last October, after travelling back and forth a few times, when my job was going nowhere faster than usual and my landlord had to sell the property, I said, "screw it!" got rid of most things, put the rest in storage, and by November I was taking full advantage of the "6 month general tourist visa" and living in Scotland. Border Control said it was "unusual" (I suggested "crazy").
Things went surprisingly well so I applied to and was accepted by the local college (studying computing), returned to California to deal with everything and yesterday I got my shiny new visa in the mail and in three weeks I get to go back. As you might imagine, I'm very excited.
I have friends scattered across England and Ireland (also met online through various forums over the last 15 years) but none in Scotland. I was only just starting to meet people when I left (it's particularly difficult to meet people when you don't have a job or go to school). But friends will come in time and I know not to tell anyone to "move your fanny" and at least half the time I manage to say "trousers" on the first try and that light switches are upside-down (and sometimes on the other side of the door) and that doors don't open the direction I think they will and to really _think_ before crossing the street.
